What this guidebook covers
A two-page regulatory overview for automotive dealers in Bahrain. Many fines are fixed amounts, but they stack: charged per worker or per day, and many breaches can also mean closure or removal from the commercial register.
It maps 13 areas, from consumer protection, agency obligations and promotions to work permits, employment, workshop and fire safety, environment, VAT, anti-money laundering and vehicles, each with its main law, regulator and headline penalty. Work permits are the biggest exposure; environment carries the largest single number.
The 13 areas
| # | Area | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Consumer protection: pricing, invoices, promotions | Law 35/2012 |
| 02 | Agency obligations: warranty and spare parts | Decree-Law 10/1992, Law 35/2012 |
| 03 | Promotions and discounts, including social media | Law 35/2012 |
| 04 | Competition: prices, territories, tenders | Law 31/2018 |
| 05 | Data protection: customer data and marketing | PDPL, Law 30/2018 |
| 06 | Work permits (LMRA) | Law 19/2006, art. 36 |
| 07 | Employment: contracts, wages, leave | Labour Law 36/2012, WPS |
| 08 | Workshop safety: workshop and body shop | Labour Law 36/2012, ministerial orders |
| 09 | Fire safety: premises certificate | Civil Defence rules |
| 10 | Environment: oils, batteries, paint | Environment Law 7/2022 |
| 11 | VAT (10%): invoicing and filing | Decree-Law 48/2018 |
| 12 | Anti-money laundering: cash and suspicious deals | Decree-Law 4/2001 |
| 13 | Vehicles: registration, plates, odometer | Traffic Law 23/2014 |
How to run a Bahrain automotive compliance audit, step by step
- Map the 13 areas to your sites. Mark which areas apply to each showroom, workshop and spare-parts operation, and who owns each one.
- Start with the biggest exposure. Check work permits first: LMRA breaches carry prison on the first offence and fines per worker. Then consumer protection (daily fines, closure, public naming) and environment (the largest single fine).
- Read the dealer-specific circular. The MOIC circular for vehicle sellers, garages and spare-parts traders is the most dealer-specific document; read it in full.
- Confirm the amounts before you quote them. Employment, workshop safety and fire safety fine amounts should be checked against the law texts. Amounts shown are statutory maximums; actual penalties depend on the case.
- Turn each area into an audit. Write the checks for each area into your audit programme, with an owner and a deadline for every gap found.
Who this guidebook is for
- Dealer principals and GMs
- Compliance owners
- Auditors planning a Bahrain audit programme
A reference document, not legal advice. Fines and rules change: check the current text with the regulator or your legal adviser before acting.
