Reform agenda

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Shura Council will discuss three decree-laws in today’s session, including one approving a unified GCC rulebook for international road transport and another updating parts of the law on the care, rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities.

The agenda also includes a draft law tied to an agreement to base the headquarters of an international dates observatory in the Kingdom.

Members are due to consider the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee’s report on Decree-Law No. 35 of 2025, which approves the Unified System (Law) on International Land Transport between GCC states.

Obligations

The committee recommended backing the decree-law, saying it meets Bahrain’s regional obligations and implements what the GCC Supreme Council adopted at its 43rd session, when it approved the unified system as a single set of rules meant to strengthen coordination among member states.

The committee said the decree-law also deals with delays in bringing the unified system into effect after the deadline for its application passed.

It warned that further delay could create a legal gap affecting smooth cross-border road transport within the GCC, especially as some member states, led by Saudi Arabia, have begun applying the system.

That, it said, drove urgent legislation to protect Bahraini transport firms and ensure a level playing field.

Differences

In its report, the committee said the unified system would reduce differences between national rules and cut duplicate regulation by placing international road transport under one enforceable framework across member states.

It added that the system supports road safety by standardising technical standards and stepping up checks on vehicles and transport operations.

It also said the change would help trade and logistics by improving supply chains, the movement of goods and the competitiveness of the logistics sector.