Established in 1983 in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, it resolves contract and property rights' disputes between individuals, legal entities and institutions, both Chinese and foreign, and has an affiliated Mediation Centre. It was previously known as the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission South China Sub-commission (that is, CIETAC South China Sub-commission).

The SCIA adopted its own arbitration rules in 2012 and is unique among Chinese arbitration institutions in having a legal person governance model established by legislation.

On 25 December 2017, the Shenzhen Arbitration Commission was merged into the SCIA. For more information, see Legal update, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration created following merger. The SCIA is also known as South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission or Shenzhen Arbitration Commission.

See the SCIA website.