• No Tax for companies or individuals
• Custom duties are low
• Corporate friendly policies
• Investor friendly legal system
• Simplified Business procedures
• Upcoming Banking and financial hub
• Tremendous scope for growth and open market for opportunities
• People are friendly and culture is conducive for business growth
• Good infrastructure and government has also started initiatives to make it better
• There is lot of freedom in Bahrain
• Major port hub in the Middle East
• Easy access to all Middle east markets
• There is good law and order in the land
• Flourishing entertainment and tourism industry
• Good social life and variety of food
• Introducing Corporate governance

The primary goal of Bahrain Investment Centre BIC is to simplify the process of obtaining the Commercial Registration (CR) in order to encourage investors to select Bahrain as the preferred destination for investment.

BIC aims is to achieve operational efficiency and customer orientation in delivering the services through the use of best practices and appropriate solutions while interacting with other external organizations involved in licensing the activities.

'No wrong door' policy is applied whereby an Investor is free to apply to any of the government entities or professional bodies, and the system will automatically route the application to the appropriate authority that grants the approval on the application.

BIC is located at the Seef mall, the leading shopping complex in Bahrain. It is easily accessible from almost anywhere in Bahrain with ample parking space and excellent infrastructure.

BIC hosts representatives of various ministries who are concerned with CR and business activities. Investors will complete the entire process of application with all the related ministries under one roof. Once all the investors? documents are complete and the concerned ministries given an approval, the CR certificate can be issued almost instantly. However, it typically takes about 3 to 4 working days to obtain the CR.

Currently BIC handles the following transactions:

• Commercial Registration
• Agency Registration
• Trade Mark Registration (not available as of today, will be starting soon)
• Amendments
• Application Follow Up
• Notary Services
• Work Permit/Visa
• Partner Services

A business entity could be a sole proprietorship (individual) or a corporate. The corporate my take the form of any of the following legal structures: W.L.L., Closed Joint Stock, Public Joint Stock, Branch, Representative Office, Partnership, Holding Company, Single Person Company.

In general, individual activities (ICR) are not allowed for non-Bahrainis. For companies, the activities that are not allowed for 100% foreign ownership companies include trading, contracting and export / import.

• Ministry of Municipality
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Information
• Electricity and Water Authority
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Industry

• Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Economic Development Board
• Bahrain Telecommunication Company Batelco
• Ahli United Bank
• Kuwait Finance House
• Key Point Consultants
• Bahrain Development Bank
• Qays H. Al Zu'bi Attorneys and Legal Consultants
• Supreme Council for Women
• Microsoft

• An application together with a list of possible names (4 proposed names)
• Copy Of CPR/ Passport
• Memorandum and articles of association
• CVs for management and professional consultancy
• A copy of the commercial agency, distribution agreement or franchise agreement, if the objectives of the company are relating to such agreements.
• A license agreement for exploiting a trademark, if the activities of the company or the commercial name thereof are relating to such agreements.
• A company forming another company shall also require a copy of CR of the established company, decision of the partners and board of directors for incorporation, latest audited balance sheet and approval from other entities.

• An application together with a list of possible names (4 proposed names)
• Copy of CPR
• Copy of experience certificate
• Bank guarantee certificate
• Approval from other entities

Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW) is being established to put the Kingdom of Bahrain on the map as a destination for investors and their business needs. BIW is set to attract local, regional and international investments enhancing Bahrain?s reputation as an industrial hub on the world stage. BIW also aims to create opportunities for all relevant support services to the industrial sector such as finance, construction, trade and other social services.

BIW is strategically located in close proximity to Bahrain International Airport, the seaport, the highway leading to the Bahrain-Saudi causeway and the new proposed causeway between Bahrain and Qatar. This facilitates transportation for easy import and export of goods, reducing logistical requirements, which translates into direct cost reduction.

• Logistics & Warehousing Park (accommodates medium & light industries including warehousing, storage, packaging & re-distribution facilities)
• Business & Commercial Park (low rise office blocks, training centres, conference hall and other commercial facilities)
• Residential Park (which will accommodate quarters for middle management, employees & workers)
• Services

• Trade licenses for items to be sold in Bahrain are conveniently obtained and issued with no restrictions on repatriation of capital, profits or dividends.
• A complete customs duty exemption also includes the following:
  • Capital goods
  • Goods for re-export
  • Raw materials for manufacturing
  • Semi-finished commodities imported for further processing
  • Imports required for development projects
• Establishments may be set-up without a local sponsor, thus providing full business ownership in most categories and ensuring 100% profit retention
• Exemption of corporate, personal and value-added or withholding tax also ensures increased profitability

The Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) is a new, quality, 247-Hectare Business Park developed in Bahrain by the Ministry of Industry & Commerce. The BIIP is designed to attract export orientated, local and global companies primarily in internationally traded manufacturing or services activities.

BIIP is situated in a superb location with the highest possible levels of connectivity and access: Bahrain International Airport is just 5 minutes by road; the existing seaport and the new deepwater port are minutes away and the Park enjoys direct motorway access to Saudi Arabia, via the 25km Saudi-Bahrain Causeway, only 20 minutes away. Sea, air and road transportation logistics are unparalleled in the Region.

• Services and knowledge-based activities
• High technology manufacturing and assembly
• Large industry light/medium manufacturing
• SME's light/medium manufacturing
• Process industry

• 0% corporate tax with a 10 year guarantee
• 100% foreign ownership for companies in Industry, Technology, Healthcare, Education, Training and International Services
• No withholding or value-added taxes (GCC wide Import Duty is 5% on raw materials and equipment ? this does not apply to companies manufacturing in BIIP)
• Full Duty Free access to all GCC markets (unlike Free Zones in the region)
• 100% repatriation of capital
• No recruitment restrictions for the first 5 years
• Availability of serviced industrial land at extremely competitive rates
• Renewable 50 year leases
• Special customs services
• Dedicated on-site management team

• Creating high quality jobs for the local workforce
• Internationally focused company
• Value added projects - contributing to the economy of Bahrain
• Projects must have long term sustainability
• Investors will be required to comply with BIIP building control regulations