Bahrain tenders from ministries, public bodies and wholly state-owned companies run under one law, Legislative Decree No. 36 of 2002 on government tenders, auctions, purchases and sales, and through one body, the Tender Board, whose e-tendering system is where suppliers register, buy documents and bid. The law was amended as recently as June 2026, and the Board published a new guideline for suppliers and contractors in November 2025.
This guide covers who issues Bahrain tenders and above what value, how to register and bid, the bonds and documents a bid needs, the preferences that change the ranking, what changed in 2026, and when a company coming from abroad is better off with a local partner.
Who issues Bahrain tenders, and above what value
The law applies to all ministries, public authorities and institutions, municipalities, government bodies with their own or attached budgets, wholly state-owned companies, and the two chambers of parliament; the Defence Force, Public Security and National Guard are exempt for military, security or confidential purchases (Article 3). The Tender Board decides tenders, and may form a committee for those below BHD 500,000 that reports its recommendations to the Board (Article 11).
Below a threshold, entities buy on their own. Law No. 30 of 2026, issued on 14 June 2026 and in force the day after its publication, raised that threshold: contracting entities now run their own tenders and purchases up to BHD 50,000, and wholly state-owned companies up to BHD 100,000, with a list sent to the Board at least every three months (Article 11 bis as replaced).
Tenders are announced in the local press, and international tenders in Bahrain and abroad in Arabic and English (Article 23); the Board's site lists them, and the US Commercial Service notes that tenders of BHD 10,000 or more appear on the Tender Board website.
Local or international tender
Public tenders are local or international (Article 19):
- Local: limited to companies and establishments registered in Bahrain.
- International: open to local companies and to international companies registered or not registered in Bahrain, provided an unregistered winner registers under Bahraini regulations within thirty days of the award.
- GCC companies are treated as national companies, subject to the Kingdom's commercial laws and GCC agreements.
The Board decides which tenders are international on the nature, size and complexity of what is bought and the standards required (Article 19). Contracts for goods and works go by public tender by default; two-stage tender, limited tender, competitive negotiation, direct purchase and request for proposals need a reasoned Board decision, and services are bought by request for proposals (Article 4).
How to register and bid
The Board's guideline for suppliers and contractors sets out four steps: register on the e-tendering system at etendering.tenderboard.gov.bh through "Supplier Registration", activate the account by email and wait for approval; search for a tender; buy the tender documents online for a non-refundable fee; and submit a bid that meets every requirement within the deadline. Questions go to the purchasing authority through the system after the documents are bought.
A bid typically carries, besides the technical and financial offers: a copy of the initial bond (the original goes to the Board's offices), a valid commercial registration from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, a valid Bahrainisation certificate from the Ministry of Labour, and, where applicable, an SME classification certificate and a Takamul certificate.
Bonds
| Bond | Amount | When | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial (bid) bond | As specified in the tender documents; the Board sets a schedule by tender value and type (Article 28) | With the bid | Bank transfer, certified cheque, bank guarantee or insurance policy from an approved institution |
| Performance bond | 10% for construction works; 5% to 10% for services and goods, per Decision No. 3 of 2004 | Within 10 days of the letter of intent of award for local companies, 20 days for companies outside Bahrain | The same forms; held until full execution of the contract |
The initial bond is returned to unsuccessful bidders without their having to ask once the procurement procedure ends (Article 28); the winner's is returned within seven days of submitting the performance bond.
The preferences that change the ranking
Three 10% preferences apply, each under its own decision, and a bidder entitled to more than one gets the higher:
- Registered SMEs get a 10% price preference in tenders for service facilities within government entities, and some tenders are reserved for SMEs holding a valid classification certificate from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (Cabinet Decisions 6-2416 of 2017 and 4-2516 of 2019).
- Gulf-made products get a 10% preference in supply tenders (Decision No. 40 of 2015 on priority for national products of the GCC states).
- Local industrial establishments with a Takamul local-value certificate get a 10% preference for the products on the certificate.
In the Board's own worked example, applying the SME preference moves a small company from fifth place to first on an adjusted price. A foreign bidder with none of these starts 10% behind.
What else changed in June 2026
Besides the thresholds, Law No. 30 of 2026 added an article allowing the purchasing authority, with the Board's approval, to negotiate with bidders in three cases: a sole bidder; the best-ranked, lowest-priced bidder whose price exceeds the estimated cost; and the top-scoring bidder together with all bidders within five percentage points of it, with the Board taking the final decision (Article 34 bis). It also lets the Cabinet exempt certain entities for contracts executed outside Bahrain, under a procedure approved by the Board (Article 3 bis).
Complaints
Before the contract takes effect, a supplier who claims harm from a breach of the law may ask the entity or the Board to reconsider within 10 days of learning of the decision in local tenders, 20 days in international ones; the body must decide within 30 days, and silence is rejection (Article 56). A grievance to the Board follows within the same periods (Article 57), the Board decides within 30 days, and its decision can be challenged in court within 30 days (Article 58).
When you need a local partner for Bahrain tenders
The law has no local-agent requirement, and the US Commercial Service calls a local agent advisable rather than mandatory. What pushes a newcomer towards a partner is practical:
- Local tenders are closed to companies not registered in Bahrain.
- The documents assume a Bahraini presence: a commercial registration and a Bahrainisation certificate go into the bid.
- The 10% preferences go to registered SMEs, Gulf products and Takamul holders; a local partner that holds one of them lifts a joint bid.
- The bonds are due fast: 10 days for a local company, and the partner's banking lines may carry them more easily.
Whether that becomes a joint bid or a prime contractor with you as a subcontractor depends on the tender documents.
That gap, between what a tender asks for and what your company holds, is what Munaseq is for. Tell us the tender and what you lack, and we match you with up to three accredited partners that hold it, each with the reason for the match, and arrange the first meeting. The contract is between you and your partner.
- Have a Bahrain tender and a gap to fill? Find an accredited partner for your tender.
- A Bahraini company holding an SME, Takamul or sector certificate? Let companies entering the market find you.
- Bidding across the Gulf? See our guides to Saudi tenders for foreign companies, UAE tenders, Qatar tenders, Kuwait tenders and Oman tenders.
Sources
- مرسوم بقانون رقم (36) لسنة 2002 بشأن تنظيم المناقصات والمزايدات والمشتريات والمبيعات الحكومية, Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission (Arabic).
- Law No. (30) of 2026 amending Decree-Law No. (36) of 2002, Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission (Arabic), and the Tender Board's English copy.
- Guideline for Suppliers and Contractors in Government Procurement, version 1.0, November 2025, Tender Board.
- Bahrain: Selling to the Public Sector, US International Trade Administration.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. The tender documents, the law and its regulations are what count.