TRW & Co · Disputes and arbitration
SIAC Rules 2025: What Changed and How It Affects Your Arbitration
The SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore took effect on 1 January 2025 and apply to new SIAC arbitrations unless parties agreed otherwise. They add a Streamlined Procedure for disputes up to S$1 million, broaden the Expedited Procedure up to S$10 million, and introduce preliminary determinations, coordinated proceedings, funding disclosure and pre-filing emergency relief.
Key pointBecause most SIAC clauses incorporate the rules in force when the arbitration starts, older contracts now default into the 2025 procedures, including a sole arbitrator and a three-month award deadline for claims up to S$1 million.
At a glance
In force since January 2025
The seventh edition applies to SIAC arbitrations commenced on or after 1 January 2025 unless the parties agreed otherwise, including cases under older contracts.
Streamlined up to S$1 million
Disputes of S$1 million or less run before a sole arbitrator, with a final award due within three months of constitution unless the Registrar extends time.
Expedited up to S$10 million
Disputes above S$1 million and up to S$10 million fall under the Expedited Procedure, with the final award due within six months of the tribunal's constitution.
Funding must be disclosed
Rule 38 requires disclosure of any third-party funding agreement and the funder's identity, and the tribunal may consider funding when apportioning costs.
New guidance in July 2026
SIAC issued Guidance Notes on page limits and document production, and on summary-form awards, plus a Practice Note for UNCITRAL Rules cases.
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The short answer: what changed and who is affected
As of October 2026, the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore have been in force for almost two years. The seventh edition of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre rules took effect on 1 January 2025 and applies to SIAC arbitrations commenced on or after that date, unless the parties agreed otherwise. If your contracts refer to SIAC arbitration under the rules in force when the arbitration starts, any new case will run under the 2025 edition.
The headline changes are a new Streamlined Procedure for disputes of S$1 million or less, a broader Expedited Procedure for disputes above S$1 million and up to S$10 million, a standalone power to make preliminary determinations, coordinated proceedings across related arbitrations, mandatory disclosure of third-party funding, and the option of emergency relief before a notice of arbitration is filed.
In July 2026 SIAC added two Guidance Notes, on page and word limits and document production, and on summary-form awards in the faster procedures, plus a Practice Note for SIAC-administered cases under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. This article explains what each change means for drafting, budgeting and strategy.
Framework: how the 2025 Rules sit within Singapore arbitration law
Institutional rules operate within the law of the seat. For international arbitrations seated in Singapore, that is the International Arbitration Act 1994, which gives the UNCITRAL Model Law the force of law and governs court support, interim measures, setting aside and enforcement. The rules cannot override mandatory provisions of the Act, but they fill in almost all of the procedure.
Rules of an institution are incorporated by contract. Most SIAC clauses refer to the rules "for the time being in force", which is why the 2025 edition applies automatically to new cases under older contracts. Parties who want a particular feature, or want to exclude one, need to say so in the clause or agree it once the dispute arises.
The procedure under the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore also interacts with funding law. Third-party funding of international arbitration and related proceedings is permitted under the Civil Law Act 1909 and its regulations, subject to conditions on funders. Rule 38 adds an institutional disclosure duty on top.
