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SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
03

TDT | Manama
Parliament Pledges Loyalty Saudi Tax Treaty Approved
Mohammed Darwish

by Parliament
embers of Bahrain’s
Council of Repre-
Msentatives signed a bill putting Bahrain’s
document of allegiance and sup- double taxation agree-
port to His Majesty King Hamad A ment with Saudi Arabia
bin Isa Al Khalifa, during a cere- into effect was unanimously
mony led by Speaker Ahmed bin approved by Parliament, aim-
Salman Al Musallam. ing to eliminate the risk of
The signing took place in the double taxation on cross-bor-
presence of MPs and Secre- der income.
tary-General Mohammed Ibra- The agreement, linked to
him Al Sisi Al Buainain, as part Decree No. 16 of 2026, was Abdulwahid Qarata, MP
of the national campaign “The behind the national leadership signed in Manama on Decem-
Nation is a Trust… and Loyalty is and continue working to support ber 3, 2025, and had earlier exceed BD2 billion, while thou-
a Duty,” launched by the General Bahrain’s development across all received backing from the Fi- sands of Saudi-linked busi-
Secretariat of the Council. sectors. nancial and Economic Affairs nesses operate across Bahrain.
The initiative aims to strength- Officials said the initiative re- Committee. Officials hope the agreement
en national values and reinforce flects broader institutional efforts MP Abdulwahid Qarata said will strengthen trade ties and
a sense of loyalty and belonging to promote citizenship values, na- the treaty would reduce fi- encourage further investment
among members. MPs expressed tional unity, and the strong bond nancial burdens on Bahraini between the two countries.
pride in participating, stressing between citizens, leadership, and traders dealing with Saudi
their commitment to stand united the nation. suppliers and help simplify
cross-border trade.
Fundraising Rules Tightened not currently impose income BETTER
He noted that Bahrain does
Transfers of collected donations abroad now require prior ministerial approval tax, while Saudi Arabia applies
a 15 per cent value added tax, KNOW
ahrain has introduced to regularly update risk evalu- linked to terrorism financing. which can increase costs for
stricter regulations on ations in line with national as- Unlicensed fundraising for pub- traders operating between the
Bcharity fundraising sessments. lic purposes is also punishable two markets.
aimed at tightening oversight MP Mohammed Janahi said by imprisonment or fines of up The treaty covers individ- • Saudi investment in
and strengthening safeguards the changes enhance transparen- to BD1,000. uals and companies in both Bahrain: BD2.018 billion
against money laundering and cy and protect both donors and The law further requires re- countries and includes rules • Saudi companies in
terrorism financing. charitable organisations, while porting any unlicensed donation on business profits, property Bahrain: 3,000+
Under Decree-Law No. 39 of ensuring compliance with inter- to the relevant ministry within income, dividends, royalties, • Saudi-linked firms:
2025, which amends the 2013 national financial standards and seven days, with approval or re- pensions, and other forms of 3,790
fundraising law, new provisions national security priorities. jection issued within 30 days. income. It also provides mech- • Key benefit: Easier
impose administrative fines of Severe penalties have been in- Data from the Ministry of So- anisms to resolve tax disputes,
up to BD10,000 and tougher or ministerial approval. troduced for illegal fundraising cial Development shows a steady prevent double taxation, and trade, lower tax burden
prison sentences for violations. The reforms expand the au- activities, including life impris- decline in issued fundraising li- exchange tax-related informa- • Provision: Tax informa-
The updated law also prohibits thorities’ role in assessing and onment or long-term impris- cences in recent years, along- tion between authorities. tion exchange and dis-
transferring collected donations monitoring risks linked to fund- onment and fines ranging from side a gradual rise in reported Saudi investments in li- pute settlement system
outside the country without pri- raising activities, requiring them BD100,000 to BD500,000 in cases violations. censed Bahraini companies

