Company Registration in Bahrain - Business Starting & Setup

Want to set up a firm in Bahrain? We can assist you in starting a business or in buying a shelf company in Bahrain with a full package of necessary documents, legal advice and follow-up support. Incorporation of a firm in Bahrain includes provision of a registered office (for at least 1 year in any of our service plans), an apostilled set of constitutional documents, secretarial services and assistance with compliance fee and pre-approval for opening an account in banks of Bahrain. The total price of company formation in Bahrain includes all necessary fees and charges for the first year of operation, as well as full one-year nominee service (package Optimum).

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Service packages Legislation Tax System Audit Services
Service packages
Express
Standard
Optimum
Company registration
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Legal address per year
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Secretarial services for the first year
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Fees and duties for the first year
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Apostilled bound set of incorporation documents
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Nominee service per year
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Bank Account Pre-approval
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Price
14 500 USD

14 500 USD

15 110 USD

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General Corporate Information

Bahrain's legal system is a mixed one. According to the Constitution, the primary source of legislation is the Shari'ah. In practice, Muslim law primarily regulates relations of personal status.

After the country gained independence in 1971, a special legislative committee was established to reconstruct the legal system. As a result, Bahrain has enacted a considerable amount of modern legislation in various fields, which is mainly based on European legal models.

Legal forms of companies in Bahrain

Bahraini law provides for the following legal forms of companies:

  • General Partnership Company;
  • Limited Partnership Company;
  • Association in Participation;
  • Shareholding Company;
  • Limited Partnership by Shares;
  • Limited Liability Company;
  • Single Person Company;
  • Holding Company.

Free Economic Zones in Bahrain

There are Free Economic Zones (FEZ) in Bahrain:

  • Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP);
  • Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ);
  • Bahrain International Airport (BIA);
  • Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP);
  • Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW).

Bahrain's free economic zones are considered among the best in the world as they provide an optimal business environment for international companies to conduct domestic and foreign business.

Company registration

One of the most popular legal forms for foreigners is the Limited Liability Company or Company with Limited Liability (W.L.L.).

Companies in Bahrain are regulated by the Commercial Companies Law 001 of 2001.

Procedure of a Company Registration in Bahrain

To register a Company with Limited Liability in Bahrain you must:

1. Submit 3 versions of the company name (in English) for verification.

The company name must end with the abbreviation W.L.L. or its full spelling - with limited liability.

2. The drawing up and filing of all required applications and preparation of documents (a set of incorporation and registration documents). Copies of passports, information on the authorized capital (division between participants by %).

3. Consideration of application for registration.

4. leasing an office or obtaining a legal address.

5. Opening a bank account.

Time required to register a company is about 30 working days.

Depending on the type of business activity the company may need a license (the cost of the license varies from 50 BHD to several thousand BHD).

Restrictions for W.L.L.

There are no restrictions on the activities of the company, except that non-residents are prohibited from engaging in banking activities and investing for the benefit of third parties.

Registered office

Availability of a registered office in the country is required. It is possible to use a legal address (virtual office).

Seal

There is no mandatory requirement for the company to have a seal.

Redomiciliation

Redomiciliation is possible in Bahrain.

Company structure

Director

The W.L.L. has a minimum of one director.

Director can be a natural person or a legal entity. There are no residency requirements.

The names of directors are on the public register of companies.

Shareholders

The W.L.L. has a minimum of 2 founders and a maximum of 50.

The founder may be a natural person or a legal entity.

Companies in Bahrain can be 100% owned by foreigners. However, some activities require a founder who is a Bahraini citizen (possibly with 1% of the share capital).

The names of shareholders are in the public register of companies.

Beneficiary

Currently, in Bahrain, information on the beneficiaries of a company is not publicly available.

Authorized capital and shares

In practice, the minimum authorized capital for W.L.L. is currently between 5,000 BHD and 50,000 BHD (depending on the planned turnover).

The authorized capital of the company is divided into equal shares of at least 50 BHD each.

The company may not be incorporated until all monetary and in-kind shares have been distributed among the partners and fully paid up and the shares have been transferred to the company.

Frequently Asked Questions about Company Registration in Bahrain

How much does it cost to register a company in Bahrain?
The cost of opening a company in Bahrain depends on the type of company to be registered and the type of activity you will be engaged in. The minimum package of services costs USD 8000 and includes: registration of the company on a turnkey basis, lease of the registered office for a year and secretarial services, payment of all necessary duties and fees, as well as apostilled translation of the constituent documents.
Can a foreigner own a company in Bahrain?
Yes, a foreigner can own a company in Bahrain. The country has a business-friendly environment and encourages foreign investment, with a number of measures in place to support foreign-owned businesses. Under Bahrain's Foreign Investment Law, foreign investors can fully own their companies in the country and receive the same treatment as local investors. Additionally, foreign investors can benefit from various incentives, such as tax exemptions, relaxed regulations, and streamlined procedures for setting up and operating a business.
Is Bahrain an offshore?
Bahrain is sometimes considered to be an offshore financial center, although this label is a matter of interpretation and debate. The country has a relatively low tax regime, with no corporate or personal income tax for most businesses. Additionally, it has a well-developed banking and financial sector, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment and financial services companies. However, it's important to note that Bahrain is not a tax haven in the traditional sense, and it is not considered to be a secrecy jurisdiction. The country is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has committed to implementing international tax standards, including the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for the exchange of information between tax authorities. Overall, while Bahrain may have some characteristics of an offshore financial center, it is not a tax haven and has committed to implementing international tax standards and cooperating with other countries on tax matters.

Core Services and fees for the formation of a company in Bahrain

Incorporation

Price14 500 USD

(including incorporation tax and state registry fee)

Corporate legal services

Price8 650 USD

(including registered address and registered agent)

Delivery of documents by courier mail

Price250 USD

DHL or TNT, at cost of a Courier Service

Nominee Director

Paid-up “nominee director” set includes the following documents

Nominee Shareholder

Paid-up “nominee shareholder” set includes the following documents

Compliance fee in Bahrain

Compliance fee is payable in the cases of: incorporated of a company, renewal of a company, liquidation of a company, transfer out of a company, issue of a power of attorney to a new attorney, change of director / shareholder / BO (except the change to a nominee director / shareholder), signing of documents

Basic

Price350 USD

simple company structure with only 1 physical person

For legal entity in structure under GSL administration

Price150 USD

additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

For legal entity in structure not under GSL administration

Price200 USD

additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure NOT under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

For client with high risk Status

Price450 USD

Signing of documents

Price100 USD

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