If you are interested in company registration in Bahrain, the procedure must be carried out through the Companies or Trade Register. Also known as commercial registration, the process can also be completed through our local agents, who can provide various services in connection with it. Find out below how to register a business in Bahrain and what other functions the local Registrar has.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Representation in the relationship with the Trade Register (YES/NO) | Yes, our company registration agents offer representation services. |
|
Main function of the Registrar |
Business registration for local and foreign investors in Bahrain |
|
Business registration steps through the Commercial Register |
– company name reservation, – incorporation documents drafting and submission, – papers verification, – issuance of the Incorporation Certificate |
| Documents required for registration |
– application form, – statutory documents, – proof of Bahraini registered address, – information about the shareholders, – details of the local representative for foreign-owned businesses |
| Possibility to verify business name before registration (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Types of registration procedures |
Registration with a license, without a license, and virtual registration |
| Information about companies available with the Register |
– business number, – trading name, license type, – city of registration, – legal form, – company status, – representative credentials |
| Business registration timeframe (approx.) | 2 to 4 weeks
|
| Requirements to file annual financial statements with the Bahraini Trade Registry (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Requirement to update alterations with the Registrar (YES/NO) | Yes, various information must be filed with the Registrar. |
| Updated information to be recorded |
– legal address changes, – transfer of ownership, – license renewal, – activity addition/removal |
| Requirement to register company dissolutions with the Register (YES/NO) |
Yes, dissolutions must also be announced to the Register. |
| Other legal entities that must be registered with the Commercial Register |
– sole proprietorships, – partnerships, – branches, – e-commerce companies |
| Other functions of the Trade Registry in Bahrain |
Business license issuance and renewal |
| Supervisory authority |
Ministry of Industry and Commerce |
Table of Contents
Company registration through the Bahraini Trade Register
Local and foreign investors who want to register businesses in Bahrain must complete several steps with the Registrar, as follows:
- preparing the necessary documents for registration and filing them;
- opting for one of the available registration procedures;
- having the documents verified and receiving the Commercial Registration Certificate, if everything is in order.
Since we mentioned the company registration options available in Bahrain, here they are:
- business registration without a license;
- registration with a license;
- virtual company registration.
The first two are available for the establishment of corporate forms, while the third one covers the creation of individual businesses and sole proprietorships in Bahrain. The last procedure is also available for entities that complete their operations online (e-commerce, social media promotion, etc.).
Our Bahraini company registration consultants offer representation for all 3 types of registrations through our PRO services.
Documents required by the Trade Register in Bahrain
Here is the set of papers to prepare when registering a business in Bahrain:
- proof of the legal address in Bahrain;
- the company name reservation form;
- the Articles of Association for private and public limited liability companies.
Other information to be provided implies:
- the name of the local representative;
- the legal entity used for company registration;
- a description of the activities to undertake, necessary for the business licensing phase.
Clients can rely on our local consultants for support in drafting the papers for correct registration.
What other operations can one complete through the Trade Registry in Bahrain?
Apart from company registration in Bahrain, this authority allows the completion of other operations, such as:
- renewing the business license;
- renewing activities that expire (the term for filing for such a renewal is 6 months before expiry);
- performing searches on existing companies;
- registering alterations made to the company’s Commercial Registration;
- obtaining various official documents.
The Registrar also collects data about existing companies and publishes it in the Official Gazette.
Altering company details with the Bahraini Commercial Register
Considering the Registrar must know at all times the specifics of each entity, locally operating businesses are required to report various changes they undergo through their representatives. Specifically, they must:
- add activities to their existing authorization;
- announce changes in the shareholding and/ or management structure;
- update legal address changes;
- add the creation of branches in other countries.
You can rely on our lawyers in Bahrain for support in handling these matters.
Here is also a video on this subject:
Small and medium-sized enterprises statistics in Bahrain
In recent years, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has risen significantly in Bahrain. According to data gathered by the Ministry of Commerce, at the end of 2023:
- There were 75,000 SMEs operating at a national level;
- 2, 923 of them were micro to small enterprises;
- 817 were micro to small and medium businesses;
- 561 were small and medium to large companies.
If you are interested in company registration in Bahrain and need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.