Bahrain: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 6 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Bahrain.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Bahrain in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Bahrain may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Bahrain →

On the sanctions lists

6 entries on the official lists name Bahrain — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	4	4	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Bahrain recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Bahrain: logistics and trade

Transit and transshipment hub in the Persian Gulf

Bahrain (BH) is an island state in the Persian Gulf south of Qatar, acting as a transit and transshipment hub for the Gulf region. The country belongs to the GCC customs union with a 5 percent external tariff on the CIF value; clearance runs through the OFOQ electronic single window of Bahrain Customs Affairs, plus a 10 percent import VAT levied by the National Bureau for Revenue. Key gateways are Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Hidd (around 1.4 million TEU capacity, operated by APM Terminals) and Bahrain International Airport (BAH) on Muharraq. The King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia is the only land link; there is no railway, and the King Hamad Causeway with a connection to the planned GCC rail network is under development. All sea traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Exports are refined petroleum products, aluminium and chemicals, mainly to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the US; imports include machinery, electronics and food, mainly from China and the GCC states. Besides the GCC customs union and GAFTA, a free trade agreement with the US has been in force since 2006.

Capital: Manama
Population: 1,600,000
Area: 778 km²
Currency: Bahrain Dinar (BHD)
Continent: Asia
Region: Gulf region / GCC
Economic area: GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, customs union)
Religions: Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Gulf crisis: Strait of Hormuz de facto closed (19.7. only 15 transits instead of ~88/day); Bahrain under missile/drone alert on 24.7.2026, operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port temporarily suspended (emergency movements only). June throughput was still at a two-year high (~112'600 t general cargo) — situation volatile, check at short notice. King Hamad Causeway (2nd Saudi link with GCC rail connection) still in planning. (Status 2026-07-24)
Seasonal conditions: Extreme summer heat (often above 40 degrees) with high humidity; occasional dust and sandstorms. Cold chain and heat protection are relevant.

Main seaports

Khalifa Bin Salman
Khalifa Bin Salman (BH KBS): Bahrain's main commercial port at Hidd, run by APM Terminals. About 400,000 TEU/year, RoRo, general and bulk cargo, transhipment.
Mina Salman
Mina Salman (BH MIN): once Bahrain's main port, now a naval base with general cargo. Containers run via Khalifa Bin Salman Port (APM Terminals), Hidd.
Sitrah
Sitra (BH SIT) is Bapco Energies' tanker terminal in Bahrain for gasoil and jet fuel, not containers. Box cargo runs through Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd.

Main cargo airports

Bahrain International AirportBAH
Bahrain International (BAH): record 2025 with 405,217 t cargo, DHL Middle East hub, Gulf Air Falcon Cargo, Cargolux, 25,000 m² terminal, road link to Saudi Arabia.

Road corridors

King Fahd Causeway (Bahrain - Saudi Arabia)

Main trade lanes

Bahrain - Saudi Arabia
Bahrain - UAE
Bahrain - China
Bahrain - USA

Customs and import

Customs authority Bahrain Customs Affairs (Ministry of Interior)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Processing via the electronic single window OFOQ of Bahrain Customs Affairs. Imports are subject to the GCC common external tariff (standard rate 5 percent CIF) plus 10 percent VAT.
Export customs system: Export declarations are also filed via the OFOQ single window of Bahrain Customs Affairs; within the GCC customs union, largely duty-free.
Import VAT: Standard VAT 10 percent (National Bureau for Revenue), assessed on a CIF basis. In addition, GCC common external tariff of 5 percent on most goods; tobacco and alcohol are considerably higher.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Preference proofs under the GCC customs union, GAFTA (Pan-Arab Free Trade Area), and the US-Bahrain FTA (in force since 2006). Certificates of origin are common.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited include, among others, drugs, unlicensed weapons, and certain media. Subject to licence include, among others, alcohol, tobacco, medicines, animals, and foodstuffs. High duties on alcohol and tobacco.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Certificate of origin
Import licence (for goods subject to licensing)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export declaration (OFOQ)
Certificate of origin
Bill of lading / air waybill

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Low
Port congestion: Medium to high
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Medium to high

Trade

Top import partners

China Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates United States Germany

Top export partners

Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates United States China India

Top import goods

Machinery & vehicles
Electronics
Chemicals
Food

Top export goods

Refined petroleum products
Aluminium
Chemicals
Plastics

Typical cargo

Aluminium
Refined petroleum products
Machinery & vehicles
Consumer goods
Food

Upcoming public holidays

Bahrain National Day (Day 1)Wed, 16 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
Bahrain National Day (Day 2)Thu, 17 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
Labour DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
Bahrain National Day (Day 1)Thu, 16 Dec 2027 · businesses closed
Bahrain National Day (Day 2)Fri, 17 Dec 2027 · businesses closed

Latest logistics news

Saudi Arabia Establishes 14-Nation Alliance for the Red Sea3 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia leads a 14-nation alliance to protect the Red Sea. In the short term, little is changing for shipping companies: the mission is still in the build-up phase.

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Bahrain?

Bahrain Customs Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Interior, is responsible. It handles imports and exports via the electronic single window OFOQ, which bundles several regulatory authorities in one counter.

What is the import value-added tax (VAT) rate in Bahrain?

The standard VAT rate has been 10 percent since 2022 and is collected by the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR). On imports, it is calculated on the CIF value; zero rates or exemptions apply to certain goods.

What customs rate applies to imports into Bahrain?

Bahrain belongs to the GCC customs union and applies the common external tariff, which is 5 percent of the CIF value for most goods. Considerably higher rates apply to tobacco and alcohol; many GCC and GAFTA goods are duty-free.

Are there free trade agreements with Bahrain?

Yes. Bahrain is part of the GCC customs union and the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA). In addition, the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement has been in force since 2006 and largely makes bilateral trade in industrial and consumer goods duty-free.

Which ports and airports are central for logistics?

The main seaport is the Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) in Hidd, operated by APM Terminals, which can handle around 1,4 million TEU per year. Air cargo runs through Bahrain International Airport (BAH) on Muharraq Island.

Does Bahrain have a railway?

No. Bahrain currently has no railway of its own. Its only fixed land access is the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia. A second link (King Hamad Causeway) with a rail connection to the planned GCC rail network is in planning.

Which goods are restricted or prohibited for import?

Prohibited items include, among others, drugs and unlicensed weapons. Items subject to licence or approval include, among others, alcohol, tobacco, medicines, live animals, and certain foodstuffs. Alcohol and tobacco are also subject to high duties.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