Key changes in the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore
| Feature | Rule | What it does | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamlined Procedure | Rule 13, Schedule 2 | Applies by agreement or where the amount in dispute does not exceed S$1 million, unless the President decides otherwise; sole arbitrator; final award within 3 months of constitution unless extended | Fast, low-cost route for smaller claims; parties may opt out in writing |
| Expedited Procedure | Rule 14, Schedule 3 | Applies to disputes above S$1 million and up to S$10 million, or by agreement; final award within 6 months of constitution unless extended | Mid-value disputes resolved on a compressed timetable |
| Preliminary determination | Rule 46 | Tribunal may decide any issue on a preliminary basis by agreement, or where it is likely to save time and cost, or circumstances warrant; decision due within 90 days of the application unless extended | Early resolution of limitation, liability caps or contract construction |
| Early dismissal | Rule 47 | Claims or defences manifestly without merit or manifestly outside jurisdiction may be dismissed early | Weak claims can be disposed of before full hearing |
| Coordinated proceedings | Rule 17 | Where the same tribunal sits in two or more arbitrations with a common question of law or fact, they may run concurrently or sequentially, be heard together, or one may be suspended | Efficient handling of multi-contract projects without full consolidation |
| Third-party funding disclosure | Rule 38 | Parties must disclose any funding agreement and the funder's identity and contact details; tribunal may consider funding in costs | Funding becomes visible to the tribunal and opponent |
| Emergency relief before filing | Rule 12, Schedule 1 | Emergency arbitrator may be sought before the notice of arbitration, which must follow within 7 days; protective preliminary orders available | Urgent relief can be sought without first finalising the full claim |
Other changes include a default of a sole arbitrator where parties have not agreed the number, a new ground to challenge an arbitrator who becomes unable to perform their functions, a challenge filing fee, express powers on security for costs and claims, information security duties, and encouragement for tribunals to raise mediation and environmentally sustainable procedures at the first case management conference. For a broader overview of how SIAC cases run, see our guide to SIAC arbitration in Singapore.
Who is affected
The changes affect three groups. Businesses with SIAC clauses in supply, distribution, construction, technology and shareholder agreements will find new cases running under the 2025 procedures. Funders and funded parties face new disclosure duties. And counterparties to smaller contracts, especially those worth less than S$1 million, may find that a dispute is decided by a sole arbitrator on a three-month timetable they never specifically chose.
For in-house teams, the practical consequence of the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore is that dispute budgets and timetables now depend heavily on the amount in dispute, so early valuation of a claim has become a strategic decision rather than an accounting exercise.
Arbitrator challenges, jurisdiction and administration
Arbitrators can now be challenged if they become unable to perform their functions, in addition to the existing grounds of justifiable doubts about impartiality or independence and lack of agreed qualifications. A challenge must generally be brought within 15 days of notification of the appointment or of becoming aware of the relevant circumstances, and a challenge filing fee is payable under the Schedule of Fees.
Before the tribunal is constituted, the Registrar may refer jurisdictional objections to the SIAC Court for a prima facie decision, but the tribunal keeps the power to rule on its own jurisdiction. Communications and documents can be handled through SIAC Gateway, the institution's case management platform, and tribunals are encouraged to agree information security measures, with sanctions or costs consequences available if a party does not comply.
Confidentiality remains the default: parties and the tribunal must treat matters relating to the proceedings and the award as confidential. Requests to correct, interpret or supplement an award must be made within 30 days of receiving it, which also matters for court deadlines that run from receipt or from disposal of such a request.
Streamlined and Expedited Procedures in practice
The Streamlined Procedure is the most significant change for smaller claims. It applies automatically to disputes of S$1 million or less unless the parties agree in writing to exclude it or the SIAC President decides it should not apply. Parties have only a short window to agree a sole arbitrator before the President appoints one, and the tribunal must issue its final award within three months of constitution unless the Registrar extends time.
For disputes above that level and up to S$10 million, the Expedited Procedure now applies more broadly, with a six-month deadline for the award. Parties may also agree to use it before the tribunal is constituted for larger cases.
SIAC's July 2026 Guidance Notes reinforce these procedures. One recommends page or word limits for submissions and disciplined document production requests; the other addresses how tribunals may issue awards in summary form under both procedures. Parties who want fully reasoned awards for enforcement or reporting reasons should consider this point when deciding whether to opt out of the faster tracks under the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore.
Value the claim honestly at the outset. Under the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore, the amount in dispute drives which procedure applies, and an inflated or understated figure can push a case into a procedure that does not suit it. If a claim worth less than S$1 million raises complex expert issues, consider agreeing to opt out of the Streamlined Procedure early.
Drafting clauses under the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore
Most existing SIAC clauses will work under the 2025 Rules without amendment. New contracts and renewals are a good moment to make deliberate choices. Our guide to dispute resolution clauses covers the general drafting points; the steps below focus on the 2025 features.
