Virtual office in Bahrain

A virtual office in Bahrain gives a company owned from abroad an address, mail handling and sometimes a meeting room without leasing its own premises. Whether that address can serve the commercial registration depends on the activity and on what the licensing authorities ask for, so check it before you sign anything. Some company forms also limit what can be done from Bahrain: the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s procedures guide says a representative office may only market and promote the parent company’s activities, and Sijilat adds that it may not deal directly with clients in Bahrain.

Ask the provider in writing whether its address is accepted for your activity and company form, what happens to the registration if you end the contract, and how incoming post and official letters are scanned and forwarded to you. Ask what is included in the fee, whether a desk or room can be booked when you visit, and how much notice is needed to move to a real office once you hire staff.

Accountanty lists four firms offering virtual office services in Bahrain, all small and all in Manama: three corporate service providers and one law firm. Every one of them focuses on foreign clients and also handles company formation and residency work. English is offered by all four, and Arabic and Russian by two each.