CR Activities Allowing 100% Ownership for Singaporean Nationals in Bahrain
This comprehensive guide will help you form a business in Bahrain as a Singaporean citizen. The governments of Singapore and Bahrain signed a Bahrain-Singapore Free-Trade Agreement (BSFTA) in 2005, under which Singaporean citizens are permitted to have complete ownership without any local shareholder.
If you are exploring business opportunities or planning to establish a company, this guide provides the essential information you need to get started. The Following list will help you identify the business activities that are eligible for 100% ownership for Singaporean Citizens.
Singaporean investors have access to a broader range of business activities in Bahrain than most other nationalities. Under the Bahrain-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (BSFTA), which entered into force in 2005, citizens of Singapore qualify for expanded ownership rights across specific commercial activities beyond the standard foreigner-permitted list.
The activities listed below reflect what Singaporean nationals can register under 100% ownership through the MOIC Sijilat system. Where an activity appears on this list but not on the standard foreigner list, the FTA arrangement is what unlocks full ownership.
If you hold Singaporean citizenship and are considering registering a company in Bahrain, the process is identical to any other foreign investor – NPRA security clearance, name reservation, MOA notarisation, and CR issuance through Sijilat. The expanded activity list is applied at the activity selection stage during registration. There is no separate FTA application or endorsement required; MOIC’s system recognises Singaporean passports automatically.
One thing worth knowing: if you hold dual nationality and one of those nationalities is Singaporean, you apply using your Singaporean passport to access these benefits. MOIC applies the treaty based on the passport used in the registration documents.
To confirm whether your specific business activity falls under the expanded Singaporean list, contact us or call +973 1311 8811.
| Serial No | Business Activity | ISIC4 Code | Activity status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Recycled used oils exportinfo | 4661-3 | Merged |
| 2 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Mixed Petroleum products export (feedstock)info | 4661-4 | Merged |
| 3 | Animal production | 014-1 | Not Restricted |
| 4 | Support activities for crop production | 161 | Not Restricted |
| 5 | Support activities for animal production | 162 | Not Restricted |
| 6 | Quarrying of stone, sand and clay | 081-1 | Not Restricted |
| 7 | Quarrying of stone, sand and clay – Extraction of Marine Sand | 081-2 | Not Restricted |
| 8 | Other Mining and quarrying | 89 | Not Restricted |
| 9 | Apparel Tailoring Activities | 14104 | Not Restricted |
| 10 | Carpentry Workshop | 16225 | Not Restricted |
| 11 | Printing | 1811 | Not Restricted |
| 12 | Service activities related to printing | 1812 | Not Restricted |
| 13 | Reproduction of recorded media | 182 | Not Restricted |
| 14 | Cutting of glass and mirrors | 231052 | Not Restricted |
| 15 | Welding, Blacksmith, and Fabrication Workshop | 259190 | Not Restricted |
| 16 | Furniture upholstery and curtain making | 31004 | Not Restricted |
| 17 | Repair and routine maintenance pleasure boats | 331502 | Not Restricted |
| 18 | Production & Distribution of Natural Gasinfo | 352 | Not Restricted |
| 19 | Steam and air conditioning supply | 353 | Not Restricted |
| 20 | Water collection, treatment and supplyinfo | 36-1 | Not Restricted |
| 21 | Water collection, treatment and supply – Drilling of Artesian Water Wells | 36-2 | Not Restricted |
| 22 | Sewerage | 37 | Not Restricted |
| 23 | Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities | 381 | Not Restricted |
| 24 | Ship Recycling Servicesinfo | 383003 | Not Restricted |
| 25 | Remediation activities and other waste management services | 39-1 | Not Restricted |
| 26 | Sale/Trade of motor vehicles | 451 | Not Restricted |
| 27 | Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 452 | Not Restricted |
| 28 | Car Washing and Polishing | 45205 | Not Restricted |
| 29 | Sale/Trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories | 453 | Not Restricted |
| 30 | Sale/Trade of motorcycles, including mopeds | 45401 | Not Restricted |
| 31 | Sale/Trade of parts and accessories for motorcycles | 45402 | Not Restricted |
