A government-drafted overhaul of Bahrain’s digital legal framework is set to come under parliamentary scrutiny on Tuesday, as MPs vote on referring urgent amendments to the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law to the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.
The draft law was forwarded to Parliament by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, following approval by the Cabinet and legal authorities.
At the heart of the amendments is a major push to formalise and regulate electronic identification (e-ID) and digital consent when dealing with government services – a move aimed at accelerating Bahrain’s transition to fully secure digital transactions between individuals, businesses and the State.
The proposal amends key provisions of the existing law and introduces clearer legal foundations for how citizens and residents may interact electronically with government entities.
The draft stipulates that no person may electronically access or accept state services, submit requests, or conduct official transactions unless explicit electronic consent is provided in accordance with technical standards to be set by ministerial decision. It also gives legal weight to electronic records and documents, placing them on par with written documentation where applicable under existing laws and Sharia provisions.
A central feature is the creation of a national electronic identification system, to be overseen by the government entity responsible for issuing identity cards, with the authority to:
* Establish, operate and manage the e-ID system
* Set technical standards for authentication and verification
* Authorise public or private sector partners to provide some or all e-ID services
* Regulate service providers through detailed ministerial decisions
This effectively opens the door for structured public-private partnerships in digital identity services, while keeping regulatory oversight with the state.
The amendments also clarify the division of powers between the Cabinet and the relevant minister in setting the technical framework for electronic dealings, closing legal gaps that have emerged as Bahrain rapidly digitised services across ministries.
The Cabinet says the law addresses provisions that were not sufficiently covered in the 2018 legislation, particularly in light of expanded e-government platforms and increased reliance on digital verification.
The objective, according to the explanatory memorandum attached to the draft, is to: “Promote secure electronic identification, regulate technical competencies, and enable seamless digital interaction between individuals and State entities in partnership with public and private sectors.”
Given its direct relevance to government services, cybersecurity, financial transactions and legal documentation, the legislation has been classified as urgent.
Parliament will also vote to refer the following government-drafted legislations to the same committee:
* Addendum to the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information
* A mutual taxation agreement with Saudi Arabia.
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