Tax free

100% foreign ownership

100% repatriation of capital

Easy access to visas

'Fast-track' registration

Duty-free imports

100% Foreign ownership of land

Tax Free

Bahrain has a highly favorable tax environment, with no taxes on personal or corporate income, no withholding tax and no VAT tax.

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100% Foreign Ownership

100% ownership is permitted for international companies in the following areas of business:

Technology

Highly specialized technical services, such as centralized services for computer companies and the preparation and marketing of their programs

Information technology and telecommunications

Cable and telecommunications services

Tourism

Specialized international management services in areas such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, real estate, tourism projects, etc.

Tourism projects

Healthcare

Medical services

Education and Training

Education and vocational training services

Services

Manufacturing-related

Re-assembly, packaging and shipping of products produced by the company

Using Bonded Areas for storage of products for re-distribution and catering to the needs of the local and regional agents of these products

Providing support services for products produced by the company

Business-related

Commercial project development consultants

Liaison and monitoring of the distribution activities in the region of the parent company's goods or services

Consultancy services

International courier services for goods such as currencies, precious metals, documents, parcels, samples, etc

Services in the fields of marketing, publication, promotion and advertisement of goods and services

Specialized international exhibition organizers

Services in the field of organization of international conferences and specialized scientific seminars and shows

Industry

Industrial projects

Industrial support service centers, such as large workshops providing specialized maintenance, reconditioning and repairing, as well as the fabrication and galvanization of steel

Maintenance of sophisticated industrial instruments

Other

Highly specialized scientific laboratories

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100% repatriation of capital

Bahrain has no exchange control restrictions on repatriation of capital, profits and dividends. This effectively means that full financial transferability of capital, profits and dividends is possible. Furthermore, the Bahraini Dinar, which is fully convertible, is pegged to the US dollar at the fixed rate of USD 1= BHD 0.377

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Easy access to visas

Visas are required by all visitors to Bahrain- regardless of purpose of visit- except passport holders of the GCC States (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

Foreign nationals may enter Bahrain with a tourist visa (for individuals or groups), 72-hour visa, 7-day visa, visit visa, business visa, family visa, dependent visa or an employment visa. In addition, all visitors who hold valid resident permits for Saudi Arabia can be issued a free 2-week visa. All applications for extension must be signed by a local sponsor. In the case of tourist visas, the hotel may act as a sponsor.

Tourist visa

This type of visa can be obtained at the Bahrain International Airport or King Fahad causeway for citizens of the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States. Visitors must have no criminal record or involvement in activities that could threaten public order or national security. They are not permitted to seek employment while in Bahrain.

Groups may obtain visas to Bahrain for a duration of up to 2 weeks, renewable once for a similar period. Visas are obtained through hotels, travel and tourist agencies and other firms licensed to conduct tourist activities in Bahrain.

Employment visa

This is required for those who wish to work legally in Bahrain and become residents of the country. A work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the General Directorate of Immigration and Passports (GDIP) are required before this visa can be issued. In addition, all American and Canadian passport holders can be issued a 5-year multiple entry visa, valid for one month's stay on each visit. British passport holders can be issued a 3-month entry visa, valid for one month's stay on each visit. This can be issued by the GDIP in Bahrain or by any Bahrain Embassy.

Bahraini Embassyin Beijing, China

Tel: 010-64635574, 64635527, 64635385 Fax: 010-64635504

72 hour visa/7 day visa

These visas can be obtained on arrival at the Bahrain International Airport or at the King Fahad Causeway. The visas are mainly intended for business visitors, trade delegations, and those attending exhibitions and seminars. In addition to a passport, the passenger must have a confirmed return/onward journey ticket for the visa application to be processed. Foreign nationals who have lived in a GCC state for six months are automatically granted a 72-hour visa on arrival.

Visit visa

This is issued to foreign nationals who intend to visit relatives or friends in Bahrain. The application for a visit visa must be signed by a local sponsor and presented to the GDIP. The following documents must be presented with the application:

a letter from the applicant's sponsor;

a copy of the applicant's CPR card;

a copy of the visitor's passport.

The visit visa is normally valid for one month's stay in Bahrain, but can sometimes be extended to a maximum of three months. A longer stay may be granted in exceptional circumstances. A person on a visit visa is not allowed to work or engage in business activities during their stay in Bahrain.

Business visa

This type of visa is similar to a visit visa, but the purpose of the visit is business.

Family visa

This visa is granted to a wife and children of a resident employee. The visa holder may not take up employment in Bahrain but can stay as long as the resident employee stays.

Dependent visa

This visa is granted to the dependents of a Bahrain resident. The visa holder cannot take up employment in Bahrain but can stay as long as the head of the household stays.

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'Fast-track' registration

As part of its continued efforts to simplify the bureaucratic procedure of setting up a new company, the Bahraini government offers a 'fast track' commercial registration procedure for qualifying companies. For further information, please contact the Economic Development Board:

http://www.bahrainedb.com

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Duty-free imports

Raw materials, semi-finished commodities imported for further processing, imports required for development projects, machinery for manufacturing and goods imported for re-export are all exempt from customs duties in an effort to encourage production.

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100% Foreign ownership of land

For more information about Owning Land, please visit:

http://www.bahrainedb.com/opportunity/land.stm