The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) was represented at the Riyadh International Disputes Week, which took place from 3rd to 7th March 2024. The BCDR delegation included Ahmed Husain, Acting CEO; Khaled Al Khayat, Acting Chief Registrar; and Supritha Suresh, Legal Researcher, alongside Prof. Marike Paulsson, Strategic Advisor to the Economic Development Board.
During the event, Ahmed Husain participated in a notable panel discussion titled "The Legitimacy of Arbitral Institutions - Are Arbitral Institutions Legitimate Regulators of International Arbitration?" This panel, organized by the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions (IFCAI), featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr. Ismail Selim, President of IFCAI and Director of CRCICA; Ms. Catherine Dixon, Director General of CIArb; Ms. Yin Tianshu, Deputy Director of CIETAC International Cases Division; Ms. Lucy Reed, President of SIAC; and Mr. Peter Barna, Counsel at DIAC.
On 6th of March 6th, the conference segment of the week, the 3rd Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) International Conference and Exhibition, featured Judge Jan Paulsson delivering a video address. Judge Paulsson, who serves as President of the SCCA, Judge at the Court of Cassation in Bahrain, and Judge at the BCDR Court, shared insights into the SCCA's outlook and developments in commercial arbitration.
In a panel titled "Legal and Economic Landscape - Regional Trends and International Perspectives on Commercial ADR," H.E. Mr. Nawaf bin Mohammed Almouda, Bahrain's Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, discussed Bahrain's supportive legal and procedural framework for arbitration. The Minister highlighted recent legal reforms, including the 2021 amendment allowing English to be used in court proceedings. This development, he noted, has been instrumental in advancing commercial and banking transactions and addressing the demands of contemporary international trade. He emphasized that Bahrain's advanced legal system supports arbitration as a viable and effective means of dispute resolution, with arbitration-related disputes being heard in all courts, including the Court of Cassation.