| 32 | Maintenance and repair of motorcycles | 45403 | Not Restricted |
| 33 | Trading on a fee or exchange or on contract basis or auctions | 461 | Not Restricted |
| 34 | Sale/Trade of agricultural raw materials | 46201 | Not Restricted |
| 35 | Sale/Trade of animals | 46205-1 | Not Restricted |
| 36 | Sale/Trade of animals – Fish/Marine species | 46205-2 | Not Restricted |
| 37 | Sale/Trade of leather (untanned amimal skin) | 46206 | Not Restricted |
| 38 | Sale/Trade of pharmaceutical and medical goods – Sale of Alternative medicine productsinfo | 4772-5 | Not Restricted |
| 39 | Sale/ Veterinary Medicines | 4649511 | Not Restricted |
| 40 | Sale and installation of telecommunications equipment and partsinfo | 4652 | Not Restricted |
| 41 | Sale/Trade of agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies | 4653 | Not Restricted |
| 42 | Sale/Trade in other machinery and equipment and parts | 4659-1 | Not Restricted |
| 43 | Sale/Trade in other machinery and equipment and parts – Medical Devices, Supplies and Related Spare Partsinfo | 4659-2 | Not Restricted |
| 44 | Sale/Trade of Transportation spare parts and equipment except for Motor Vehicles, Motor cycles. | 46593-1 | Not Restricted |
| 45 | Sale/Trade of Transportation spare parts and equipment except for Motor Vehicles, Motor cycles. – Import, export and sale of aircraft spare partsinfo | 46593-2 | Not Restricted |
| 46 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Collecting used oil and waste lubricating oils | 4661-1 | Not Restricted |
| 47 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Specialty petroleum products importinfo | 4661-2 | Not Restricted |
| 48 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Exporting blended petroleum products.info | 4661-5 | Not Restricted |
| 49 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Exporting recycled used oils, lubricants, and greasesinfo | 4661-6 | Not Restricted |
| 50 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Direct export of petroleum productsinfo | 4661-7 | Not Restricted |
| 51 | Sale/Trade of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products – Aircraft Refueling Servicesinfo | 4661-8 | Not Restricted |
| 52 | Sale/Trade in metals and metal ores | 4662 | Not Restricted |
| 53 | Sale/Trade of construction materials, hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies | 4663 | Not Restricted |
| 54 | Sale/Trading in industrial chemicals | 46691-1 | Not Restricted |
| 55 | Sale/Trading in industrial chemicals – Substances subject to the convention on the prohibition of Chemical Weaponsinfo | 46691-2 | Not Restricted |
| 56 | Sale/Trading in industrial chemicals – Sales/Trading in Refrigerants | 46691-3 | Not Restricted |
| 57 | Sale/Trading in fertilizers,Soil Conditioners and Pesticides | 46692 | Not Restricted |
| 58 | Sale/Trading in cleaning materials | 46693 | Not Restricted |
| 59 | Sale/Trading in plastic material and rubber products | 46694 | Not Restricted |
| 60 | Sale/Trading in paper and cardboard products | 46695 | Not Restricted |
| 61 | Sale/Trading in waste and scrap | 46699 | Not Restricted |
| 62 | Sale/Trading in other industrial products/ raw material | 466999 | Not Restricted |
| 63 | General Trade | 469-1 | Not Restricted |
| 64 | General Trade – including sale/trade of Food and Beveragesinfo | 469-2 | Not Restricted |
| 65 | General Trade – including sale/trade of tobacco productsinfo | 469-3 | Not Restricted |
| 66 | General Trade – including sale/trade of Food, Beverages, and tobacco productsinfo | 469-4 | Not Restricted |
| 67 | Sale/Trade of Food and Beveragesinfo | 4721-1 | Not Restricted |
| 68 | Sale/Trade of Food and Beverages – Fish/Marine speciesinfo | 4721-2 | Not Restricted |
| 69 | Sale/Trade of Food and Beverages – Healthy Foodinfo | 4721-3 | Not Restricted |
| 70 | Sale of tobacco productsinfo | 4723 | Not Restricted |
| 71 | Sale of fuel in specialized stores – Land Service Stationinfo | 473-1 | Not Restricted |
| 72 | Sale of fuel in specialized stores – Marine Service Stationinfo | 473-2 | Not Restricted |
| 73 | Sale/Trade of information, and communications equipment and related software | 474 | Not Restricted |
| 74 | Sale/Trade of textiles | 4751 | Not Restricted |
| 75 | Sale/Trade of carpets, rugs, wall and floor coverings | 4753 | Not Restricted |
| 76 | Sale/Trade of Furniture and all household articles | 47591 | Not Restricted |
