MPs to Reconvene for Final Session Ahead of Next Year’s Elections

The Council of Representatives will return from its summer recess on 12 October for a final session packed with bills and decree-laws, as MPs prepare for elections scheduled for next year.

Under Article 71 of the Constitution, the National Assembly—which comprises the Council of Representatives (Parliament) and the Shura Council—convenes on the second Saturday of October unless His Majesty the King calls it earlier. If that day falls on a public holiday, the session moves to the next working day, setting Sunday, 12 October, as the start of the new term.

A senior parliamentary source said the government is expected to refer a large batch of bills to MPs during the session.

Key Measures on the Agenda

MPs plan to address several measures that remain under committee review, including the draft Lawyering Law, a Public Debt Management bill, and legislation to increase pensioners’ benefits. Currently, five parliamentary committees are studying 78 legislative instruments.

Decree-laws issued during the recess will take precedence, in line with Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

Decree-Laws Expected for Review

The government is likely to submit the following for parliamentary review:

• Decree-Law No. 30 of 2025 – Amending the Traffic Law (Law No. 23 of 2014)

• Decree-Law No. 31 of 2025 – Amending the Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 15 of 1976)

• Decree-Law No. 32 of 2025 – Amending the Code of Criminal Procedure (Decree-Law No. 46 of 2002)

• Decree-Law No. 33 of 2025 – Approving the concession agreement for the Jubah and Pre-Tawil reservoirs in the Bahrain Field

• Decree-Law No. 34 of 2025 – Amending Law No. 74 of 2006 on care, rehabilitation, and employment of persons with disabilities

• Decree-Law No. 35 of 2025 – Approving the unified GCC law for international road transport

• Decree-Law No. 36 of 2025 – Amending Decree-Law No. 4 of 2001 on combating money laundering and terrorist financing

• Decree-Law No. 37 of 2025 – Amending Article 161 of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law (Law No. 64 of 2006)

• Decree-Law No. 38 of 2025 – Amending the Commercial Companies Law (Decree-Law No. 21 of 2001)

• Decree-Law No. 39 of 2025 – Amending Decree-Law No. 21 of 2013 on regulating the collection of funds for public purposes

• Decree-Law No. 40 of 2025 – Amending Law No. 8 of 2021 on professional sports

• Decree-Law No. 58 of 2025 – Amending Decree No. 50 of 2020 on the committee to combat extremism, terrorism financing, and money laundering

Committees Resume Work

Despite the upcoming session, parliamentary committees have not resumed meetings following almost four months of recess. The break allowed members to prepare for the new term, review pending issues, and draft laws and regulations in the public interest.

This final session of the sixth legislative term comes ahead of next year’s parliamentary and municipal elections. Lawmaking and oversight activities are expected to intensify, aiming to complete outstanding files before the term concludes.