An ambitious package of digital reforms and enforcement measures designed to clean up Bahrain’s commercial registry and tighten business compliance is set to be launched ... all powered by smart government systems.
Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro said the ministry is accelerating improvements to the Sijilat business registration platform with the aim of making Bahrain’s commercial system more transparent, efficient and investor‑friendly.
“We are transforming the Sijilat system from a static database into a dynamic governance tool,” Mr Fakhro said during a meeting with the Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee.
“Our priority is to ensure that all commercial registrations (CRs) accurately reflect legitimate business activity and comply with national regulations.”
Mr Fakhro revealed that the ministry is co-ordinating with the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry and the Information and eGovernment Authority to integrate key government data systems.
“We are awaiting the readiness of the Justice Ministry’s system,” he said. “Once complete, it will enhance verification and reduce fraud through seamless data exchange.”
The Sijilat platform will be updated to ensure that professional offices can only add authorised staff to file applications if they are verified and hold required certificates, including anti‑money‑laundering credentials. This initiative is part of Version 4 of the Sijilat system, with full deployment expected by the fourth quarter of 2027.
To prevent misuse of CRs by employees, the ministry has granted the Civil Service Commission access to verify commercial records before any employment procedures are finalised. This step ensures that public sector workers cannot open new CRs in violation of civil service rules.
In the private sector, Mr Fakhro explained that the system will be updated to require a no‑objection certificate from employers before an employee can register a business.
“We are already inventorying records and contacting owners to submit the necessary documents,” he said, with completion expected by the second quarter of this year.
Mr Fakhro said the Sijilat platform will be strengthened to automatically flag violations. Developers have programmed alerts for CRs tied to deceased owners, prompting heirs to transfer ownership or face cancellation in line with law.
He also outlined plans to work with the Electricity and Water Authority to monitor inactive businesses by tracking electricity usage – a first‑of‑its‑kind mechanism aimed at identifying and addressing ghost establishments. This improvement is slated for the fourth quarter of this year.
Co-ordination is underway with the Health Ministry to regulate activities such as sheesha service licensing, ensuring outlets in residential areas comply with health standards.
The revamped system will also tighten rules around auditors and accounting services, requiring proof of qualification, good conduct certificates, and professional liability insurance. These measures will be phased in the next two years.
“We are modernising Bahrain’s commercial ecosystem,” Mr Fakhro said.
“From employer verification to smart violation tracking, these changes will protect consumers, support genuine businesses and uphold the rule of law.
“With phased rollouts continuing through 2026 and 2027, Bahrain’s commercial landscape is poised for a major digital transformation.”
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