GCC · Jurisdiction profile
🇧🇭 Doing business in Bahrain
Foreign founders most often use a WLL. Bahrain follows civil law, with corporate tax of 0% (15% DMTT for large MNEs) and personal income tax of 0%.
Entity at a glance
| Typical vehicle | WLL |
|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% in most sectors |
| Minimum capital | BHD 50 (activity-based) |
| Time to incorporate | 10–30 days |
| Corporate tax | 0% (15% DMTT for large MNEs) |
| VAT / GST | 10% |
| Dividend withholding | 0% |
| Resident director | Not required |
| Physical office | Required |
| Annual running cost | USD 6,000–14,000 |
| Audit | Threshold-based |
| Legal system | Civil law |
| Currency controls | None |
Regulatory profile
- Data transfers: PDPL 2018 — whitelist or authority approval (residency approach: conditional).
- Employment termination: protective regime.
- Beneficial ownership register: regulator-only.
- Economic substance test: applies.
- Information exchange: CRS + FATCA IGA Model 1.
Compare Bahrain with
Bahrain vs Qatar (QFC)Bahrain vs Qatar (Mainland)Bahrain vs UAE (DIFC)Bahrain vs UAE (ADGM)Bahrain vs Saudi ArabiaBahrain vs United KingdomBahrain vs SingaporeBahrain vs United States (Delaware)Bahrain vs India
Figures are indicative and change often. Verify with qualified local counsel. Xc.legal is not a law firm.