The attractiveness of Switzerland as seat of arbitration is due to its neutrality vis-à-vis the nationality of the disputing parties, but most important, to its formal legal infrastructure which includes its arbitration law and also the track record in enforcing arbitral clauses and awards. A core element to achieve enforcement of final awards is the availability and effectiveness of provisional measures in the seat of arbitration’s legal system. Provisional measures are indeed of utmost importance when it is crucial to maintain the status quo in order not to render vain the enforcement of the final award. This contribution is aimed at understanding better the Swiss law and practice on provisional measures, particularly in the light of the (new) Swiss Code of Civil Procedure and a recent decision of the Swiss Federal Court.