How to set up your own company in Bahrain

XTang wrote:

That is the tricky bit.   It used to be that you would get the 30 visas.  Nowadays, I am not so sure with the increased level of inspections and other issues.  Check in your EMS system - does it show the permit level?   check in the Update Unit/CR info (only responsible person can see this option) and it should show you as part of the Bahrainization calculator.  If it doesn't, then first ask e-support through raising a ticket.

Hi XTang,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

6)    At this stage, you need to upload draft “Memorandum of Association” which is in essence the charter for your company showing ownership, capital being deposited, shares of all partners etc.  It must be in line with the company law. Standard formats are available easily.

Sir where can these standard formats be found? I have seached using all the possible terms but couldn't find any.

Digen_star wrote:

6)    At this stage, you need to upload draft “Memorandum of Association” which is in essence the charter for your company showing ownership, capital being deposited, shares of all partners etc.  It must be in line with the company law. Standard formats are available easily.

Sir where can these standard formats be found? I have seached using all the possible terms but couldn't find any.

I saw some on the internet a year ago.  But if not available, you can ask your agent to provide you the same and then keep a soft copy.

Kamran_here wrote:

That's the point. Everyone seems to be just delivery boys as you rightly pointed out earlier.
The much bigger issue is most of them doesn't seem to have any knowledge of the process.
For instance: I was with one the agents this noon and was shocked to hear that even Investors have to pay GOSI every month. My understanding was that 3% fee is only applicable to employees not business owners. This was confirmed again by another agent.

That is wrong.  Investors don't have to pay GOSI.  Instead they fall under a category called voluntary insurance for self employed people and business owners i.e. it is your choice to register.  Go to the SIO website and you can see the details.

You have to understand the process.  When you set up your company, it DOES NOT get registered with SIO automatically i.e. you don't get a login. SIO is a separate registration process.   Once registered, you can get your online account and see the invoices generated there.  For example, I just logged into my account and saw the January invoice for my company which has only investors and the number shown is zero.  There are also no owings for the past months - I registered with SIO back in Oct 2018.  And if there are any owings; despite not being registered, SIO will send you invoices to pay .

Similarly, your company does NOT get registered automatically with BCCI either. You DO pay the fees at the time of registration but most people don't bother to keep up with the BCCI fees.  You can check different CRs on Sijilat and you will different expiry dates for BCCI membership and CR.   To register, you have to submit a separate form to BCCI with authorized signatures.   BCCI membership matters in different areas e.g. when you apply for a Saudi visa, they want your company to give an NOC, ATTESTED by BCCI.  And BCCI won't attest unless you have done the separate registration process with them and gotten a card.  Just paying fees online at MOIC won't matter.

There are lots of complexities in keeping a company running in Bahrain and most people don't know them.  When you have your first inspection from LMRA, you will come back here worried and ask for more details - the agents won't tell you those now .