Bahrain cracks down on misleading advertising with BD20,000 fine and jail time

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A BD20,000 fine and jail time could face advertisers who mislead authorities or operate without a licence under a government-drafted bill tightening Bahrain’s advertising rules.

The proposal, now before Parliament’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee, seeks to curb harmful practices and smooth the licensing process.

The bill, amending Decree-Law No. 14 of 1973, would place stricter controls on advertising, particularly roadside promotions and commercial displays under the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs.

A memorandum from the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission outlines that the law aims to improve efficiency, protect the sector from harmful outfits, and set up clearer rules for obtaining permits.

Punishment

Those who breach the rules face jail terms or fines between BD1,000 and BD20,000.

This applies to advertising without a licence, breaking licence conditions, providing false information, or using unlawful means to secure a permit.

Obstructing ministry inspectors or concealing records and documents needed for oversight would also attract penalties.

Each breach would be treated separately, with courts ordering the removal of unauthorised adverts at the advertiser’s expense.

The proposed law defines advertising as any medium designed to inform the public or a specific group about a product, service, or offering.

This includes visual, audio, or illuminated adverts, as well as those made from materials such as wood, metal, paper, fabric, plastic, or glass.

Advertisers would need prior approval from the relevant authority before displaying content.

The ministry would have powers to inspect advertisements and remove those that break the rules.

Advertisers would receive at least 15 days’ notice before removal, and they would be required to cover the cost of restoring the site.

The ministry could also cancel an advertising licence permanently or for a set period.

Penalties would apply to each offending advertisement.

Cost Courts would be required to order the removal of adverts that breach the law, with advertisers bearing the cost of restoring the affected sites. Anyone who removes, damages, or defaces a licensed advertisement, or any part of it, would face a separate fine of up to BD1,000.