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Saturday to Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Office 1502, Building 361, Road 1705, Block 317, Diplomatic Area , Kingdom of Bahrain
Bank-Ready Since 2018
Business Setup in Bahrain — Done Right, From Day One
Setup in Bahrain is an MOICT-approved business centre that handles business setup in Bahrain end to end — CR registration, bank account opening, investor visas, and work permits. We prepare bank-ready documents so your setup clears compliance checks on the first attempt.
Track Record
2,500+
Business Setups Completed
100%
Foreign Ownership Available
~1 Hour
Bank Account Approved + IBAN
BHD 1,340
Starting Package Price
Business Setup in Bahrain — At a Glance
Business setup in Bahrain costs between BHD 1,340 and BHD 2,150 depending on the package, plus government CR fees of BHD 432 through Sijilat 3.0. Foreigners can own 100% of most business types. CR registration takes 1–3 business days, and bank accounts open in roughly one hour with bank-ready documentation. Setup in Bahrain Business Centre has completed 2,500+ business setups since 2018, with AML-compliant documents that pass bank compliance on the first attempt. Read the complete business setup guide →
What We Cover
Business Setup Services in Bahrain
Whether you are setting up a new company, opening a bank account, renewing a CR, or bringing employees to Bahrain — each guide walks you through the process with documents, fees, and timelines.
Business Setup in Bahrain — Full Guide
Step-by-step business setup guide — entity types, ownership rules, required documents, Sijilat process, and MOICT approval explained from start to finish.
Business Setup Cost in Bahrain
Full cost breakdown — government fees of BHD 432, virtual office, packages starting at BHD 1,340, and what every line item actually covers in Bahraini Dinar.
Investor Visa Bahrain
Requirements, 8-step application process, LMRA and NPRA procedures, eligibility criteria, and how to go from business setup to residence permit.
Cost of Investor Visa
BHD 755–953 breakdown covering LMRA fees, NPRA fees, medical examination, biometrics, and every government charge for your investor visa.
Setup Bank Account in Bahrain
How to open a corporate bank account — required documents, Bahraini banks that accept new companies, compliance checks, and how to walk out with your IBAN in one hour.
CR Renewal Bahrain
Sijilat renewal guide — required documents, common mistakes that cause delays, government fees, and how to renew your Commercial Registration on time.
Virtual Office in Bahrain
MOICT rules on virtual offices, which banks accept virtual addresses, risks to watch for, and how to choose a compliant registered address for your CR.
Virtual Office Bahrain Price
BHD 440–1,250 pricing comparison across providers — what each tier includes, hidden fees, and how pricing affects your business setup and bank compliance.
Bahrain Work Visa
All visa types, LMRA work permit application, required documents, processing time, fees, and the step-by-step process for employers and employees.
Contact & Free Consultation
Reach us through WhatsApp, email, or phone. We respond within 5 minutes during business hours. Free consultation for all business setup and visa services.
Ownership Rules
Who Can Set Up a Business in Bahrain With 100% Ownership?
Foreign ownership rules for business setup in Bahrain depend on the business activity and the investor's nationality. Here is the complete breakdown — The Setup in Bahrain Ownership Matrix. See the full business setup guide for detailed structure advice.
| Business Activity | Foreign Ownership Allowed | Bahraini Partner Required? | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services | 100% | No | WLL / SPC |
| Manufacturing | 100% | No | WLL / SPC |
| Export Trading | 100% | No | WLL / SPC |
| Holding Companies | 100% | No | WLL / SPC |
| Trading Inside Bahrain | Up to 99.99% | Yes — 1 share minimum | 9999+1 WLL Structure |
| Construction | Up to 49% | Yes — 51% minimum | WLL with Bahraini Majority |
| GCC Citizens — All Sectors | 100% | No | Any |
| USA Citizens — All Sectors | 100% | No | Any (US-Bahrain FTA) |
Why Bahrain
Why Do Entrepreneurs Choose Bahrain for Business Setup?
