BCDR Participates in the ICCA Congress 2026 in Madrid

The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) is participating in the 27th Congress of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), taking place in Madrid from 12 to 15 April 2026. The ICCA Congress is one of the leading global gatherings in the field of international arbitration, bringing together practitioners, academics, judges, and dispute resolution professionals from around the world.

During the Congress, Global Justice Bay is present through an exhibition booth representing Bahrain’s dispute resolution ecosystem, including the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) and the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC). Through this joint presence, the delegation is engaging with participants and highlighting Bahrain’s integrated approach to dispute resolution, which brings together arbitration, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution services within a unified institutional framework.

The BCDR delegation attending the Congress includes Professor Marike Patrani Paulsson, Secretary-General of the Council for International Dispute Resolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Vice Chair of the BCDR Board of Trustees; Mr. Ahmed Husain, Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Fatema AlWardi, Chief Operating Officer; and Ms. Aisha Ishaq, Senior Finance Officer. BCDR is also present through its exhibition booth, providing an opportunity to engage with the international arbitration community and to present the Chamber’s services, initiatives, and ongoing projects.

As part of the Congress week, Mr. Ahmed Husain is speaking at a side event titled “East Meets West: An Encounter in Madrid among Arbitration Institutions”, where he joins representatives of arbitration institutions from around the world to exchange institutional perspectives on the current state of international arbitration and the role of arbitral institutions in shaping its future.

Professor Marike Patrani Paulsson is also speaking at the ICCA Congress in a panel titled “The Promise of Diversity”, which examines the role of diversity and broader representation in shaping the future of international arbitration and arbitral decision-making.

In addition, the Council for International Dispute Resolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Global Justice Bay of the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) the Hawar Circle event during the Congress week, further showcasing Bahrain’s role as a hub for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and regional arbitration innovation. The Hawar Circle event explored pathways to advance key principles in modern arbitration.

BCDR’s participation in ICCA Congress 2026 reflects its continued commitment to strengthening its international engagement, supporting the development of international dispute resolution, and contributing to global discussions shaping the future of arbitration.