The Process of Registering your Business in Bahrain
The process of starting and registering your business in Bahrain is a streamlined process that involves acquiring permits from different government and regulatory agencies following requirements laid down by the authorities.
1-Selection of Legal structure
Selection of the legal structure of the business is the first decision a business owner should make. It is a crucial decision as the type of the legal structure has an effect on the operations of the business in Bahrain. Bahrain Shareholding Company (B.S.C) – Public, Bahrain Shareholding Company (B.S.C) – Closed, With Limited Liability Company (W.L.L), Partnership Company, Simple Commandite, Commandite by Shares, Single Person Company (S.P.C), Individual Establishment, Foreign Company Branch.
2-Choosing a Company name
Company name of the business organization must be set up by following the guidelines given by the Ministry of Industry & Commerce (MOIC) to assist business owners in selecting a company name.
Company owners/investors are allowed to propose four company names and the names which violate the guidelines will be rejected. In case all four names are rejected, investors will have to propose another alternative four names from the beginning
Guidelines for choosing winning company names:
The chosen name can’t be registered in the name of third parties
The selected names should stay away from any violations of public morals, customs, traditions or religious beliefs.
Names should not imply any activity that contradicts with the company’s activity.
Novel names that are not similar to any other brand or company names or any other commercial names registered at the Ministry.
A name that hasn’t been already registered at the Directorate of Industrial Property (except for names that got special permissions)
It shall not be composed of any political connotations (in whole or in part) or related to the regime of any country
The name should be consistent with the company’s activity (unless authorization from the concerned authority is obtained)
In case of foreign company branch or representative office, then the name must be identical to the original company name followed by the sentence ‘a branch of a foreign company/representative office
3-Commercial Registration Papers
The third step of registering a business in submitting registration papers, the process is different for companies and individual investors
For individual establishments, the commercial registration papers are made available at the Bahrain Investors Center (BIC)
For Companies/organizations, the commercial registration papers are made available at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Registration Directorate (MOIC)
4-Licensing and Approval
While commercial business registrations are permitted to start operations right away after getting commercial registration from MOIC, however, the certain specially mentioned businesses are required to obtain permits and authorization from multiple government authorities and regulatory agencies.
Advantages of Company Registration in Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain is recognized worldwide for its liberal business environment with tremendous investment opportunities for investors & businesses and outstanding infrastructure.
Bahrain has a well-deserved reputation as an easy place to do business, underpinned by the low operating costs, competitive market, and global reach
- Starting a business in Bahrain acts as a gateway for expanding your company in the GCC region
- With transparent rules and regulations, Bahrain offers increased stability
- Business-friendly tax-laws with zero percent corporate tax encouraging environment for growth
- 100 percent foreign ownership permitted in most sectors
- Lower operating costs compared to other regions in GCC
- Businesses and investors have access to modern financial services
- Bahrain’s conductive government policies do not interfere with foreign investment. However, the government authorities work closely with the companies and regulators to explore and enhance opportunities across various business sectors
- Lower Tariffs on imports and exports for companies operating from Bahrain
