E-Payments Now Mandatory in Bahrain for All Businesses

Businesses in Bahrain must switch to electronic payments and link a commercial bank account to stay compliant

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E-Payments Now Mandatory in Bahrain for All Businesses

Say goodbye to cash-only businesses in Bahrain. As of now, every business is required to offer at least one electronic payment method, under new rules aimed at modernizing the Kingdom’s commerce and tightening financial transparency.

In addition, all business transactions must now be routed through a registered commercial bank account—personal bank accounts are officially off-limits for commercial use. If you haven’t yet linked your business account to the Sijilat system, your Commercial Registration (CR) could be in trouble. No link? No renewal.

The Ministry clarified that any CR without a registered commercial bank account will have a visible warning on the system until the account is properly linked. The move is expected to reduce fraud, streamline business transactions, and improve financial oversight across sectors.

“This is a shift toward a smarter, more secure economy,” officials said, adding that e-payment infrastructure empowers business owners to track transactions more efficiently and meet growing digital demand.

Whether you run a café or a consultancy, having a card reader isn’t optional anymore—it's law. So if you’re still living in the cash-only past, now’s the time to tap in or risk being locked out.

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E-Payments Now Mandatory in Bahrain for All Businesses

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