On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today attended the inauguration ceremony of the King Hamad Lecture for Neutral Justice, held at the Isa Cultural Centre.

At the ceremony, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister delivered the following address:

"Your Highnesses, your Honours, your Excellencies, distinguished guests,

On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, it is my honour to welcome you to the King Hamad Lecture for Neutral Justice – a first-of-its-kind dialogue dedicated to advancing the principles of fairness and impartiality.

Today marks a defining moment for Bahrain, with the launch of the Bahrain International Commercial Court and the introduction of "Global Justice Bay," a new hub positioning Bahrain as a center for dispute resolution and international legal collaboration. Allow me to begin with a word of gratitude to our partners and friends from the Government and judiciary of Singapore, in particular Chief Justice Menon and his team.

Your collaboration has been central to making this day possible. We are deeply grateful for your friendship and your faith in what we are building together.

I would also like to acknowledge the unwavering dedication of our judges, legal experts, and officials whose collective efforts have transformed this vision into a reality.

Dear Guests,

Every thriving economy rests on a single, invisible foundation - trust. Trust, in turn, rests on justice.

And justice is rendered through strong institutions.

It is institutions, therefore - not rhetoric - that ensure markets remain fair, disputes are resolved peacefully, and that the rule of law is upheld when the world seems uncertain.

When Bahrain began this programme, our goal was simple: To build a system that upholds integrity, and delivers justice efficiently. The Bahrain International Commercial Court stands on three simple ideas.

First, that justice enables prosperity.

Some say that law and commerce exist in tension - that regulation constrains enterprise. But experience shows the opposite.

Trade does not flow where contracts are uncertain.

Investment does not endure where law is unpredictable.

And prosperity cannot last where trust is absent.

The rule of law is not a brake on economic growth; it is its engine.

Second, that independent institutions command trust.

This Court will operate as an independent body. Its judges will come from Bahrain and from some of the world's most respected jurisdictions.

Its independence is not just a structural feature - it is a statement of intent.

It means that justice here will be seen to be fair, impartial, and rooted in principle.

And it means that Bahrain's reputation, and that of our region, will grow stronger with each fair decision rendered.

Finally, and third , that justice must adapt to the age we live in.

The world's economy today is digital, fast-moving, and deeply interconnected.

Disputes cross borders as easily as data does. Our legal systems must therefore be agile - adopting technology, streamlining processes, and ensuring that the delivery of justice keeps pace with innovation.

The Bahrain International Commercial Court has been designed to combine the precision of law with the speed of modern business. It will serve both regional and international enterprises with efficiency and transparency.

Distinguished guests,

For centuries, our islands have been a crossroads of trade - a place where merchants met, ideas converged, and trust was the currency of exchange.

This Court is a continuation of that story. Bahrain's openness extends beyond culture and commerce - it is embedded in our legal and institutional frameworks.

And it signals to the world that Bahrain is ready to play its part in shaping a more predictable and just global trading system.

Of course, there is no end point on this journey - just another step. We will continue to invest in our judiciary, in our legal education, and in the partnerships that sustain excellence. We will continue to reform, to team, and to innovate - because justice demands relevance. And we will continue to engage internationally, confident that Bahrain's example can inspire progress well beyond our borders.

Bahrain now has another pillar of strength. And the many efforts that went into making this a reality have helped build an institution that, we hope, will serve generations to come."

In his address at the King Hamad Lecture, The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore, outlined that the launch of the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC) marks a historic milestone in institutional justice. The Chief Justice commended the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in strengthening the rule of law and fostering a justice system rooted in neutrality and independence.

Chief Justice Menon also highlighted the strategic partnership between Bahrain and Singapore, which led to the establishment of the BICC in collaboration with the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). The Chief Justice commended Bahrain’s standing as a regional legal and commercial hub, noting its expanding role in supporting cross-border dispute resolution and international legal cooperation.

Chief Justice Menon further elaborated that neutral justice rests on three key pillars: Geographical neutrality, institutional independence, and procedural agility. The Chief Justice Menon affirmed that the BICC embodies these principles through its transparent legal environment, distinguished multinational bench, and implementation of best global practices in commercial adjudication.

Chief Justice Menon concluded by expressing his sincere appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and to the Council for International Dispute Resolution of Bahrain for their support of this landmark initiative. Chief Justice Menon also stated that the BICC stands today as a beacon of justice and a pillar for a more stable, rules-based international commercial order.

The King Hamad Forum for Neutral Justice brought together a distinguished group of judges, government officials, international legal experts, and commercial practitioners from more than a dozen countries to discuss the impact of new international courts on trade and investment, innovations in cross-border dispute resolution, and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s vision to strengthen its role as a regional hub for commercial justice and global legal collaboration.

The BICC will play a pivotal role in advancing these objectives by resolving disputes in accordance with the highest international standards and best practices, in cooperation with leading international commercial courts, and by promoting the use of modern dispute resolution mechanisms in cross-border trade. Through these efforts, the Court will build global confidence in Bahrain’s judicial system and further cement the Kingdom’s position as a trusted center for commercial justice and legal innovation.

Several senior officials were also in attendance.