Amendment to Legislative Decree 30 of 2009 with respect to the Bahrain Chamber for Economic, Financial and Investment Dispute Resolution

The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (the “BCDR”) has extended its ongoing efforts in enhancing the efficiency of Bahrain’s judicial system through introducing a new Legislative Decree 26 of 2021 amending certain provisions of Legislative Decree 30 of 2009 with respect to the Bahrain Chamber for Economic, Financial and Investment Dispute Resolution (the “Amendment”). The Amendment provides special care and flexible proceedings for high value cases, by expanding the BCDR’s jurisdiction to include a wider scope of cases.

Historically, the BCDR’s competence would be limited to claims that exceed BHD 500,000 (about US$ 1.3 million), and where at least one party is a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain; or the dispute is of an international commercial nature.

However and in accordance to the Amendment, as of 1 October 2021, the BCDR will have the jurisdiction to rule over – along with the above mentioned claims-, any claims involving commercial companies with a claim value exceeding BHD 500,000.

In conclusion, the Amendment provides the BCDR the competence to hear a wider pool of cases, giving entities a more specialised judicial body to look over such claims, in consideration of the nominal value of those disputes.