Founded in 1983, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration ("SCIA" , also known as the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, formerly known as the CIETAC Shenzhen Sub-Commission and CIETAC South China Sub-Commission) is the first arbitration institution in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region. It epitomizes China's reform and opening-up, the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and the collaboration between Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. In 1984, the SCIA took the lead in including foreign arbitrators in the Panel of Arbitrators. In 1989, an arbitral award rendered by the SCIA became China's first arbitral award recognized and enforced in a foreign jurisdiction in accordance with the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the New York Convention). 

In 2012, the SCIA, pioneered to establish a statutory body governance mechanism and a corporate governance structure with an international council serving as the decision body. In 2018, the SCIA incorporated Shenzhen Arbitration Commission, setting a precedent for merger of arbitration institutions in China. In 2021, the SCIA added "GBA International Arbitration Center" as one of its official names to deepen the cooperation with Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, so as to together develop into an international arbitration hub in the world.

At its 10th Meeting and in accordance with the Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Ordinance on the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, the Third Council of SCIA has reviewed and decided to confer arbitrator qualifications on 2,078 professionals. Among them, 1,353 arbitrators from the Chinese Mainland, 188 from the Hong Kong SAR, 27 from the Macao SAR, 22 from Taiwan, China, and 488 from foreign countries, covering a total of 129 countries and regions. The new SCIA Panel of Arbitrators will take effect on 21 February 2025. 

The SCIA Panel of Arbitrators applies to cases in which parties agree to arbitrate at SCIA and its branches the SCIA Kashi Center, the SCIA Jiangmen Center, and the Jiangmen Arbitration Commission, as well as at the China (Shenzhen) Securities and Futures Arbitration Center, the China (Shenzhen) Intellectual Property Arbitration Center, and the SCIA Maritime Arbitration Center.

Furthermore, arbitrators on the SCIA Panel of Arbitrators will also be listed in the panel of recommended arbitrators of the Hong Kong-based South China International Arbitration Center (HK) (SCIAHK). Upon appointment by the parties or SCIAHK, they may handle cases submitted for arbitration at SCIAHK.