Manama: Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, has announced the launch of a remote litigation service in the Major Commercial Courts and the Court of Summary Matters. The new service will commence with cases registered at the start of 2026, developed in collaboration with the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA).
According to Bahrain News Agency, the electronic service provides parties the option to attend sessions remotely while maintaining the possibility of in-person attendance. This ensures adherence to legal guarantees, safeguarding the right to litigation and a fair trial. The mechanism to access the service involves the party filing the case selecting their preferred attendance method (remote or in person) when submitting the case via the "File a Case" service on the National Portal of Bahrain, Bahrain.bh.
Minister Al Maawda further explained that access to remote sessions will be facilitated through the ministry's official website (moj.gov.bh). Other involved parties may also choose remote attendance through the same service. The electronic sessions will be managed by a competent judge, featuring electronic document display and live pleadings.
The system integrates a secure access mechanism using the advanced eKey (2.0), which supports biometric authentication such as facial recognition, allowing login without a password. This development enhances the reliability and integrity of judicial procedures.
The minister emphasized the ministry's commitment to digitizing judicial and legal services, promoting access to justice, and leveraging modern technologies as part of e-transformation initiatives in the justice sector. The initial phase of the remote litigation project targets the Major Commercial Courts and the Court of Summary Matters, with plans for gradual expansion to other courts.
Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the iGA, affirmed that the service launch exemplifies the cooperation between the ministry and the authority, aiming to advance the judicial system in Bahrain. The initiative is part of ongoing digital transformation projects to provide courts with cutting-edge technological solutions, expediting case resolution, and facilitating litigation procedures.
He applauded the technical teams' efforts from both the ministry and the authority, expressing optimism that the remote litigation service will enhance government service quality, simplify procedures for beneficiaries, and support digital transformation efforts aligned with Bahrain's goals for efficient and excellent government service development.