Bahrain ranks as one of the easiest places in the Middle East to set up and run a business. Zero personal income tax, 100% foreign ownership for most activities, fast registration, and a banking sector with 370+ financial institutions make it a practical base for international entrepreneurs.
0%
Personal Income Tax
No personal income tax on earnings. Corporate tax at 0% for most businesses (oil & gas excluded).
100%
Foreign Ownership
Full ownership for services, manufacturing, export trading, and holding companies.
370+
Financial Institutions
Bahrain hosts the largest financial services sector in the GCC relative to its economy.
1–3
Days to Register
CR registration through Sijilat takes 1–3 business days with complete documentation.
How It Works
How Does Business Setup in Bahrain Work?
Business setup in Bahrain follows four stages — from the first conversation to a fully operational company with a bank account and investor visa. Read the complete business setup guide for full details on each step.
1
Consultation
Discuss your business activity, ownership structure, and goals. We identify the right entity type and package for your setup.
2
Registration
We prepare bank-ready documents and submit your application through Sijilat. CR issued in 1–3 business days.
3
Bank Account
Walk into the bank with complete compliance documents. Account approved and IBAN certificate in hand within one hour.
4
Visa & Operations
Apply for investor visa, sponsor employees, set up office — your business is live and operational in Bahrain.
Packages
How Much Does Business Setup in Bahrain Cost?
Business setup in Bahrain starts at BHD 1,340. Every package includes bank-ready documentation — MOA, AOA, Board Resolution, Company Profile, and business plan prepared to pass bank compliance checks. Government CR fees of approximately BHD 432 are additional. See the full cost breakdown for details.
Standard
BHD 1,340
3 months virtual office included
- CR Registration (Sijilat)
- Bank-ready MOA & AOA
- Board Resolution
- Company Profile & Business Plan
- 3-Month Virtual Office
- Bank Account Assistance
Most Popular
Gold
BHD 1,700
6 months virtual office included
- Everything in Standard
- 6-Month Virtual Office
- Priority Processing
- Investor Visa Guidance
- CR Renewal Reminder
- Dedicated Account Manager
Premium
BHD 2,150
12 months virtual office included
- Everything in Gold
- 12-Month Virtual Office
- Full Investor Visa Processing
- Work Visa for 1 Employee
- Annual CR Renewal Included
- Full Year Support
Regional Comparison
Business Setup in Bahrain vs UAE, Saudi, Oman, Qatar & Kuwait
Entrepreneurs often compare business setup costs and timelines across GCC countries. This table shows where Bahrain stands on cost, speed, ownership, tax, and bank account opening time.
| Factor | Bahrain 🇧🇭 | UAE 🇦🇪 | Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 | Oman 🇴🇲 | Qatar 🇶🇦 | Kuwait 🇰🇼 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Cost | BHD 1,340+ | AED 15,000+ | SAR 5,000+ | OMR 1,500+ | QAR 15,000+ | KWD 1,500+ |
| Registration Time | 1–3 days | 3–7 days | 3–5 days | 5–10 days | 5–14 days | 7–21 days |
| 100% Foreign Ownership | Most activities | Mainland: Yes (2020+) | Most activities | Limited | Free zones only | Limited |
| Corporate Tax | 0% | 9% (above AED 375K) | 20% | 15% | 10% | 15% |
| Personal Income Tax | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Bank Account Speed | ~1 hour | 1–4 weeks | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 weeks | 2–4 weeks | 2–6 weeks |
| VAT Rate | 10% | 5% | 15% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
Common Questions
Business Setup in Bahrain — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions entrepreneurs ask most before setting up a business in Bahrain.
Business setup in Bahrain starts at BHD 1,340 for the Standard package (3 months virtual office), BHD 1,700 for Gold (6 months), and BHD 2,150 for Premium (12 months). Government fees for CR registration through Sijilat are approximately BHD 432. Total first-year cost ranges from BHD 1,772 to BHD 2,582. See the full business setup cost breakdown.
