Chamber leads push for Financial Dispute Reform

TDT| Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A new collaboration between Bahrain’s business and financial regulators could pave the way for quicker, more amicable resolution of commercial disputes, with the Bahrain Chamber presenting its Commercial Dispute Settlement Center to the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) as a viable model for integration across financial sectors.

During a high-level meeting, Bahrain Chamber Chairman His Excellency Sameer Nass led a delegation to the CBB headquarters to showcase how the Center’s mediation-based approach can help reduce friction, cost, and time in settling business conflicts. He was received by CBB Governor H.E. Khalid Humaidan.

Business reform

H.E. Nass explained that embedding dispute resolution mechanisms like the Center’s within financial processes would reinforce Bahrain’s image as a transparent and stable destination for investment. H.E. highlighted the Center’s value in sustaining trust between parties and minimising the reputational and operational risks of legal escalation.

The Chamber delegation presented the Center’s operating framework, noting its alignment with international standards and emphasis on swiftness, flexibility, and confidentiality. They also stressed its relevance in regulated sectors such as banking and insurance, where the CBB plays a key supervisory role.

Central Bank response

H.E. Governor Humaidan welcomed the proposal, stating that the CBB supports initiatives that can strengthen Bahrain’s financial ecosystem and enhance dispute resolution efficiency. He expressed interest in exploring avenues of cooperation with the Chamber, particularly where it benefits institutional stakeholders.

The meeting was also attended by the Chamber’s First Vice-Chairman Khalid Najibi, President of the Center’s Board of Trustees Basim Alsaie, and Bahrain Association of Banks CEO Dr. Waheed Al Qassim. Chamber’s vision The Commercial Dispute Settlement Center operates under the Bahrain Chamber as a specialised platform for resolving conflicts among members and with external parties. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, Supervisory Committee, and General Secretariat. Its mission is to institutionalise mediation, strengthen economic security, and build national capabilities in alternative dispute resolution.

The Chamber’s eff ort marks another step in Bahrain’s broader agenda to streamline commercial processes and bolster investor confidence through non-litigious paths to justice.