Country Overview
Bahrain (population 1.577 million, 2023) combines an oil legacy with a steadily diversified economy: non-oil sectors contribute roughly 84% of GDP, led by financial services and manufacturing. Key industries include petroleum refining, aluminium, industrial manufacturing, banking/insurance, tourism, and logistics.
UTMPS Presence in Bahrain
UTMPS has been established in Bahrain since 2007, operating as an integrated extension of our regional network. The local team works in Arabic and English. We handle day-to-day prosecution and portfolio management, while coordinating filings and enforcement strategy across neighboring Gulf jurisdictions for consistency in specifications, ownership structures, and evidence.
Key IP Services in Bahrain
- Trademark filings, oppositions, renewals, and enforcement
- Patent protection, including pharmaceuticals and green technologies
- Copyright registrations and advisory for software and digital content
- Industrial design filings and renewals
- Anti-counterfeiting enforcement, including border measures and litigation
- IP due diligence and portfolio management
Bahrain IP System Overview
- Bahrain is aligned with major international IP frameworks, including TRIPS/WTO, Paris, Berne, PCT, Hague, the Madrid Protocol and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement for AOs/GIs).
- Bahrain is also a participant in the GCC Patents Office, providing an avenue for regional patent protection.
This section provides a high-level overview of jurisdiction-specific IP protection requirements and is not intended to be comprehensive. For advice on your specific matter, please contact our IP experts.
- Filing system: Single-class (separate application per class).
- Term: 10 years, renewable.
- Madrid Protocol: Bahrain is a Madrid member, allowing designation via WIPO.
- Priority: 6 months
- Opposition: 60 days from publication.
- Typical timeline (uncontested): ~3–4 months, subject to Registry workload.
- Key formalities: legalized/apostilled PoA (and supporting corporate documents where required)
- International filings: Bahrain is a PCT contracting state (national phase available).
- Term: 20 years (subject to annuities/maintenance).
- Priority Claim: The priority claim term shall be 12 months as of the date of first filing
- Filing Formatlities: legalized/apostilled POA; assignment documentation; declarations (including specific statements used in practice regarding genetic resources/traditional knowledge)
- Maintenance Fee: Patent annuities are applicable on the anniversary of the grant date of a patent.
- Practice note: formal documentation can include legalized/apostilled PoA and inventor/assignment documentation depending on the filing route and ownership structure.
- Bahrain is a member of the Hague System
- Protection Term: 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed only once for a further period of 5 years.
- Average time to registration: 4-5 months from the filing date
- Maintenance Fee: Annuities are applicable on the anniversary of the design publication date
- Membership: Bahrain is a member of the Berne Convention and the WIPO Copyright Treaty
- Registration: available/optional
- Filing Requirements:
- A Power of Attorney signed by the applicant, which must be notarized before the notary public and legalized up to the consulate of Bahrain or up to an Apostille.
- A soft copy of the work.
- Title and Type of the work.
- Full particulars of the applicant.
Manama
Office 35, Building No. 44 (BTC Tower),
Road 1701, Block 317, Diplomatic Area,
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Representative Work
- Supported a multinational services group in navigating contested marks, coordinating evidence and arguments through the local process and appeal strategy.
- Managed renewals and ownership housekeeping for a global life sciences portfolio to ensure enforceability ahead of planned brand extensions.
- Assisted an international consumer brand with infringement actions and practical next steps for market cleanup (including evidence planning and escalation routes).
- Advised a design-led business on registration approach and portfolio structure to preserve priority and reduce avoidable filing gaps.
Global Reach
With a presence across 20+ jurisdictions spanning the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, UTMPS delivers comprehensive IP solutions tailored to local requirements.
Outside our footprint, we coordinate matters through a carefully vetted network of trusted IP associates worldwide.
