Guide · Bahrain
Website legal requirements Bahrain business owners should know
A business website or app in Bahrain may need to account for personal data protection, cross-border data transfers and VAT. Online store websites and social media pages must display all prices. Bahrain's standard VAT rate is 10%, and registration thresholds apply to Bahrain-resident businesses. Plan your forms, data storage and checkout around the relevant rules. Arabic is the official language, while English is widely used in business. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority manages the .bh domain.
Checked against official sources on 5 November 2026. General information, not legal advice: confirm the rules that apply to your business with an adviser.
What data protection rules apply to my website or app?
Bahrain's Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 30 of 2018) came into force on 1 August 2019. Account for personal data handling when planning forms and account features.
Bahrain's PDPL prohibits transfers of personal data out of Bahrain unless the destination provides sufficient protection, as with countries on the Authority's list, or a limited exception applies, such as the data subject's consent or the Authority's permission. Check where your site or app sends personal data.
What prices must my online shop display?
Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce requires vendors to display all prices on their social media pages and online store websites. Build product pages with space for those prices.
How should I plan for VAT when selling online?
Law No. 33 of 2021 raised Bahrain's standard VAT rate from 5% to 10% with effect from 1 January 2022. The National Bureau for Revenue issued a transitional guide for the change. Consider your VAT position when planning the checkout.
What payment option can I consider for my app?
BenefitPay is Bahrain's national electronic wallet. It is operated by the BENEFIT Company, which is licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Consider it when planning payment options for your app or shop.
What language should my website use?
Article 2 of Bahrain's Constitution makes Arabic the official language. Consider Arabic when planning your site's text and forms.
English is widely spoken in Bahrain as the standard language of business and higher education. You can also consider English content for your business audience.
Who manages the Bahrain domain?
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority manages the .bh country-code domain. Check its domain arrangements when choosing your website address.
What should be on my Bahrain website checklist?
Plan your site reviews around Bahrain's normal Sunday through Thursday workweek. Use these steps to prepare the build.
- Plan how forms and account features handle personal data.
- Check where personal data is transferred outside Bahrain.
- Display all prices on your online store website and social media pages.
- Consider your VAT position when planning checkout.
- Consider BenefitPay when choosing payment options.
- Plan Arabic and English content for your audience.
- Check the arrangements for a .bh domain.
Questions
How quickly must I report a personal data breach?
Data controllers in Bahrain must notify the Personal Data Protection Authority within 72 hours of discovering a personal data breach, unless the breach would not affect data subjects' rights.
When must a Bahrain-resident business register for VAT?
The mandatory VAT registration threshold is BHD 37,500 of annual taxable revenue. The voluntary registration threshold is BHD 18,750.
What is Bahrain's standard VAT rate?
The standard VAT rate is 10%. Bahrain introduced VAT on 1 January 2019.
Can customers make instant bank transfers in Bahrain?
Yes. Fawri+ lets bank customers make instant transfers 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Central Bank of Bahrain has authorised the BENEFIT Company to operate the Electronic Fund Transfer System.