The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) has officially kicked off the 16th Annual Middle East Willem C. Vis Pre-Moot, taking place from 8 to 12 February 2026 with the cooperation of the Royal University for Women (RUW) at the Kingdom of Bahrain. Organized by the BCDR and hosted at the RUW campus, this year's Pre-Moot brings together 19 collegial teams and 106 participants representing 15 countries, as part of their preparations for the upcoming Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna and Hong Kong.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks by Mr. Ahmed Husain Abdulrahman, CEO of the BCDR; Professor Riyad Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women; and Mr. Matthew Brown, Acting Registrar of SIAC. Professor Jan Paulsson, President of the Bahrain International Commercial Court, also delivered a session on "Third-party Funding and the IBA Rules on The Taking of Evidence".
Now in its sixteenth edition, the Middle East Vis Pre-Moot continues its mission of enhancing the inclusion, preparedness, and competitiveness of law students from the Middle East and beyond in one of the world's most prestigious competitions in international commercial arbitration. The event has become a cornerstone of regional Vis Moot training, providing structured, high-level preparation in a collaborative and academically rigorous environment.
Over the course of five days, participating teams will engage in simulated arbitral hearings based on the official 33rd Vis Moot problem, presented before panels composed of experienced arbitration practitioners, academics, and jurists. The programme includes specialized workshops addressing both procedural and substantive aspects of the moot problem, argument-building sessions, and structured feedback rounds designed to further develop participants' written and oral advocacy skills.
The Pre-Moot is supported by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Jus Mundi, along with additional sponsorship from leading Bahraini and regional law firms, reflecting a shared commitment to capacity-building and skills development in international arbitration across the Middle East and North Africa.
Key focus areas of this year's programme include advanced training in international commercial arbitration procedure, targeted sessions on evidence-taking and third-party funding, and practical guidance on case theory development and timeline management in complex cross-border disputes. The agenda also places strong emphasis on mentorship and professional networking, enabling students to engage directly with leading figures in the arbitration community while honing essential research, drafting, and advocacy skills.
Over the years, the Middle East Vis Pre-Moot has supported hundreds of students and fostered enduring connections with a global network of arbitrators, academics, and practitioners, many of whom continue to mentor participants well beyond the event. The 16th edition is expected to further strengthen the performance and international visibility of participating teams, while reinforcing Bahrain's role as a regional hub for arbitration education and legal training.
Following the conclusion of the Pre-Moot, participating teams will carry forward the insights, feedback, and experience gained in Bahrain into their preparations for the oral rounds in Vienna and Hong Kong. BCDR will continue to work closely with its partners and sponsors to expand future training initiatives and advance subsequent editions of the Middle East Willem C. Vis Pre-Moot.