| 77 | Sale/Trade of Electrical and electronic Household appliances | 47592 | Not Restricted |
| 78 | Sale/Trade of household utensils, cutlery, glassware, and related items | 47593 | Not Restricted |
| 79 | Sale/Trade of lighting equipment and articles of lighting | 47594 | Not Restricted |
| 80 | Sale/Trade of Musical Instruments | 47595 | Not Restricted |
| 81 | Sale/Trade of Safety Systems | 47596 | Not Restricted |
| 82 | Sale/Trade of books, magazines, newspapers | 47611 | Not Restricted |
| 83 | Sale/Trade of Stationary, arts and crafts, and office/professional tools and apparatus | 47612 | Not Restricted |
| 84 | Sale/Tradeof music and video recordings, and cinematographic films | 4762 | Not Restricted |
| 85 | Sale/Trade of Video Games | 47412 | Not Restricted |
| 86 | Sale/Trade of sporting equipment | 4763 | Not Restricted |
| 87 | Sale/Trade of games and toys | 4764 | Not Restricted |
| 88 | Sale/Trade of clothing, footwear, apparel accessories, and leather articles | 4771 | Not Restricted |
| 89 | Sale/Tradeof perfumery, cosmetic and toiletriesinfo | 47723 | Not Restricted |
| 90 | Sale/Trade of photographic, optical and precision equipment | 47731 | Not Restricted |
| 91 | Sale/Trade of optical goods; Activities of Opticians | 47732 | Not Restricted |
| 92 | Sale/Trade of jewellery and related articles – Gold and Precious Jewellery | 47733-1 | Not Restricted |
| 93 | Sale/Trade of jewellery and related articles – Silver and Related Articles | 47733-2 | Not Restricted |
| 94 | Sale/Trade Pet/ Animal food and accessories | 477341 | Not Restricted |
| 95 | Sale/Trade of flowers, plants,and seeds | 47735-1 | Not Restricted |
| 96 | Sale/Trade of souvenirs, craft work, religious articles, stamps and coins; Activities of commercial art galleries | 47736-1 | Not Restricted |
| 97 | Sale of household fuel oil, coal and fuel wood – (excluding gas cylinders) | 47737-1 | Not Restricted |
| 98 | Sale of household fuel oil, coal and fuel wood – LPG Bottling Stationsinfo | 47737-2 | Not Restricted |
| 99 | Sale of household fuel oil, coal and fuel wood – LPG Cylinder Distributioninfo | 47737-4 | Not Restricted |
| 100 | Sale of household fuel oil, coal and fuel wood – Refilling of Refrigerant Cylinders | 47737-5 | Not Restricted |
| 101 | Sale of second-hand goods | 4774 | Not Restricted |
| 102 | Retail sale via Internet | 4791 | Not Restricted |
| 103 | Retail sale outside Shops, Kiosks, and markets – via vending machines | 4799-1 | Not Restricted |
| 104 | Passenger rail transport, interurbaninfo | 4911 | Not Restricted |
| 105 | Freight rail transportinfo | 4912 | Not Restricted |
| 106 | Passenger land transport – Transport of passengers (Domestic)info | 49211-1 | Not Restricted |
| 107 | Passenger land transport – Transport of passengers (International)info | 49211-2 | Not Restricted |
| 108 | Passenger land transport – Public Transportationinfo | 49211-3 | Not Restricted |
| 109 | Taxi – Taxiinfo | 49221-1 | Not Restricted |
| 110 | Taxi – Call Taxiinfo | 49221-2 | Not Restricted |
| 111 | Freight transport by road – Internal Transport of goodsinfo | 4923-1 | Not Restricted |
| 112 | Freight transport by road – International Transport of goodsinfo | 4923-2 | Not Restricted |
| 113 | Renting of barge, tug boats and ships | 502103 | Not Restricted |
| 114 | Operating of Car Parks | 522103 | Not Restricted |
| 115 | Towing and Road Side Assistance | 522105 | Not Restricted |
| 116 | Valet Parking Services | 522110 | Not Restricted |
| 117 | Service activities incidental to water transportation – Management and Operation of Dry Dockinfo | 52220-2 | Not Restricted |
| 118 | Service activities incidental to water transportation – Navigational Aid Servicesinfo | 52220-4 | Not Restricted |
| 119 | Service activities incidental to water transportation – Bunkering Servicesinfo | 52220-5 | Not Restricted |
| 120 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Airport Operatorinfo | 5223-1 | Not Restricted |
| 121 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Aircraft Handling Services Airlinesinfo | 5223-2 | Not Restricted |
| 122 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Aircraft Handling Services for Cargoinfo | 5223-3 | Not Restricted |
| 123 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Private Aircraft Handling Servicesinfo | 5223-4 | Not Restricted |
| 124 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Passenger Servicesinfo | 5223-5 | Not Restricted |
