Emergency relief seems to be the weakest link in the commencement of the international arbitration process despite the fact that in many international commercial disputes, it is a much?needed security.

Arbitration proceedings ordinarily have the capacity to meet the needs of the parties except where urgent interim measures are required before the arbitral tribunal is constituted or even before a request for arbitration is filed.

In many instances, the traditional judicial system has been more efficient in granting urgent relief and has produced the desired result.

Many arbitral institutions in a bid to bridge this gap have now put in place rules to provide emergency relief to parties before the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.