Arts. 1 and 2 of Decision No. 51 of 2024 authorise engagement in the commercial activities enumerated in Table No. 1 through a virtual commercial store, subject to assessment by the competent directorate of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the nature of the activity for which the licence is sought; applicants must be Bahraini nationals, operate exclusively as a sole proprietorship, and provide a permanent correspondence address. Art. 4 requires licence holders conducting online sales to maintain an operational website and prohibits them from trading in any products listed in Table No. 2, while Art. 5 forbids the recruitment of foreign labour for licensed activities. Table No. 1 includes, among others, software publishing, food delivery services, film and video production, audio recording publication, computer programming and consultancy, data processing and web hosting, operation of markets and portals, and advertising and promotion.

In accordance with Law No. 81 of 2006 with respect to Approving the Common Industrial Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain imposes a regime for import licensing for certain products. Importers of several products must obtain an industrial licence from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism (MoICT), which can be issued only to a firm or an individual resident in Bahrain. It is valid for one year (renewable) and is transferable between importers. This requirement applies to importers of several products, including electric motors, generators, transformers, and electricity distribution and control apparatus; batteries and accumulators; wiring and wiring devices; electric lighting equipment; domestic appliances, other electric equipment; and machinery and equipment.

Bahrain has a copyright regime under Law No. 22 of 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Arts. 19-30 list the exceptions, which include: uses for non­-profit archives or libraries to make one photocopy of a work without the consent of the author and without paying compensation; and reproduction from a work to be used in judicial or administrative procedures, within the limits necessary for such procedures and on condition that mention is made of the source, and of the name of the author if it appears in the source; among others.

It is reported that audio, video, and software piracy by end-users is a significant problem in Bahrain.

Bahrain has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Bahrain has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

Law No. 7 of 2003 provides a framework for effective protection of trade secrets.

It is reported that there is a regulatory obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Bahrain to facilitate the provision of telecommunications services to end-users, and that this practice is implemented in both the mobile and fixed sectors.

The government holds a significant equity stake in the technology and telecommunications firm Beyon. As of 2024, it possesses 57% of the company’s shares, distributed through Mumtalakat Holding Company (37%) and the Social Insurance Organisation (20%).

Bahrain does not impose a requirement for functional separation on operators possessing significant market power (SMP) within the telecommunications sector; nevertheless, it does enforce an obligation for accounting separation.

Art. 26 of the Legislative Decree No. 48 of 2002 provides that a licensee must be incorporated in Bahrain or have a registered branch office in Bahrain. In addition, it provides that, subject to certain exceptions, substantially all of the infrastructure and personnel associated with the provision of the telecommunications service must be located within Bahrain.

Bahrain has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

It is reported that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

According to Art. 59 of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law of 2006, a licensee must keep accounting records, other records that the Central Bank may specify, and separate records for each branch abroad providing any of the services that are subject to the law. Insurance and reinsurance companies must keep records as specified by the Central Bank, including insurance contracts signed by the company, claims made against it and actions taken thereon, reinsurance contracts entered into by the company, and funds to be maintained according to the law (Art. 59). Art. 60 states that the period for which the companies must keep the data is at least ten years and the documents have to be retained at the licensee's main office in Bahrain, or at such other places as the Central Bank may approve.

OM-6.3.1 of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Rulebook provides that conventional bank licensees must maintain the following records in original form or in hard copy at their premises in Bahrain:
- Internal policies, procedures and operating manuals;
- Corporate records, including minutes of shareholders', directors' and management meetings;
- Correspondence with the CBB and records relevant to monitoring compliance with CBB requirements;
- Reports prepared by the conventional bank licensee's internal and external auditors; and
- Employee training manuals and records.
Conventional bank licensees are banks licensed by CBB under Volume 1 of the CBB Rulebook and generally operate according to conventional finance principles, as opposed to operating in accordance with Islamic finance principles.