MPs to vote on law setting up global commercial court
MPs will vote today on a law to set up a new international commercial court in Bahrain, giving it power to hear cross-border trade disputes and allowing appeals to be filed in Singapore.
The draft law, issued by Royal Decree in 2024, lays out the legal structure for the Bahrain International Commercial Court.
It would act as an independent forum for business disputes between parties who agree to refer their cases to it, even where no other court has authority to hear them.
Appeals could be lodged either in Bahrain or Singapore, depending on the parties' agreement and the language used in the judgment.
Review
This follows a treaty signed between the two countries on 20 March 2024, allowing decisions delivered in English to be reviewed by Singapore's courts unless the parties choose appeal proceedings in Bahrain instead.
The court would be headed by a president, assisted by one or more vice-presidents, along with a panel of appointed judges.
A council formed from these members would be responsible for running the court, setting its rules, managing appointments, and overseeing a budget based on commercial accounting.
Languages
Foreign lawyers would be permitted to appear in cases held in languages other than Arabic.
In Arabic-language hearings, they would need to work alongside Bahraini lawyers licensed to appear before the Court of Cassation.
Judgments issued by the court would take immediate effect and be enforced under Bahrain's existing execution law.
If appealed in Singapore, any decision would still need to be reissued by the Bahraini court before taking legal effect locally.
Launch
Ministries backing the plan say Bahrain must move quickly to launch the court before another country does.
They argue it will raise Bahrain's standing in international legal circles and help attract foreign investment.
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