New payment regulations for commercial entities have been introduced in Bahrain. All businesses must offer customers a way to pay by card or mobile phone, under new regulations from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The rule applies to every trade licence, including sole traders and companies with multiple branches.
To comply with the new requirement, businesses must:
- Open one bank account in the business’s name
- Register the account with the ministry’s Sijilat system
- Ensure all customer payments are processed through that account
Using personal bank accounts for business transactions is now strictly prohibited. Any payment processed outside the registered account will be considered a legal violation.
The ministry has outlined a range of penalties under Article 20 of the Commercial Registry Law:
- First breach: up to BHD 1,000 in daily fines and a six-month freeze on the trade licence
- Second breach within three years: daily fines up to BHD 2,000
- Cumulative daily fines: up to BHD 50,000
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce introduced this regulation to improve cash flow traceability, reduce online fraud risk, and encourage a cash-free economy. By requiring all payments to go through registered business accounts, the authorities aim to tighten control over value-added tax (VAT) and other dues, ensuring better compliance and financial transparency across the market.
