Starting a business in Bahrain

Legal Forms of Companies

With Limited Liability Company (WLL)

Number of partners: Minimum 2, maximum 50.
Capital (max/min): 20,000 BHD minimum
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): 50,000 BHD 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 7 (public); ou 2 (closed)
Capital (max/min): 1.000,000 BHD minimum (public); or 250,000 BHD (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): 20,000 BHD 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.

Partnership Company

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

The Competent Organisation

Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), Bahrain Investors' Center (BIC).

Source: Doing Business, 2016