Starting a business in Bahrain

Legal Forms of Companies

Limited Liability Company (WLL)

Number of partners: Minimum 2, maximum 50.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required. However, the share capital of a company is divided into equal shares with a value no less than BHD 50
Shareholders and liability: Limited: partners are responsible for the company's debts and obligations to the extent of their participation in the capital.

A Single Person Company (SPC)

Number of partners: 1 person, from Bahrain or
Capital (max/min): BHD 50,000 minimum
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited; the owner is responsible for all of the company's debts and obligations with his entire personal property. 

Bahrain Shareholding Company (BSC)

Number of partners: Minimum 2
Capital (max/min): BHD 1.000,000 minimum (public); or BHD 250,000 (closed)
Shareholders and liability: The partners are responsible for the company's debts and obligations to the extent of the value of their shares.

Commandite Company by Shares

Number of partners: Minimum 4
Capital (max/min): BHD 20,000 minimum
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited if the joint partners are jointly responsible for the company's obligations, to the extent of their personal wealth; or limited if the partners (share-holders)  are only liable for the company's obligations to the extent of their equity (shares) in the company's capital.

Joint Liability Company

Number of partners: Minimum 2
Capital (max/min): Not applicable
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited

Business Setup Procedures

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.