Businesses that mislead customers, manipulate promotions or fail to deliver goods and services as promised could face swift closures and hefty daily fines after sweeping amendments to Bahrain’s consumer protection law were endorsed yesterday.
Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro said the reform was driven by practical gaps exposed in recent years, particularly in promotional licensing, repeat violations and changing consumer behaviour.
“Amending this law is a priority because practical application revealed challenges we must address,” he said. “We need tools that are faster, clearer and more effective in protecting consumers.”
The amendments to Law No 35 of 2012, accompanying Decree No 18 of 2026, empower the minister or a delegated official to impose immediate administrative penalties if violations continue after warning, without waiting for lengthy court action.
Penalties include closing a business for up to three months – renewable for similar periods, suspending or cancelling the Commercial Register, and imposing daily fines of up to BD1,000 for a first offence and BD2,000 for repeat violations within three years, capped at BD20,000 per breach.
Suspended outlets must display a public notice on their façade, while enforcement decisions can also be published in licensed media.
A major shift introduced by the law is the creation of a clear legal framework for promotional campaigns, discount sales and clearance offers.
Mr Fakhro confirmed that promotions conducted via social media fall under the law and that Commercial Register holders will need licences to run them.
“Promotions must be transparent and regulated. Consumers should know a discount is genuine, not marketing manipulation,” he said.
Shura Council financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati said the amendments address grey areas that allowed certain practices to escape oversight.
“The objective is simple: protect the consumer and create a disciplined, transparent marketplace,” he said.
The law also explicitly obliges suppliers to deliver goods or services as agreed with consumers, making failure to do so a clear legal breach.
Mr Al Maskati stressed that the amendments are not aimed at burdening businesses but at ensuring fairness.
“A disciplined market protects serious traders as much as it protects consumers,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Shura Council also unanimously approved sweeping amendments to government procurement law.
The changes to Decree-Law 36 of 2002 raise internal purchasing ceilings, introduce controlled negotiation in limited cases and modernise auction methods, while preserving the supervisory powers of the Tender Board and the National Audit Office.
Mr Al Maskati said the draft addresses ‘real operational challenges exposed over two decades’ and aligns Bahrain with modern procurement standards.
A key amendment doubles the ceiling for purchases ministries can process internally from BD25,000 to BD50,000. For wholly state-owned companies, the limit rises from BD50,000 to BD100,000. Entities must still notify Tender Board Bahrain every three months of such purchases.
Both have been referred to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification following Parliament’s earlier approval.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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