Real Estate and Property in Bahrain

Real Estate and Property in Bahrain

Bahrain matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's partner office in the Kingdom. The firm does not itself hold a Bahrain law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter. Bahrain lets non-Bahrainis own built property and land under Legislative Decree No. 2 of 2001, but the areas are fixed by Prime Minister's Decision No. 43 of 2003, which has been amended several times, most recently by Decision No. 27 of 2025. Citizens of GCC states have their own regime under Legislative Decree No. 40 of 1999.

Where and how non-Bahrainis may own

Decree No. 2 of 2001 allows non-Bahrainis, individuals and corporate bodies, to own built property and land through the legal methods of disposal or by inheritance, in the areas the Council of Ministers designates. Commercial, industrial, tourist and financial establishments fully owned by non-Bahrainis and licensed in Bahrain may also own property for their economic projects, in designated areas and where the plot suits the activity. A conveyance made against the decree is void and cannot be registered, so the area check comes before any deposit.

Registration, regulator and off-plan sales

The Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) keeps the land register under the Real Estate Registration Law (Law No. 13 of 2013). The Real Estate Regulatory Law (Law No. 27 of 2017) creates the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and, for off-plan projects, requires an escrow account run by a trustee for each project, with an Off-Plan Sales Register. We check the area against the current decision, the register entry, the developer's licence and escrow arrangements and the buyer's category, and coordinate with our partner office. For the wider practice, see General Commercial & Corporate; to scope a specific transaction, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can non-Bahrainis buy property in Bahrain?

Yes, under Legislative Decree No. 2 of 2001, in the areas designated by Decision No. 43 of 2003 as amended. A transfer that breaches the decree is void and cannot be registered.

How are off-plan purchases protected in Bahrain?

Law No. 27 of 2017 requires an escrow account run by a trustee for each off-plan project, and the project is recorded on an Off-Plan Sales Register. Amounts in the escrow account cannot be attached by the developer's creditors.

Who handles Bahrain property matters at the firm?

Bahrain matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's partner office in the Kingdom. The firm does not itself hold a Bahrain law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

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