Key Changes To Bahrain's International Commercial Court

Bahrain has recently enacted Law No. 9 of 2024 concerning the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC), establishing it as an independent legal entity under the oversight of the Minister of Justice. This new court is designed to handle a broad range of disputes with a focus on international commercial matters and arbitration-related issues.

The BICC has the authority to adjudicate disputes if the parties agree in writing to submit to its jurisdiction or if one party initiates proceedings and the other party accepts jurisdiction explicitly or implicitly. The court's jurisdiction includes:

• International Commercial Disputes: These involve cases where at least one party is located outside Bahrain or where the subject matter is closely connected to another location. Such disputes encompass various commercial relationships, including contracts for the supply or exchange of goods and services, distribution agreements, commercial representation or agency, rights