New Work Permits Fall 10pc

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

New work permits in Bahrain fell by 10.1 pc in 2025, while renewals and local job moves rose, according to Labour Market Regulatory Authority figures.

The authority issued 159,759 new permits last year, down from 177,659 in 2024, a fall of 17,900.

Active work permits for non-Bahrainis stood at 654,672 at the end of 2025, compared with 643,274 a year earlier. The rise of 11,398 permits, or 1.8 pc, showed only limited net growth in the foreign workforce.

Renewals rose faster. They reached 577,730 in 2025, up from 519,516 in 2024, an increase of 58,214, or 11.2 pc.

Most were labour permit renewals, at 502,808. Investor permit renewals stood at 15,075, while dependant permit renewals reached 59,847.

Local labour transfers also climbed, reaching 81,471 last year, up 13.9 pc. The figure points to greater movement of workers already inside Bahrain’s labour market.

Permit cancellations made on request totalled 116,006. They included 98,025 labour permits, 1,861 investor permits and 16,120 dependant permits.

Three sectors accounted for 53 pc of new labour permits issued to workers in 2025. Construction led with 20.4 pc, followed by wholesale and retail trade with 19.2 pc, and accommodation and food services with 13.4 pc.

The figures show that new foreign labour demand remained centred on sectors with heavy staffing needs, such as building, trade, hotels, restaurants and services.

Domestic worker permits also rose. New permits reached 34,557 in 2025, up 7.4 pc, while renewals rose by 10 pc to 28,721.

Taken together, the figures show slower growth in active foreign labour permits, fewer new permits, and higher renewals and transfers within the local market.

The data come as Bahrain continues to press employers to hire more citizens where roles can be filled by Bahrainis, while still allowing foreign recruitment in sectors that need it.