Bahrain

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Commercial Registration with the Correct Activity Code Required

Yes

Yes — Any business carrying goods for hire and reward needs a Commercial Registration through the Sijilat portal, with the applicable goods-transport activity code included in the registered scope.

MTT Land Transport Affairs Approval Required

Yes

Yes — Land transport activities specifically are approved by MTT’s Land Transport Affairs directorate, which issues the relevant licence through the same Sijilat system used for the underlying Commercial Registration.

100% Foreign Ownership Permitted

Yes

Yes — Transportation businesses in Bahrain generally allow full foreign ownership.

Vehicle Registration Required Separately

Yes

Yes — Commercial vehicles must be registered with the Traffic Directorate, separate from the business’s Commercial Registration and transport activity approval.

Insurance Required

Yes

Yes — Fleet insurance or individual commercial vehicle policies are required for transport operators, covering the vehicles used in the business.

Licence Fees

BHD 200–500 — Transportation licence fees generally fall within this range, in addition to vehicle registration and insurance costs.

Consumer Protection

Yes

Yes — Legislative Decree No. 35 of 2012 (the Consumer Protection Law) governs consumer transactions generally, administered by MOIC’s Consumer Protection Directorate.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, genuinely accessible and free — Consumers can file complaints with MOIC’s Consumer Protection Directorate by phone (hotline 17574999), online through the Tawasul/bahrain.bh national e-government portal, or in person at the Directorate’s Manama offices. Filing is free, and MOIC provides mediation between the parties; violations can result in fines starting at BHD 100, closure orders, or criminal prosecution for serious cases. For higher-value commercial disputes, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) offers a separate arbitration and mediation option.

Industry Association

None dedicated — No dedicated Bahraini moving-industry trade association was identified in this research. Bahrain-based movers active in international relocation typically reference membership in IAM, FIDI/FAIM, or FIATA (for freight forwarders) rather than a domestic body.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Bahrain licenses commercial goods transport through a single, integrated system rather than requiring a mover to navigate entirely separate application processes. The Commercial Registration itself, obtained through the Sijilat portal and administered by MOIC, must include the correct goods-transport activity code, with MTT’s Land Transport Affairs directorate approving that specific activity through the same portal. Vehicle registration with the Traffic Directorate and appropriate insurance are required separately from the business-level registration. Full foreign ownership is generally permitted for transportation businesses. On the consumer side, Bahrain’s Consumer Protection Law provides a genuinely accessible, free complaint system through MOIC’s Consumer Protection Directorate, with a higher-value alternative available through the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

1. Register the business through Sijilat, including the correct goods-transport activity code in the Commercial Registration.
2. Obtain MTT Land Transport Affairs approval for the land transport activity.
3. Register commercial vehicles separately with the Traffic Directorate.
4. Maintain fleet or individual commercial vehicle insurance covering the business’s vehicles.
5. Pay applicable licence fees, generally in the BHD 200–500 range.
6. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with Legislative Decree No. 35 of 2012.
7. Retain Commercial Registration, MTT approval, vehicle registration, and insurance documentation as required for regulatory review.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

• Commercial Registration held via Sijilat, with correct goods-transport activity codeRequired
• MTT Land Transport Affairs approval obtainedRequired
• Commercial vehicles registered with the Traffic DirectorateRequired
• Fleet or individual commercial vehicle insurance in forceRequired
• Applicable licence fees paidRequired
• Consumer-facing practices compliant with Legislative Decree No. 35 of 2012Required
• Commercial Registration, MTT approval, vehicle registration, and insurance records retainedRequired