Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Bahrain

Dispute resolution work in Bahrain

The firm covers Bahrain matters in cooperation with a partner office in the Kingdom of Bahrain. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a Bahrain law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Kingdom. Within that framework, we coordinate pre-litigation assessment, negotiation, arbitration support and litigation strategy for Bahrain-connected disputes; filings and court appearances in the Kingdom are handled by locally licensed counsel through the partner office.

Courts and litigation in Bahrain

Commercial disputes are heard by the civil courts of Bahrain. In addition, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR), established by Legislative Decree No. 30 of 2009, operates a specialist court whose jurisdiction covers disputes exceeding five hundred thousand Bahraini dinars between licensed financial institutions and their counterparties, as well as international commercial disputes, alongside an international arbitration centre (BCDR-AAA).

Arbitration in Bahrain

Arbitration is governed by Legislative Decree No. 9 of 2015 with respect to arbitration, which adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law. Institutional cases are administered by the BCDR-AAA arbitration centre under its own rules. Bahrain is a contracting state to the 1958 New York Convention, and awards are enforced through the Bahraini courts.

Before a dispute is filed

We start from the record: the signed contracts, notices, invoices and correspondence, and the jurisdiction or arbitration clause - including any BCDR-AAA clause - that will control where the case is heard. From that base we assess the claims and enforcement prospects and run negotiation where a settlement serves the client better than a judgment. For related contract work see our General Commercial & Corporate practice and Corporate & Commercial Law in Bahrain; to scope a specific dispute, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Which law governs arbitration in Bahrain?

Arbitration is governed by Legislative Decree No. 9 of 2015 with respect to arbitration, which adopts the UNCITRAL Model Law.

What is the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR)?

The BCDR was established by Legislative Decree No. 30 of 2009. It operates a specialist court for disputes exceeding five hundred thousand Bahraini dinars in its statutory categories, including disputes involving licensed financial institutions and international commercial disputes, and an international arbitration centre (BCDR-AAA).

Does the firm have an office in Bahrain?

The firm covers Bahrain matters in cooperation with a partner office in the Kingdom of Bahrain. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a Bahrain law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

Other markets

Corporate & Commercial Law in Bahrain · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Egypt · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Saudi Arabia · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in the UAE · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Qatar · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Oman