Business setup & Company Registration in Bahrain, UAE, Gulf and Middle East

Business Setup & Registration in Bahrain

Whole Document PDF

Options for Investor’s:

Bahrain Shareholding Company B.S.C. (Public)
Bahrain Shareholding Company B.S.C (Closed)
With Limited Liability Company W.L.L.
Partnership Company
Simple Commandite Company
Commandite By Shares Company
Single Person Company S.P.C.
Branch of a Foreign Company

1. Bahrain Shareholding Company (B.S.C.) Public

A joint stock company consists of a number of persons not less than seven who subscribe to it by way of negotiable shares. They shall be liable for the company’s debts and obligations only to the extent of the value of their share. The issued capital must not be less than (BD1,000,000) One Million Bahraini Dinars.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum & articles of association
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity)
Capital deposit certificate (after preliminary approval)
Financial Auditor’s report or evolution letter for in-kind capital (if any)
Feasibilty Study

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity)

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*.
Copy of memorandum of Article of association and its amendments (if any) for foreign companies*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

*All documents concerning foreign companies have to be authenticated from one of the options below:
* The authorized party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Bahrain at the country of origin (or)
* The authorized party, the Embassy of the concerned country in Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Baraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Specific documents concerning the directors of the company:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
A promoter who is also a partner, director, or authorized signatory in another company with same or similar activities is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
The minimum number of promoters is seven and the minimum number of directors is five.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

2. Bahrain Shareholding Company (B.S.C.) Closed

A closed joint stock company consists of a number of persons not less than two- who subscribe for negotiable shares that are not offered to the public for subscription. The issued capital; must not be less than (BD 250,000) Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Bahraini Dinars.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum & articles of association.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity)
Capital deposit certificate (after preliminary approval)
Financial Auditor’s report or evaluation letter for in-kind capital (if any).

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any) for foreign companies*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

Specific documents concerning the directors of the company:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
A promoter who is also a partner, director, or authorized signatory in another company with same or similar activities is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
The minimum number of directors is three.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

3. With Limited Liability Company (W.L.L.)

A Limited Liability Company is a company in which the nuber of partners does not exceed fifty partners, and each of them shall only be liable to the extent to their respective share in the capital. The capital must not be less than (BD20,000) Twenty thousand Bahraini Dinars.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum of association.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity).
Capital deposit certificate (after preliminary approval)
Financial Auditor’s report or evolution letter for in-kind capital (if any).

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any) for foreign companies*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

Specific documents concerning the directors of the company:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
A promoter who is also a partner, director, or authorized signatory in another company with same or similar activities is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

4. Partnership Company

A Partnership Company is a company established by two persons or more under a certain name, and in which the partners are jointly liable to the extent of all their property for the company’s obligations.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum of association.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity).
Financial Auditor’s report or evolution letter for in-kind capital (if any).

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any) for foreign companies*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

Specific documents concerning the company's directors:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
A promoter who is also a partner, director, or authorized signatory in another company with same or similar activities is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

5. Simple Commandite Company

Is a limited partnership company set up by two partners or more, who are jointly liable for the company’s obligations to the extent of all their property, and by another or more partners, who have shares therein but are not engaged in its management. The latter partners are called silent partners and shall be liable for the company’s obligations only to the extent of their share in the capital.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum of association.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity).
Financial Auditor’s report or evolution letter for in-kind capital (if any).

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any) for foreign companies*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

Specific documents concerning the directors of the company:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
A promoter who is also a partner, director, or authorized signatory in another company with same or similar activities is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
The joint partners, authorized signatories, and directors must be Bahrainis only.
The Bahrain shares should not be less than 51% of the company’s capital.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

6. Commandite By Shares Company

Is a limited partnership by shares that consists of two categories of partner, one of which is that of joint partners who are jointly liable to the extent of all their property for the company’s obligations, and the other category is that of silent partners who are not liable for the company’s obligations except to the extent of their shares in the capital. The capital must not be less than (BD 20,000) Twenty Thousand Bahraini Dinars.

7. Single Person Company (S.P.C.)

It is every economic activity that the capital of which is fully owned by one natural or corporate person. The capital; must not be less than (BD 50,000) Fifty Thousand Bahraini Dinars.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
Draft memorandum of association.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity).
Financial Auditor’s report or evolution letter for in-kind capital (if any).
Capital deposit certificate (after preliminary approval)
Appointment letter from a external auditors.

Specific required documents concerning “Individual” partners:

CPR copy for Bahraini partners and expatriates, passport and visa pages copies for non-Bahrainis.
Original, stamped & signed no objection letter from the current employer for Bahrainis employed in the private sector (signed by the owner of the Establishment or from the company’s authorized signatory).
Original bank reference and CV for non GCC nationals.
Original educational qualifications and experience letter (depending on the activity).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any) for non-Bahrainis*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors or general assembly resolution to be a shareholder in the company*.

Specific documents concerning the directors of the company:

CPR or passport copies for non-Bahraini directors.
Authenticated Power of Attorney from the mother company.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.
The owner who is also a partner in another business with the same or similar activity is required to provide a no objection letter from the partners of that other business.
Public sector employees are prohibited from becoming shareholders, directors, and authorized signatory, according to the Civil Service Law # (35) for the year (2006).

8. Branch of a Foreign Company

Branch of a foreign company: is every branch of a foreign company, which has been incorporated and registered outside the kingdom of Bahrain. Such branch is authorized to carry out particular activities in Bahrain.

General required documents:

Company registration application form.
External entities pre-approval (depending on the activity).
Sponsorship agreement signed with a Bahraini trader for operational branches (except representative office, regional office, and GCC companies).

Specific required documents concerning “Company” partners:

Copy of commercial registration certificate*
Copy of memorandum or Article of association and its amendments (if any)*.
Latest audited financial report if the company is at least one year old.
Board of directors’ resolution to establish the branch in the Kingdom of Bahrain*.
Guarantee letter from the parent company taking full responsibility of the Bahrain branch.

Specific documents concerning the branch Manage or directors:

CPR or passport copies for non-Resident.
Authenticated Power of Attorney.

Notes:

The ministry of Industry & Commerce has the right to request any additional documents or information at any time.
Power of Attorney for the registration agent.

For more info, please contact us:

Toll Free: 800 FARAHAT
Tel: +971 4 266 2801
Fax: +971 4 269 3625
Mob: +971 50 646 6748
Email: info@farahatco.com

( Publication of Bahrain Investors’ Centre )