Bahrain Company Formation
Setup your business in Bahrain today!
Starting from:
Finish opening in:
Guaranteed:
.avif)
Company formation process
Understand how to launch your business step-by-step
3-4 months
Step 1
Security Clearance & KYC
We'll handle your security clearance with Bahrain authorities - it's an essential first step!
Simply provide us with:
- Clear passport copies
- Signed KYC forms
- Signed engagement letter
- Authorization letter
Step 2
Company name
You will need to come up with 3 company name options, and we'll handle the reservation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Remember
- Names can be innovative or include your own name
- Must be unique and not already registered
- Can't be just generic terms or mimic international brands
- Should respect local laws and values
Step 3
Register the company address
Every Bahrain business needs an official address - we've got you covered with two easy options:
- Our economical office space solution (just sign the tenancy agreement)
- Select any office that you find yourself (we'll handle the registration process)
Either way, we ensure full compliance while you focus on what matters - your business!
Schedule a completely free consultation call with our agent and ask them any of your questions!
Step 4
Drafting your Deed of Association
Deed of Association - a critical document outlines shareholder responsibilities and company rules - and we'll craft it perfectly for your business structure! Our team drafts all necessary clauses with a private notary and submits everything to the Ministry for approval, securing your business's legal existence without the headache.
Step 5
Notarizing Your Documents
Time to make it official! For this step:
- All shareholders must be physically present
- Original passports required
- Documents must be signed with passport signatures
Sounds complicated? Don't worry it - our team manages the entire notary process, ensuring compliance without delays thanks to our years of experience.
Step 6
Opening Your Bank Account
A corporate bank account is required by law - but our banking consultants make it happen in just 5-7 business days! We'll guide you through selecting the right Bahraini bank and navigate all requirements:
- Six-month bank statements
- Business summary and financial plan
- Proof of income sources
Let us handle the financial compliance while you prepare for business.
Step 7
Final Registration
This is the last step!
We take your notarized documents and capital deposit certificate to the Ministry for final approval. Once they give the green light, your Bahrain business is officially registered and ready to begin doing business!
.avif)
What are the benefits of Bahrain?
0% Corporate tax
Bahrain has 0% corporate tax on all activities except for oil & gas mining.
Additionally, Bahrain does not have Free zones and Mainlands. The entire country is a large Free zone with no tax.
0% Income tax
Bahrain does not impose any income tax on individuals or businesses, providing significant savings for entrepreneurs and investors.
This tax-free environment allows for maximum profit retention and simplified financial planning for both personal and business income.
Express setup
Bahrain currently has a country-wide policy which is aimed at attracting international investors and businesses into the cuntry, as a result of UAE's growing regulations and taxations. Therefore Bahrain has simplified its' appliaction process, relaxed its's regulations and decreased corporate setup times. Overall, this makes Bahrain a very easy place to setup your business in.
Our expert team handles all documentation and regulatory requirements, ensuring your business is operational in the shortest possible time.
Residence for all shareholders
All shareholders will obtain residency permits easily with minimal documentation and straightforward application procedures.
This provides the flexibility to live and work in Bahrain while managing your business operations from this strategic location. Its alayws a good option to have a backup residence permit and foreign bank accounts, just in case.
No banking pressure
No requirement for minimum bank balance or complex financial reporting, making banking relationships simple and accessible. This corresponds to Bahrains' country-wide policy to attract new investors and businesses. The banks are encouraged to not ask too many questions and to not complicate the account opening process.
Local and international banks offer competitive services without the restrictive requirements found in other jurisdictions.
What are the costs?
Basic package
- Name approval
- License
- Registration
- Office setup
- Bank account (BHD)
- Shareholder residence
Setup times:
3 month
3-4 month
Premium package
- Name approval
- License
- Registration
- Office setup
- Bank account (BHD)
- Shareholder residence
- VAT registration
- SIO registration
- LMRA registration
- Online banking
- 2 free work visas
- Post formation support
- Currency accounts (AED, USD, EUR, etc)
FAQ
In Bahrain, there is no mandatory minimum capital requirement for company setup. However, based on our experience, we recommend declaring at least 10,000 BD (26,500 USD) as the share capital. While you can register with as low as 2,700 USD, higher declared capital makes the formation process smoother and reduces potential delays with approvals.
The good news is that you can withdraw this capital after six months of company operations, so it's essentially a temporary deposit that facilitates a hassle-free setup process.
No, it's not possible to accelerate the process beyond what we already provide. We provide the fastest possible service, only limited by government ministry processing speeds. About 90% of companies we help establish are completed within 2-2.5 months, though we only guarantee completion in 3-4 months, mainly as protection for ourselves.
As a company, we always strive to underpromise and overdeliver, not the other way around.
Depending on the chosen package, you may need to visit Bahrain three times for a total of 11 working days:
First visit (1 day): Issue power of attorney to BCF to act on your behalf during formation.
Second visit (2-3 days): Sign the Memorandum of Association and other company documents.
Third visit (6-7 days): Activate investor visa, obtain CPR (ID card), get local SIM and activate online banking.
Company registration itself takes 1.5-2 months. However, the full process with the bank account opening may take up 3-4 months, especially for USD accounts, which can present additional challenges. Most of our clients complete the whole process within just 2-2.5 months.
As a company, we have a policy to underpromise and overdeliver, not the other way around.
Yes, to be eligible for 0% corporate tax in Bahrain, you must "demonstrate operational presence in the country". This means maintaining an office with at least one full-time employee. For most clients, we recommend hiring an office administrator at minimum wage (380 BD or 1,030 USD monthly) to meet this requirement.
BCF can handle the entire process of finding and managing this employee for you.
No local partner is required for most of our clients. You do not need a local partner if you plan operations outside Bahrain. Local partnership is only required for select 5% of licensed activities and only when conducting operations inside Bahrain, which doesn't apply to most international businesses.
BCF agents will help determine the optimal structure based on your desired activities!
Yes, it's completely possible to hire foreign employees. There are additional costs including work visas (around 270 USD per year) and other small fees (30-50 USD annually), but the process is straightforward and totally possible!
BCF handles all visa applications and employment documentation to ensure compliance with local requirements.
Annual maintenance costs depend on several factors: number of licenses, foreign staff, local staff, shareholders, office lease, and admin salary. Most of our clients' costs are slightly under 10,000 USD annually (about 850 USD per month).
We have a dedicated calculator on our website where you can estimate your specific maintenance costs based on your requirements.
Have a different question? Type it in:
See what the clients have to say about us!
Discover more about BCF from customer reviews