| 125 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Airport Lounge Operationsinfo | 5223-6 | Not Restricted |
| 126 | Service activities incidental to air transportation – Areal Work air transport Operator servicesinfo | 5223-8 | Not Restricted |
| 127 | Food and beverage service activitiesinfo | 5610-1 | Not Restricted |
| 128 | Food and beverage service activities – With Sheeshainfo | 5610-2 | Not Restricted |
| 129 | Catering Servicesinfo | 5621-1 | Not Restricted |
| 130 | Food Transportation Companies | 56291 | Not Restricted |
| 131 | Internet/ Call Cabinsinfo | 619001 | Not Restricted |
| 132 | Duty Free Servicesinfo | 682091 | Not Restricted |
| 133 | Performance testing of automobiles – Vehicles Technical Inspection | 71206-2 | Not Restricted |
| 134 | Fixing and Removing of Advertisement Boards | 73103 | Not Restricted |
| 135 | Public opinion polling | 732 | Not Restricted |
| 136 | Other building and industrial cleaning activities | 8129-1 | Not Restricted |
| 137 | Photographic activities | 742-1 | Not Restricted |
| 138 | Photographic activities – Laboratory for developing colour films | 742-2 | Not Restricted |
| 139 | Veterinary activities | 75 | Not Restricted |
| 140 | Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods | 7721 | Not Restricted |
| 141 | Renting of video tapes and disks | 7722 | Not Restricted |
| 142 | Renting and leasing of other personal and household goods | 7729 | Not Restricted |
| 143 | Renting and operational leasing of machinery and equipment | 77301 | Not Restricted |
| 144 | Motorcycle Rentalinfo | 773021 | Not Restricted |
| 145 | Selling, Renting, and operational leasing of Aircraft or air transport equipmentinfo | 77304 | Not Restricted |
| 146 | Renting and operational leasing of office machinery and equipment | 77307 | Not Restricted |
| 147 | Renting of Animals | 77309 | Not Restricted |
| 148 | Travel office activities – Travel Agencies Officeinfo | 7911-1 | Not Restricted |
| 149 | Travel office activities – Airline General Sales Agentinfo | 7911-2 | Not Restricted |
| 150 | Operation of Land Tours – International Transport of Touristsinfo | 791202-2 | Not Restricted |
| 151 | Security systems service activities | 802 | Not Restricted |
| 152 | General cleaning of buildings | 8121 | Not Restricted |
| 153 | Other building and industrial cleaning activities – Public and Private utility Contracts | 8129-2 | Not Restricted |
| 154 | Landscape care and maintenance service activities | 813 | Not Restricted |
| 155 | Translation and interpretation | 74901 | Not Restricted |
| 156 | Library and archives activities | 9101 | Not Restricted |
| 157 | Museums activities and operation of historical sites and buildings | 9102 | Not Restricted |
| 158 | Botanical/ zoological gardens and nature reserves activities | 9103 | Not Restricted |
| 159 | Rental of Swimming Poolsinfo | 932901 | Not Restricted |
| 160 | Repair of computers and peripheral equipment | 9511 | Not Restricted |
| 161 | Repair of consumer electronics | 9521 | Not Restricted |
| 162 | Repair of household appliances and home and garden equipment | 9522 | Not Restricted |
| 163 | Repair of footwear and leather goods | 9523 | Not Restricted |
| 164 | Repair of furniture and home furnishings | 9524 | Not Restricted |
| 165 | Repair of other personal and household goods | 9529 | Not Restricted |
| 166 | Washing and (dry-) cleaning of textile and fur products | 9601 | Not Restricted |
| 167 | Ironing of textiles and fur products | 960111 | Not Restricted |
| 168 | Hairdressing and other beauty treatment – Ladiesinfo | 9602-2 | Not Restricted |
| 169 | Massage Parlours and other relaxation and bathing techniques services – Meninfo | 96092-1 | Not Restricted |
| 170 | Massage Parlours and other relaxation and bathing techniques services – Ladiesinfo | 96092-2 | Not Restricted |
| 171 | Pet Care services; Animal Training | 96093 | Not Restricted |
| 172 | Consultancy in Animal Taming | 960931 | Not Restricted |
| 173 | Personal Events Planners | 960991 | Not Restricted |
| 174 | Other personal service activities | 960990 | Not Restricted |
| Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction | 0910-1 | Restricted | |
| Electric power generation, transmission and distributioninfo | 351 | Restricted | |
| Sale/Trade of flowers, plants,and seeds – Fertilizer | 47735-2 | Restricted | |
| Sale of household fuel oil, coal and fuel wood – LPG Micro bottling | 47737-3 | Restricted |
