Commercial agencies (where a Bahraini business represents a foreign brand or supplier) are registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through Sijilat, under Decree-Law No. 10 of 1992.
Who can register an agency: a Bahraini national, or a company that is 100% Bahraini owned.
Documents
- The agency agreement with the principal.
- Your Bahrain Chamber of Commerce membership card.
- A trademark report from the Ministry.
- A power of attorney if someone else applies for you.
Fees and time
- BD 10 to register a new agency.
- BD 2 each for certificates, inquiries, copies and the customs clearing certificate.
- About 3 working days, online.
Authorised distributor instead? Sijilat also has a separate "Authorized Distributor Registration" service. Your CR must be active and include trading activities. A brand owner can act directly through a company it owns 100%.
The catch: the agency rules are only for Bahraini-owned businesses, and the agreement and trademark report must match the brand exactly, or the application comes back.
Steps
- Check your CR is Bahraini-owned and active with trading activities.
- Get the agency agreement, Chamber of Commerce card and trademark report ready.
- Apply on Sijilat for New Agency Registration (or Authorized Distributor Registration).
- Pay BD 10 and wait about 3 working days.
Recommended places
- Bahrain Investors Center