Joint Media Release: Singapore and Bahrain sign Bilateral Treaty on appeals from the Bahrain International Commercial Court

 Singapore and Bahrain sign Bilateral Treaty on appeals from the Bahrain International Commercial Court. 

This milestone event follows the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Memorandum of Guidance as to the Enforcement of Money Judgments by the Singapore and Bahrain judiciaries in May 2023

             The Government of Singapore and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain signed a bilateral Treaty today to establish a new Bahrain International Commercial Court (“BICC”) in Bahrain, and a designated body in Singapore to hear appeals from the BICC. 

2          The Treaty was signed by Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam SC, and Bahrain’s Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf H.E. Mr Nawaf bin Mohamed AlMouada in a virtual ceremony today. 

Innovative Nature of the Collaboration 

3          The features of the collaboration include:

a. Cooperation between the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) and the Supreme Judicial Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain to establish the BICC; and

b. The hearing of appeals by the SICC from the BICC, which will provide parties with a transnational commercial dispute resolution option. 

(Refer to Annex A - “About Bahrain International Commercial Court and Singapore International Commercial Court” for more information on the BICC and the SICC.) 

4          The collaboration will also provide opportunities for the development of commercial jurisprudence. 

Major Milestone in Bilateral Ties 

5          The signing of the Treaty marks another milestone since the Singapore and Bahrain judiciaries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Memorandum of Guidance as to the Enforcement of Money Judgments when The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon (“Chief Justice Menon”) led a delegation to visit Bahrain in May 2023. 

6          Minister Shanmugam said, “We welcome this  collaboration with Bahrain to set up an appeal mechanism from the new Bahrain International Commercial Court  to the Singapore International Commercial Court.  This collaboration can advance our shared interests.”

7          Chief Justice Menon said: “Today’s signing of the bilateral Treaty between Singapore and Bahrain to establish the BICC marks a significant milestone in our ties with the Bahrain judiciary. This collaboration would not have been possible without the excellent partnership between the Working Groups set up by the respective Singapore and Bahrain teams. I am deeply grateful for their tremendous work on this project, and look forward to the launch of the BICC.”   

Issued by: Ministry of Law and Singapore Courts

Annex A – About Bahrain International Commercial Court and Singapore International Commercial Court

The establishment of the Bahrain International Commercial Court (“BICC”) is a component of Bahrain’s ambition to build an international commercial dispute resolution hub with state-of-the-art infrastructure that can capitalise on the region’s strong economic growth. The BICC builds on the effective dispute resolution mechanisms already present in Bahrain, particularly, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution and the latest amendments to adjudicate commercial disputes in English.  

The Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) has established a reputation as a leading and trusted neutral forum for efficient and effective international commercial dispute resolution. 

The SICC bench comprises a diverse panel of eminent international and local Judges from civil law and common law traditions, experienced in adjudicating specialist commercial disputes. Described as “arbitration in litigation”, the SICC combines the best practices of international arbitration with the substantive principles of international commercial law, to offer procedures compatible with, and responsive to, the fast-changing needs and realities of international commerce.