To start a business, investors must obtain a Commercial Registration along with the necessary business licenses and/or approvals. Businesses are considered legally established once registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through obtaining a Commercial Registration certificate (without a license).
In order to start practicing the activity, investors are required to obtain certain approvals and/or business licenses from licensing entities, then they will get issued a Commercial Registration certificate with the license(s).

To start a business, investors must obtain a Commercial Registration along with the necessary business licenses and/or approvals. Businesses are considered legally established once registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through obtaining a Commercial Registration certificate (without a license).
In order to start practicing the activity, investors are required to obtain certain approvals and/or business licenses from licensing entities, then they will get issued a Commercial Registration certificate with the license(s).

A register in which the trader's subject to the provisions of this Law are registered by any legally approved means

A Commercial Registration certificate is a legal document issued to investors upon registering their establishment with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in order to start a Business. Where the investors have the right to start practicing their business through one of the following two forms:
- Company.
- Individual.
There are two types of Commercial Registration certificates issued:
- Commercial Registration Certificate without a license: Initial commercial registration (CR) issued before obtaining approvals/licenses for activities.
- Commercial Registration Certificate with License: Issued after obtaining approvals/licenses for activities.

A Commercial Registration without a license is first obtained in order to legally register the company/Individual Establishment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, making it easier and faster for investors to set up a business. Having a CR without a license allows investors to perform initial tasks related to the establishment of the Commercial Registeration, such as leasing commercial space, approaching banks, engaging with vendors, securing a commercial name, as well as any other task not requiring a business license to be obtained.

It is a certificate granted by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce showing that all necessary requirements and licenses were obtained in order to perform a commercial activity.

The minimum age for starting a business is 18 years old (some licenses may require a different minimum age).

Public sector employees are not allowed to establish commercial companies, but they may own shares in the existing joint-stock companies (public and closed) and the limited liability companies without assuming any administrative position in them.
Public sector employees include all employees in the government sector except for the military in the Bahrain Defense Force, The Ministry of Interior, The National Guard, and the National Security Agency.

- Yes, if he/she is not an employee in the public sector.
- Private sector employees must provide a no objection letter from their employer.

A business activity dictates the nature of goods and/or services an establishment/company will provide. Each business activity has its own terms and conditions and investors may require the approval of other concerned government entities before practicing the activity.
You will be required to select the activities that your business will be undertaking. There are more than 350 business activities to choose from and each business activity has different license requirements which need to be obtained by different entities through the Sijilat platform. To find out the requirements of your selected business activities.