The Kingdom of Bahrain signed a Host Country Agreement with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), becoming the first Arab and Middle Eastern country to host a representative office of the PCA, which was established in 1899 and is headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Bahrain by Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, and on behalf of the PCA by Dr. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary General of the PCA.

The agreement provides for the establishment of a PCA office in Bahrain, facilitating the administration of international dispute resolution proceedings, including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and fact-finding. It also sets out the privileges and immunities applicable to the PCA, its assets, personnel, and participants in proceedings.

Minister Al Maawda said that the agreement underscores Bahrain’s international standing in the field of arbitration. He noted that as a signatory to the 1907 Hague Convention for the Convention for the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, Bahrain’s selection to host the PCA reflects its commitment to peaceful dispute resolution and its active engagement in international legal frameworks.

He added that the signing follows an invitation by the PCA Secretary-General for Bahrain to serve as a host country for arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and fact-finding commissions administered by the PCA, further strengthening the Kingdom’s effective role in international legal mechanisms.

The PCA handles a wide range of disputes, including those between states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties, particularly in matters involving sovereignty, boundaries, and investment, the Minister added.

Professor Marike Paulsson, Secretary General for the Council for International Dispute Resolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, highlighted the importance of the agreement in strengthening cooperation between the PCA and Bahrain. She noted that the PCA Secretary General’s visit opens new avenues for joint work in the field of international dispute resolution.

Hosting the PCA is expected to bolster Bahrain’s position as a regional and international hub for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, in line with Bahrain’s economic vision to enhance global competitiveness through the adoption of best practices in commercial and investment arbitration.