New rule scraps paper books for digital firms

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Institutions, companies and banks that keep their accounts on electronic systems will no longer have to keep paper commercial books, under a Ministry of Industry and Commerce decision published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette.

Decision No. 113 of 2025 grants the exemption and says electronic commercial books will be recognised by the ministry and will carry the same evidentiary value as paper records.

That recognition is conditional.

The decision says the electronic system must have security measures that protect stored data and prevent any alteration, deletion or tampering, and that entries must be made on a regular basis within the legal time limits.

Decision

The decision cites the Commercial Code issued by Decree-Law No. 7 of 1987, particularly Article 20, as well as the Commercial Companies Law issued by Decree-Law No. 21 of 2001, and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law issued by Decree-Law No. 54 of 2018, as amended by Law No. 29 of 2021.

Signed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, it was issued after Cabinet approval and following a submission from the undersecretary. It will take effect from the day after publication, with the undersecretary tasked with implementing it.