Import and selling Alcohol

Where does one go to start the process of getting a CR and Import Licence to import alcohol and sell in Bahrain? Does this have to be a 100% Bahraini Company or could the Company be Foreign owned?

It has to be a company with majority Bahraini shareholding i.e. 51% as the activity is trade in food & beverages.

Now you may get a CR with a Bahraini partner and own 49% of the company; but good luck getting permission / license to import and sell alcohol. The entire trade in that is locked up by 3-4 providers like BMMI, Gulf brands, National hotels company and African/Eastern and they have overlapping shareholdings.  You would need very high level contacts to get approval and even venture into this area.

Many thanks for your comments. Where do we first start though on applying for the permission and CR. We are not worried about the BIG four! The Bahraini is available.

Read this thread about starting your company:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=739858

Hi bro...got license?

Check the activities on sijilat.  If it doesn't cover that, raise a query with MOIC either on Sijilat or via Tawasul.