The International Arbitration Act 15 of 2017 was promulgated on 20 December 2017, which marks a significant development in international arbitration in South Africa. The Act incorporates the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of 1985, amended in 2006

(UNCITRAL Model Law), which is universally recognised as the single most important legislative instrument in international commercial arbitration practice. This long-waited piece of legislation is a positive and encouraging message to the international business community.