.jpg?20260411')
A draft law amending key provisions of the Unified GCC Customs Law to introduce greater flexibility in customs procedures and ensure smoother trade flows across member state borders has been referred to Parliament.
It has been submitted by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
MPs are set to vote on Tuesday to refer the draft to the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee for detailed review before it returns to the chamber.
The legislation amends certain provisions of the GCC Unified Customs Law.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the changes were prepared by the GCC Financial and Economic Co-operation Committee during its unified meeting on July 7, 2021, and later endorsed within the GCC legislative framework for adoption by member states.
Bahrain had previously adopted the Unified Customs Law under Decree-Law No (10) of 2021.
The current draft updates specific operational articles in line with GCC decisions taken at the Supreme Council session in Riyadh in 2019 and subsequent committee resolutions.
The draft law replaces the texts of Articles (21) and (102) of the Unified Customs Law.
Article (21): The new wording requires concerned parties – when transferring goods from one customs office to another – to submit a customs declaration for collection at the point of entry. The process will be governed by documents and conditions set by the Director-General of Customs.
This is expected to reduce procedural overlap, tighten documentation, and speed up internal customs transfers within Bahrain and across GCC entry points.
Article (102): The amendment clarifies that customs duties shall apply to imports by the armed forces and internal security forces, including ammunition, weapons, equipment, military transport vehicles and spare parts, and any other materials as determined by the Council of Ministers or an authorised body in each state. It also covers other imports of a security nature subject to Cabinet decision.
The Cabinet says the clarification standardises treatment of such imports across GCC states and removes ambiguity in classification and exemptions.
The memorandum notes that the amendments are part of a wider GCC effort to modernise customs legislation to match evolving trade, logistics and security requirements across the region.
The GCC Financial and Economic Co-operation Committee and the GCC Customs Council were tasked with implementing these updates to ensure unified application across member states.
“By aligning national law with the latest GCC customs framework, Bahrain ensures that its ports and border procedures remain fully integrated with regional systems,” said the Cabinet.
If approved by Parliament and the Shura Council before ratification by His Majesty King Hamad, the law will come into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette, with the Prime Minister and relevant ministers tasked with implementation.
“The urgency signals the government’s intent to keep Bahrain’s customs regime responsive to regional developments, while facilitating trade and maintaining regulatory clarity in sensitive import categories,” said the Cabinet.
&uuid=(email))