Citizens own 65% CRs in Bahrain, foreigners 16%

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

In Bahrain, citizens own 65% of the 83,877 Commercial Registration (CR)s, while non-citizens only account for 16% of the total records. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, H.E. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, disclosed this in response to a parliamentary inquiry by MP Hamad Al-Dowai.

Confirming this breakdown, Minister Fakhro specified that out of the total commercial registrations, 54,725 are owned by Bahraini citizens.

Partnerships between Bahraini and non-Bahraini entities comprise 15,730 records, representing 19%.

Moreover, the minister emphasised the presence of 382 commercial activities, allowing foreign individuals to operate without Bahraini partners.

These activities span diverse sectors, including manufacturing, banking, insurance, financial services, information and communications, as well as hospitals and medical centres.

A Commercial Registration certificate (CR) is a legal document issued to investors upon registering their establishment in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

There are three types of commercial registration certificates issued:

1. Commercial Registration certificate without a licence: issued before obtaining approvals or licences for the business activities.

2. Commercial Registration certificate with the licence: issued after obtaining approvals or licences for the business activities.

3. Virtual Commercial Registration (Sijili): Issued to give small individual enterprises and entrepreneurs the legal status to perform business activities and simplify the procedures for establishing some businesses.