Fake Medics Face Jail Vote on Luxury Goods Tax Changes

he Shura Council will next con- unit, or as It states that the tax due may be
arliament approved a draft During the ses- Tsider a Gulf excise tax amend- both. The based on the retail sale price of the
law increasing penalties sion, lawmakers ment that would let GCC states tax applies goods. This would be either the
Pfor unlicensed allied med- also called for charge harmful and luxury goods to goods price named by the importer or
ical practice to up to five years in stronger monitor- by value, by unit, or through both harmful producer, or the standard price list
prison and a BD5,000 fine, as part ing measures and methods together. to human agreed from time to time by GCC tax
of efforts to strengthen oversight increased hiring of The Financial and Economic Af - health and bodies, with the higher figure used.
of the healthcare sector. Bahraini medical fairs Committee has recommended Tariq Al Saffar, Committee for the environ- The committee said this yardstick
The bill, linked to Decree No. graduates, particu- approval of the draft law ratifying Shura Council’s Financial and ment, along was workable and would give the
9 of 2026, was urgently passed in Khalid BuAnaq, MP Mohammed Al Maarafi, MP larly dentists, in an annex to the GCC Unified Excise Economic Affairs Committee with luxury body applying the tax a clearer way
principle, article by article, and in government health Tax Agreement. The bill, attached goods, ac- to value goods and calculate what
its final form before being referred be allowed to impose administra- institutions. to Decree No. 22 of 2026, has al- cording to a list drawn up by the is owed.
to the Shura Council. tive closure until court proceed- According to figures from the ready passed Parliament. GCC ministerial committee. That Each GCC state would also be
The amendments to Article 23 ings are completed. National Health Regulatory Au- Bahrain ratified the agreement committee may change the list. left to decide the time limits, terms
of Decree-Law No. 2 of 1987 also MPs said the tougher penalties thority (NHRA), Bahrain has 367 under Law No. 39 of 2017. The The draft law consists of two and rules for paying the tax, in line
make the closure of facilities and aim to protect public health and licensed allied medical centres. new annex, signed on 1 June 2025, articles. The first ratifies the annex with its own regulatory policy. The
confiscation of equipment optional prevent unqualified practitioners Violations related to Article 23 changes how excise tax can be cal - to the GCC agreement. The second report said this would take account
for courts or regulators, instead of from operating in Bahrain’s med- dropped from 27 cases in 2023 to culated across the Gulf. deals with implementation. of the agreement’s provisions on
mandatory. Authorities would still ical sector. six cases so far in 2026. Under the amendment, each The annex replaces the defini- supplies of goods with transport,
member state could calculate the tion of ‘value of excise goods’ in Ar- supplies of gas, oil, water and elec -
MPs Approve Tougher Farm Drain Penalties tax as a percentage of the value of ticle 1 of the agreement and amends tricity, and the place where services
are supplied.
excise goods, as a fixed sum per Articles 3, 6 and 16.
arliament unanimously least three months in Shura to Debate Bar on Court Review of Nationality Cases
approved a government prison and fines rang-
Pbill on Thursday intro- ing from BD1,000 to he Shura Council is set to vote changes required the Interior Ministry to be
ducing tougher penalties for vi- BD10,000, replacing Ton Sunday on a decree-law would pre- included in nationality-related law -
olations involving agricultural the current maximum that would place nationality-re- vent courts suits for rulings to be enforceable.
drains, including fines of up to BD500 penalty. Repeat lated cases outside the jurisdic- from re - According to the committee’s
BD10,000 and possible jail terms. offenders would face tion of Bahrain’s courts, following viewing report, nationality matters fall un-
The amendments, linked to Wael Mubarak, Minister of Basema Abdul Kareem, MP doubled punishments if approval recommendations from decisions der the executive authority’s sov-
Decree No. 14 of 2026, revise Municipalities Affairs and violations are repeated its Legislative and Legal Affairs related to ereign powers rather than admin-
parts of the 1985 agricultural Agriculture within one year. Committee. Dalal Al Zayed, Head of Shura granting, istrative actions subject to judicial
drains law to address offences The bill also grants Decree-Law No. 13 of 2024 Council’s Legislative and Legal withdraw- review. The report cited constitu-
such as blocking drains, diverting changes would support agricul- authorities the power to order amends Article 7 of the Judicial Affairs Committee ing, revok- tional principles and legal prec-
water flow, building over drains, tural sustainability, environmen- offenders to remove violations, Authority Law issued under De- ing or re- edents from Bahrain and other
or ignoring drainage instructions. tal protection, and public health. repair damages at their own ex- cree-Law No. 42 of 2002, classify- storing Bahraini nationality. Gulf countries, including Kuwait,
Municipalities and Agriculture Under the proposed amend- pense, and comply within a pe- ing nationality matters as sovereign The decree-law also repeals Qatar, Oman and the UAE, where
Minister Wael Mubarak said the ments, offenders could face at riod not exceeding one month. acts linked to state security and Article 11 bis of the 1963 Bahraini nationality decisions are similarly
national interests. The proposed Nationality Law, which previously treated as sovereign matters.
Three-Year Travel Ban Rule

travel ban in civil and to be debated by the council il implementation cas- cover the debt. or order them to leave the coun-
commercial debt cases on Sunday. es would rise from nine Under the merged text, an try when a court travel ban has
A would be allowed to The committee has urged months to three years. The implementation judge would already been issued.
run for up to three years under approval in principle, saying Justice, Islamic Affairs be able to renew a travel ban One of the two original bills
a draft law recommended by the the draft law would give cred- and Waqf Ministry agreed against a non-Bahraini debtor had called for a three-judge
Shura Council’s Legislative and itors a longer window to re- with the Council of Rep- without being bound by a fixed panel, named by the minister
Legal Affairs Committee. cover money owed under court resentatives on the longer number of renewals, as long as in charge of justice affairs, to
The change, which amends rulings and make it harder for term, saying it would give the reasons for the order still decide in each case which order
Article 40 of the Implemen- debtors to leave Bahrain before the implementation court stand. should take priority: deportation
tation Law in Civil and Com- implementation measures are and private implementa- The draft would also curb the or a travel ban. Its rulings could
mercial Matters issued by De- carried out. Dr Hani Al Saati, Rapporteur for the tion officers enough time administration’s power to end a be challenged before the High
cree-Law No. 22 of 2021, is due The travel ban period in civ- Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee to look for assets that can non-Bahraini debtor’s residency Civil Court within seven days.