- Use SIAC's current model clause as the base. Specify the seat as Singapore, the number of arbitrators, and the language. Remember the default is now a sole arbitrator unless the Registrar decides otherwise.
- Decide on the Streamlined Procedure. If you want three arbitrators or full reasoned awards for small claims, exclude the Streamlined Procedure in writing; otherwise accept it for speed and cost.
- Plan for related contracts. For projects with several contracts, use compatible SIAC clauses with the same seat and rules so coordinated proceedings or consolidation remain available.
- Address preliminary issues. Consider stating that the tribunal may determine limitation, liability caps or construction points on a preliminary basis, which supports a Rule 46 application.
- Consider pre-arbitration steps. If you want negotiation or mediation first, define the steps and timing clearly. A mediation window with SIMC can sit alongside SIAC arbitration.
- Align governing law of the arbitration agreement. State the law governing the arbitration clause itself, to avoid later argument about validity and scope.
Third-party funding, costs and security
Under the SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore, Rule 38 requires a party to disclose the existence of any third-party funding agreement and the funder's identity and contact details. The tribunal may order further disclosure and may take the funding into account when apportioning costs. Parties also cannot enter into a funding arrangement after the tribunal is constituted if it would create a conflict of interest for an arbitrator. Our guide to third-party funding in litigation and arbitration covers the commercial terms.
The new express powers to order security for costs and security for claims give respondents and claimants additional tools, particularly against counterparties with uncertain assets. Funded claimants should expect security applications and budget for them.
Illustrative scenario: a S$800,000 supply claim
Illustrative only; generic parties. A Singapore buyer has a claim of about S$800,000 against a regional supplier under a contract with a standard SIAC clause. The buyer files a notice of arbitration in 2026. Because the amount is below S$1 million and the clause does not exclude it, the Streamlined Procedure applies unless the President decides otherwise.
The parties must move quickly to agree a sole arbitrator. The tribunal sets a compact timetable with limits on submissions, consistent with SIAC's Guidance Note, and must issue its award within three months of constitution unless the Registrar extends time. The supplier argues that part of the claim is time-barred and applies for a preliminary determination.
The outcome is a quicker and cheaper process, but one in which each side has limited room for extensive document production or long hearings. Preparation before filing, including witness statements and an outline of the expert case, matters far more than in a conventional arbitration. Whatever the result, any later challenge would face the narrow grounds discussed in our guide to setting aside arbitral awards.
Risks and common mistakes
Assuming old clauses lock in the 2016 Rules
Most SIAC clauses incorporate the rules in force at the commencement of the arbitration. Unless the parties agreed otherwise, a 2026 case under a 2018 contract runs under the 2025 Rules, including the Streamlined Procedure and funding disclosure.
Review your template and any key contracts to confirm which rules will apply and whether that suits you.
Ignoring the Streamlined Procedure until a dispute arises
Parties sometimes discover only after filing that their claim falls under the Streamlined Procedure, with a sole arbitrator and a three-month award deadline. If a party wanted three arbitrators or a fuller procedure, it may be too late to change course without the other side's agreement.
Decide during drafting whether the default suits the contract value and complexity.
Failing to disclose funding
Rule 38 requires prompt disclosure of funding agreements and funder identity. Late or partial disclosure risks adverse costs consequences and can raise conflicts questions about the tribunal.
Build disclosure into the funding agreement and filing checklist.
Missing the seven-day window after emergency relief
Emergency relief can now be sought before the notice of arbitration, but the notice must follow within seven days of the application. Parties focused on urgent relief can overlook this deadline.
Prepare the notice in parallel with the emergency application. Our guide to interim measures covers court alternatives.
Cross-border angle
SIAC awards are enforceable in the many countries party to the New York Convention. Speed matters most when enforcement must follow quickly against assets in Bangladesh, the UAE, China or Europe, and a summary-form award may need careful presentation before a foreign enforcement court. Our award enforcement team coordinates that work across our network.
