The Michael Jackson Bahrain lawsuit was a $7 million breach-of-contract claim filed in London’s High Court in November 2008 by Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the second son of the King of Bahrain, who accused Jackson of taking millions in financial support and then abandoning a signed deal to record an album, write an autobiography, and produce a stage play. The case settled confidentially on November 24, 2008, the day Jackson had been ordered to appear in person to testify.
Who Sued Michael Jackson and Why
Sheikh Abdulla and Jackson became close after Jackson flew to Bahrain on June 29, 2005, two weeks after his acquittal on child molestation charges. The Sheikh had previously worked on music with Jackson’s brother Jermaine, and he took Jackson in at a moment when the singer carried roughly $270 million in personal debt secured against his stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue.
The Sheikh installed Jackson in a luxury villa, hired financial advisors to stabilize his affairs, and set up a joint venture called 2 Seas Records, named for the Arabic meaning of “Bahrain.” English record executive Guy Holmes, formerly of Gut Records, was brought in as CEO. The plan called for two Jackson albums, a memoir, a stage musical, and a Cirque du Soleil show.
Very little of it happened. Jackson and the Sheikh co-wrote several songs, including a Hurricane Katrina charity single titled “I Have This Dream” recorded with Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Ciara, and Jermaine Jackson at a Los Angeles studio in November 2005. According to court testimony, the vocals were deemed not up to standard and the single was never released. An April 2006 press release promised a 2 Seas album for late 2007. It never appeared. Around May or June 2006, after a Sony-backed $325 million refinancing eased his debts, Jackson left Bahrain and severed contact with the Sheikh.
What the Sheikh Said He Paid For
Filed at the Royal Courts of Justice, the suit sought £4.7 million, roughly $7 million. The Sheikh’s barrister, Bankim Thanki QC, described the payments as advances against a “combined rights agreement” covering the album, autobiography, and stage play. They included:
- $1 million sent to Jackson’s assistant, Grace Rwaramba, during the 2005 criminal trial, before the two men had met in person.
- $2.2 million toward Jackson’s legal bills from the molestation trial.
- $35,000 covering utility bills at Neverland Ranch.
- More than $300,000 spent on a motivational guru, Tony Buzan.
- $250,000 in cash for holiday entertainment expenses.
- A Rolls-Royce valued at $120,000.
Thanki told the court the Sheikh felt “a strong sense of personal betrayal” because he had considered Jackson a close friend. Testifying in person at age 33, Sheikh Abdulla rejected the suggestion that he had taken advantage of Jackson, saying the singer had repeatedly confirmed the money would be repaid “through our venture.”
Jackson’s Defense
Jackson’s barrister, Robert Englehart QC, acknowledged the Sheikh’s generosity but denied any binding contract existed. He called 2 Seas Records “a joint venture which never actually materialised” and the alleged agreement “one brick in a building which was never built.” The money, the defense argued, had been given freely as gifts, not as advances under a business deal.
Jackson’s team also argued the case rested on “mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence,” contending that a financially and emotionally fragile Jackson had been pressured into signing documents that should not be treated as enforceable.
How the Case Ended
The trial opened before Justice Nigel Sweeney on November 17, 2008, and was expected to run about 12 days. Jackson’s lawyers first sought to have him testify by video link from Los Angeles, citing health concerns. Thanki objected, telling the court, “It’s not the first time a sick note has been presented by Mr. Jackson.” After medical professionals cleared Jackson for travel, the application was withdrawn and Jackson was ordered to appear in person on November 24, 2008.
He never took the stand. On November 23, as Jackson prepared to board a flight to London, his lawyers told him the parties had reached a “settlement in principle.” Jackson’s spokeswoman, Celina Aponte, confirmed the travel had been postponed on that basis. Neither man attended court the next day. Their lawyers confirmed the resolution to the judge, and Philip Croall, a senior partner at Freshfields, issued a joint statement: “Sheikh Abdullah and Michael Jackson are pleased to confirm that they have amicably settled their dispute which was in litigation before the High Court in London. They wish each other well in their own, respective endeavors.”
The financial terms were never publicly disclosed. A 2021 account in The Guardian reported that concert promoter AEG Live paid the Sheikh $5 million to release Jackson from his 2 Seas Records contract, clearing the way for Jackson’s planned “This Is It” residency at London’s O2 Arena.
The Songs That Never Came Out
The recordings Jackson and the Sheikh made together have never been released. Guy Holmes said he does not expect them to be, attributing that to the Sheikh’s respect for Jackson’s legacy. “I don’t think you’ll ever prise them out of him,” Holmes said. “I Have This Dream,” “Light the Way,” and “He Who Makes the Sky Gray” remain among Jackson’s most sought-after unreleased works.