An Individual Establishment is a commercial entity owned by a single legal owner, only the Bahraini citizens and citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (must be resident in Bahrain) can register an Individual establishment in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Individual Establishment is a non-incorporated entity and owned by one individual only.
The Individual Establishment is also known as Individual Commercial Registration (ICR) as the registration of the commercial establishment does not provide any liability protection. In other words, the owner is liable for all the debts and liabilities incurred by the business to the extent of his/her assets.
Note: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries only refer to and comprise of The Kingdom of Bahrain, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, The State of Kuwait, The Sultanate of Oman, and The State of Qatar.
Requirements for Setting up an Individual Establishment in Bahrain
- Must be a citizen of the Kingdom of Bahrain
- At least 18 years of age
- Must be a citizen of GCC member country residing in Bahrain
- Possess a valid passport
- Have no criminal record
- The non-corporate entity must be must have only one legal owner
- Must have an external auditor
- Annual submission of the audited financial statements to MOICT is compulsory
Advantages of Setting up Individual Establishment in Bahrain
- Unlimited liability company structure
- Local office presence required
- Must have an external auditor
- Annual submission of the audited financial statements to MOICT is compulsory
Business Environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain
- English is predominantly used making business operations easier
- Liberal and business-friendly policies
- No taxes on income, capital gains, and wealth
- Strong financial and banking sector
- Strategic location in the Middle East with Low operating costs
- Excellent connectivity to Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries
- Access to Bahrain’s double taxation treaties
Documents required to set up Individual Establishment in Bahrain
General Documents
- Individual company registration application
- Commercial name registration application
- Copy of passport (only for GCC citizens)
- Copy of CPR Bahraini ID card for Bahraini citizens
- Proof of residency in Bahrain for GCC citizens
- Evidence that the applicant is not engaged in any other employment
- If the applicant is employed, he/she should obtain a no objection certificate signed and stamped by the applicant’s employer/managing director
- Copy of the applicant’s educational qualifications and experience letter (according to the type of business activity)
- Proposed commercial address in which the registered commercial activity will function (a copy of a signed office lease agreement if one exists)
Who We Are
We at Commitbiz can also offer constructive support and strategic guidance at every stage of your business with our expertise in Bahraini local laws, regulations and customs. If you want to know the business opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, feel free to Contact Us. We are a team of professionals experienced in Setting up Business Operations in Bahrain.