Parties from jurisdictions less familiar with funding disclosure or emergency arbitration should take advice before a dispute arises. Our international arbitration and Singapore-seated arbitration practices advise on clause design and case strategy. Where Singapore court or tribunal representation is required, we work alongside Singapore-qualified counsel.
What to do now
- Audit standard terms for SIAC clauses and confirm they point to the rules in force at commencement.
- Decide whether to accept or exclude the Streamlined Procedure for contracts likely to produce smaller claims.
- Align clauses across related contracts so coordinated proceedings remain available.
- Add funding disclosure and security for costs to your dispute budget and checklist.
- Read SIAC's July 2026 Guidance Notes before preparing submissions or document requests.
- Prepare urgent-relief templates so a pre-filing emergency application can be made quickly.
The SIAC Rules 2025 in Singapore reward parties who prepare early and draft deliberately. To review your arbitration clauses or plan a new case, contact TRW & Co.
Frequently asked questions
01When did the SIAC Rules 2025 come into force?
The seventh edition of the SIAC Rules came into force on 1 January 2025. They apply to SIAC arbitrations commenced on or after that date unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Because most SIAC clauses refer to the rules in force when the arbitration begins, disputes arising under contracts signed years ago will usually be conducted under the 2025 Rules. Check your clause for any wording that fixes an earlier edition.
02What is the SIAC Streamlined Procedure?
It is a new, simplified procedure for lower-value disputes. It applies where the parties agree to it or the amount in dispute does not exceed S$1 million, unless the SIAC President decides it should not apply, and the parties can exclude it by written agreement. The case is decided by a sole arbitrator, who must issue the final award within three months of the tribunal's constitution unless the Registrar extends time. SIAC's July 2026 guidance also addresses summary-form awards.
03Do I have to disclose third-party funding in a SIAC arbitration?
Yes. Rule 38 requires each party to disclose the existence of any third-party funding agreement and the identity and contact details of the funder. The tribunal can order further disclosure and may take the funding arrangement into account when apportioning costs. A party may not enter into a funding agreement after the tribunal is constituted if it would create a conflict of interest for an arbitrator. Singapore law separately permits funding of international arbitration subject to conditions.
04Can I get emergency relief before starting a SIAC arbitration?
Yes. Under the 2025 Rules, a party may apply for an emergency arbitrator before filing its notice of arbitration, but must file the notice within seven days of the application. The Rules also allow a protective preliminary order directing a party not to frustrate the emergency relief sought, which the emergency arbitrator must decide quickly after appointment. Court interim relief under the International Arbitration Act remains available in parallel where appropriate.
05Do I need to change my existing SIAC arbitration clause?
Not necessarily. Most SIAC clauses will operate under the 2025 Rules without change. However, review clauses in high-value or complex contracts to decide whether you want the default sole arbitrator, whether to exclude the Streamlined Procedure, and how related contracts should interact so that coordinated proceedings remain possible. Renewals and new templates are a practical moment to update wording and confirm the seat, language and governing law of the arbitration agreement.
06What are preliminary determinations under Rule 46?
Rule 46 lets a party ask the tribunal to decide any issue on a preliminary basis where the parties agree, where it is likely to save time and costs and lead to a quicker resolution, or where circumstances otherwise warrant it. The tribunal must generally decide within 90 days of the application unless the Registrar extends time. It is useful for discrete points such as limitation, the effect of a liability cap or the meaning of a key clause.
Sources and official materials
- Singapore International Arbitration Centre — SIAC Rules 2025, schedule of fees, guidance notes and practice notes
- International Arbitration Act 1994 — Law of the seat for international arbitrations in Singapore
- Civil Law Act 1909 — Statutory basis for third-party funding of arbitration
- Ministry of Law – consultation on third-party funding framework — Background to Singapore's third-party funding regime
- Singapore International Mediation Centre — Mediation services used alongside SIAC arbitration
- New York Convention — Recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards
General information only, current as at 20 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Singapore law and regulatory practice change; check current official sources and take advice on the facts of your matter.