Yes. Under Bahrain's Commercial Companies Law and Royal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2025, 100% foreign ownership is allowed for most business activities including services, manufacturing, export trading, and holding companies. Construction requires 51% Bahraini ownership, and trading inside Bahrain requires at least one Bahraini share (9999+1 structure). GCC and USA citizens get 100% ownership across all sectors. Full details in the business setup guide.
CR registration through the Sijilat 3.0 system takes 1–3 business days with complete documents. The full business setup process — document preparation, MOICT approval, and bank account opening — typically takes 15–20 business days with professional assistance from Setup in Bahrain.
Bank-ready means your documents — MOA, AOA, Board Resolution, Company Profile, and business plan — are prepared to pass bank compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks on the first attempt. About 30–40% of newly registered companies in Bahrain face bank account rejections because of documentation gaps. Our bank-ready approach ensures documents meet Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) compliance standards from day one. Details in the bank account setup guide.
You need passport copies of all shareholders (valid 6+ months), 3 proposed company names, business activity details, a 6-month bank statement, proof of registered commercial address (virtual office agreement), and a recommended BHD 1,000 capital deposit. For certain nationalities, documents authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also required. Bank-ready setups include an AML-compliant company profile and source of funds documentation.
No. Bahrain requires a registered commercial address for CR registration, but a virtual office satisfies this requirement for most business activities. Virtual office prices range from BHD 440 to BHD 1,250 per year. MOICT regulations require the address to be a legitimate commercial space. See the virtual office guide and pricing comparison.
An investor visa requires a registered company with a valid CR, then applying through LMRA and NPRA. The cost ranges from BHD 755 to BHD 953. The 8-step process covers: CR registration, document authentication, LMRA application, medical examination, biometrics, NPRA submission, visa stamping, and residence permit issuance. Full details: investor visa guide and cost breakdown.
Bahrain has 0% corporate income tax for most businesses. Only oil and gas companies pay corporate tax. There is no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, and no withholding tax. A 10% Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT) applies from January 2025 only to multinational enterprises with global revenues exceeding EUR 750 million (OECD Pillar Two). For SMEs and most foreign investors, the effective tax rate remains 0%. VAT is 10%.
Sijilat (version 3.0) is Bahrain's official online Commercial Registration system operated by MOICT. It handles business registration, CR renewal, activity amendments, and partner changes. The platform digitized Bahrain's entire registration process, enabling CR issuance in 1–3 business days. Government fees through Sijilat for a standard CR registration are approximately BHD 432.
Banks that accept new company accounts in Bahrain include National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), Ahli United Bank (AUB), Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH), and Al Salam Bank. Each bank has different AML requirements. With bank-ready documentation from Setup in Bahrain, account opening takes roughly one hour with IBAN certificate issued the same day.
Yes. Foreign companies can set up a branch office in Bahrain without creating a separate subsidiary. Branch offices are licensed under Bahrain's Commercial Companies Law and can be 100% foreign-owned. The branch operates under the parent company's name and is registered through the Sijilat system with MOICT approval. This is a common route for international businesses wanting a GCC presence without a separate legal entity.
Setup in Bahrain Business Centre W.L.L. is an MOICT-approved business centre in Bahrain's Diplomatic Area, led by Waqas Akram (ACMA, CPA, CAML). The firm has been operating since 2018 and has completed 2,500+ business setups for entrepreneurs from 40+ countries. Our team handles CR registration, bank-ready documentation, investor visas, bank account setup, CR renewals, and work permits. Book a free consultation.
Ready to Set Up Your Business in Bahrain?
Tell us about your business idea. We will map out the right entity type, ownership structure, and timeline — then handle the entire setup while you focus on what matters.
Setup in Bahrain Business Centre W.L.L. · Diplomatic Area, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain