Bahrain: Investing

FDI in Figures

The Kingdom of Bahrain is very open to foreign investment and has one of the highest FDI stock-to-GDP ratios in the region. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI in Bahrain increased by 9.7% year on year in 2022, to USD 1.95 billion. In the same period, the FDI stock reached USD 35.4 billion, around 79.8% of the country’s GDP. According to governmental data, FDI inflows in 2022 were dominated mostly by electricity, gas steam & air conditioning supply, manufacturing and financial & insurance activities sectors. Kuwait was the main investor, followed by the UAE and Guernsey. Data from the Bahrain Economic Development Board show that the agency secured USD 1.7 billion in FDI projects in 2023. In the same year, the financial services sector saw unprecedented investment, showcasing its robustness and capacity to attract top global players, overtaking oil and gas to become Bahrain's leading economic contributor, comprising 17.5% of real GDP. The ICT sector also garnered significant investment interest, with manufacturing following closely behind.

Bahrain enjoys an open and attractive economic and regulatory environment for international companies looking for a gateway to Gulf and Middle East markets. The country has the lowest corporate and personal taxes in the Gulf, without any restrictions for free trade zones. Foreign business ownership is fully permitted in more than 95% of all economic activities, eliminating the need to resort to a local partner in most cases. There are no limitations on the repatriation of capital, profits, or dividends, except for income generated by companies in the oil and gas sector, which are subject to a 46% tax rate on profits. The excellence of the country’s logistical infrastructure is also a major factor of attraction. Moreover, Bahrain offers a large, highly skilled pool of financial workers, a regulatory structure that is both advanced and internationally well-regarded, and a physical connection to Saudi Arabia – by far the largest economy in the Gulf. Beside a strong regional competition, FDI in Bahrain have been limited by the slow advancement of the privatisation programme and a rigid labour market. The absence of true reconciliation between the Sunni monarchy and the predominantly Shiite opposition constitutes a hindrance to FDI. Moreover, new emerging trade centres in the Gulf increased the competition to become a regional financial crossroad. Overall, Bahrain is a significant economic hub in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area and offers one of the most accommodating investment climates to draw in foreign companies. The national currency is freely transferable and tied to the U.S. dollar. Bahrain ranks 67th among the 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2023 and 54th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

What to consider if you invest in Bahrain

Strong Points

The advantages of Bahrain in terms of attracting FDI include:
-A largely English-speaking educated and skilled population;
-A tradition of cultural openness based on trade and the country's strategic location in the northern Gulf, with good communications links with Saudi Arabia and an easy access to other Gulf markets;
-Operating costs among the most competitive in the region;
-The most attractive tax regime in the Gulf;
-A solid reputation in the regulation of financial services;
-Excellent quality of life;
-Relatively (in a regional context) diversified economy, with oil, manufacturing (including aluminum and petro-chemicals) and financial sectors;
-Financial and other support from larger regional states, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Weak Points

The potential factors hindering foreign investment include:
- The period of political and civil upheaval that hit in Bahrain in February 2011 and resulted in sporadic outbreaks of unrest fueled by demands for political and social reforms and questions such as housing, employment and sectarian discrimination, all based on tensions between the ruling Sunni minority and the Shia majority;
- Regional instability, including potential for contagion stemming from events in Iran, Iraq and/or Syria;
- The use of official travel bans, which prohibit an individual from leaving the country until a business project or a dispute is resolved; periodically, foreign companies have also experienced difficulties in obtaining work permits and residence visas for expatriate employees due to the policy of promoting the employment of Bahraini citizens;
- Corruption or government intervention in tenders and disputes can be an impediment to FDI;
- Despite economic diversification, there is still a high dependence on oil revenues, directly (own output) and indirectly (regional influence);
- Sharply deteriorated public finances since 2015.

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

The Government of Bahrain has a generally liberal approach to foreign investment and actively seeks to attract investors and foreign companies in a competition to be the most attractive country in the Middle-East. Various measures have been taken in this direction, such as the formation of a Supreme Council for privatization in the spring of 2001, the creation of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company in 2006, whose role is to manage all public investment, and the creation of the Bahrain Investors Center (BIC), designed as a "one stop shop" and providing all business services, licensing and registration. However, the labour policy of "Bahrainization", a quota system which requires employers to hire a minimum percentage of Bahrainis, can cause potential delays and confusion when issuing work permits and renewals.

Bilateral Investment Conventions Signed By Bahrain

See the list of the bilateral agreements signed by Bahrain on the UNCTAD website.

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Freedom of Establishment

There are essentially eight options available to foreign investors who are looking to undertake business/commercial activities in Bahrain:
-With limited liability company
-Partnership company
-Bahrain shareholding company (BSC) - public
-Bahrain shareholding company (BSC) - closed
-Simple commandite company
-Single person company
-Branch of a foreign company
-Holding company

The WLL is the most commonly used form of company. To find out more, please visit the government website.

Acquisition of Holdings

In most of the cases (around 95%), a 100% foreign ownership is possible.

Obligation to Declare

All business registrations have to be approved by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. To find out more, please visit the commercial registration portal.

Competent Organisation For the Declaration

Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Requests For Specific Authorisations

Some activities are limited to nationals of the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG): Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, for example accounting services; import; export and/or sale of race car fuel; cargo clearance; fishing.

Some activities are limited to nationals of Bahrain, such as certain real estate services, press and publishing; printing; film and TV services; the land transport of goods, passengers and tourists; inland sea cruises; car rental, the Hajj and Umra services; services providing foreign labor; trade agencies; small businesses.

Any business registration must be approved by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC).

Investment Opportunities

Investment Aid Agency

Economic Development Board of Bahrain (EDB)

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement

Tenders Info, Tenders in Bahrain
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide

Other Useful Resources

Bahrain eGovernement Portal
Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
Ministery of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Bahrain
Bahrain's labour market regulatory authority

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