What this guide covers
SIAC arbitration costs comprise three main components: institutional administrative fees, arbitrator fees, and party legal costs. Understanding the fee schedule — and how SIAC allocates costs between parties — is essential for budgeting and for assessing whether arbitration is economically proportionate to the dispute.
Filing and administrative fees
Filing fee: SGD 3,500 flat fee, payable with the Notice of Arbitration (non-refundable). This covers registration of the arbitration regardless of claim value.
Administrative fee: Based on the sum in dispute using a sliding scale in Schedule 3 of the SIAC Rules 2024. Examples:
SGD 1M claim: admin fee approximately SGD 15,000–25,000
SGD 10M claim: admin fee approximately SGD 50,000–80,000
SGD 50M claim: admin fee approximately SGD 130,000–200,000
SGD 100M+ claim: admin fee capped at approximately SGD 250,000
Administrative fees are shared between the parties in the proportions directed by the tribunal in its costs award. Upfront deposits (typically 50% claimant, 50% respondent) are required before proceedings begin.
Arbitrator fees
SIAC arbitrator fees are determined by the SIAC Court based on the sum in dispute and the arbitrator's hourly rate (capped in the Schedule). Typical ranges for completed proceedings:
Sole arbitrator:
SGD 5M dispute: SGD 80,000–150,000
SGD 15M dispute: SGD 150,000–300,000
SGD 50M dispute: SGD 300,000–600,000
Three-member tribunal (total for all three):
SGD 5M dispute: SGD 200,000–450,000
SGD 15M dispute: SGD 400,000–800,000
SGD 50M dispute: SGD 800,000–1,500,000
These ranges are estimates — actual fees depend on the complexity and duration of proceedings, number of hearing days, and volume of submissions reviewed. SIAC's schedule provides a maximum; arbitrators may charge below the maximum.
Cost allocation — costs follow the event
Rule 35 gives the tribunal broad discretion to allocate costs. The general principle is "costs follow the event" — the losing party pays the winner's reasonable costs. However, SIAC tribunals routinely adjust allocation based on: partial success (if the claimant wins on liability but recovers only 40% of the claimed amount, costs may be apportioned 60:40); conduct of proceedings (unreasonable delay tactics, excessive discovery requests, failure to comply with orders); and reasonable settlement offers that were rejected.
The claimant can apply for security for costs (Rule 28) requiring the respondent to provide security for the claimant's costs if the respondent counterclaims and is unlikely to be able to satisfy a costs award. Similarly, a respondent can seek security for costs where the claimant has no assets in the jurisdiction.
SIAC vs DIAC vs ICC cost comparison
For a USD 5M dispute with a sole arbitrator (comparable to SIAC expedited):
SIAC: Admin fee approx USD 45,000; Arbitrator approx USD 100,000–180,000; Total institutional + arbitrator: USD 145,000–225,000
DIAC: Admin fee approx USD 15,000; Arbitrator approx USD 40,000–80,000; Total: USD 55,000–95,000
ICC: Admin fee approx USD 80,000; Arbitrator approx USD 120,000–200,000; Total: USD 200,000–280,000
DIAC is clearly the lowest-cost option for UAE-based disputes. SIAC is mid-range. ICC is typically the highest. For disputes above USD 20M, the differences narrow as the absolute cost of the arbitration becomes proportionately smaller relative to the amount in dispute.
Practical checklist
- Budget filing + admin deposit at commencement: budget approximately SGD 30,000–60,000 for a SGD 5M claim (non-refundable admin portion)
- Arbitrator deposit: SIAC requests initial deposits before the tribunal is constituted — typically 50% of estimated total arbitrator fees
- Non-payment by respondent: if the respondent fails to pay its share of deposits, the claimant may advance the respondent's share; the tribunal can order reimbursement in the final award
- Costs estimate: request a SIAC cost estimate using the fee calculator at siac.org.sg before committing to institution
- Security for costs: budget to advance any security for costs ordered — failure to provide security can lead to proceedings being stayed
- Emergency arbitrator: budget SGD 25,000 EA fee separately if emergency relief may be needed
What we'd typically advise
For disputes in the SGD 5M–SGD 20M range where cost efficiency matters, SIAC expedited procedure is the recommended approach — sole arbitrator and compressed timeline reduce total arbitration costs by 40–60% compared to standard three-member SIAC proceedings. For very large disputes (USD 50M+), the institutional fee difference between SIAC, ICC, and DIAC is relatively small compared to legal costs, so the institutional choice should be driven by enforcement needs and arbitrator quality rather than cost.
Frequently asked questions
Does SIAC refund admin fees if the case settles early?
Partial refunds may be available depending on the stage at which settlement occurs. SIAC's Schedule 3 provides for fee refunds on a sliding scale — settling before the tribunal is constituted results in a higher refund than settling after hearings. The SGD 3,500 filing fee is never refunded.
Can the losing party be ordered to pay the winner's full legal costs?
Yes. Rule 35.1 allows the tribunal to award reasonable legal costs (counsel fees, expert fees, other costs) against the losing party. The amount is subject to the tribunal's assessment of reasonableness — inflated legal bills may be reduced. In practice, SIAC tribunals award 50–80% of actual legal costs to the prevailing party.
How is the sum in dispute calculated for fee purposes?
The sum in dispute is the total value of all claims and counterclaims. If the claimant claims SGD 8M and the respondent counterclaims SGD 4M, the sum in dispute for fee purposes is typically taken as SGD 8M (the higher figure), not SGD 12M. SIAC publishes guidance on this calculation.
What happens to deposits if the arbitration is abandoned?
SIAC will account for actual costs incurred (arbitrator time, administration expenses) and refund any balance of deposits to the parties in proportion to their contributions.
Can parties agree to limit arbitrator fees in their arbitration agreement?
Parties can specify a fee cap in the arbitration agreement, but this must be within SIAC's fee schedule range and requires SIAC consent. In practice, fee caps are rarely agreed in advance — parties more commonly manage costs by choosing sole arbitrator, expedited procedure, or document-only proceedings.
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Published 20 May 2026. General information only — not legal advice. Contact us for matter-specific advice.