A tiny island with
big reasons to consider.

A launchpad for scalable startups in the Middle East.

With startup friendly policies to a growing pool of skilled and savvy

talent, StartUp Bahrain is the perfect launchpad for your startup.

Friendly for startups.

Leading in the region in doing business, the friendliness of doing business in Bahrain only comes second to the warmth of its people!

Set up your startup online on Sijilat, easily.
Tight community, anyone you need a call away.
Haven for FinTech startups through Bahrain FinTech Bay.
Subsidize 100% of your cloud needs from Tamkeen.
Save 25%~ on utility and connectivity costs relative to the region.
Low value-added taxes, no corporate, profit, or income taxes, and lower rent.
Own & manage 100% of your startup without a local partner.
Operate in the region efficiently from Bahrain with 20% savings.
Access to perks and benefits for startups.

Early Riser

Handcrafted granolas and nut butters with ancient grains, hemp, chia, and flax — zero junk. Wake up to seriously good crunch.

Startup: Shaifa Jalil, Abdullatif Ameen, Safa Mohamed, Dana Hameed Awachi, Pooja Rajendra Joshi

Photography & Videography: Etar Productions

Early Riser

Handcrafted granolas and nut butters with ancient grains, hemp, chia, and flax — zero junk. Wake up to seriously good crunch.

Startup: Shaifa Jalil, Abdullatif Ameen, Safa Mohamed, Dana Hameed Awachi, Pooja Rajendra Joshi

Photography & Videography: Etar Productions

Massive potential to scale.

With a vision set for 2030, government support and a sharp digital focus, be strategically located in Bahrain to scale cost-effectively into the Gulf region.

Secure funding from different programs and entities.
Access local AWS datacenters right around the corner.
Scale fast by road, sea, and air to regional markets.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, & Kuwait, 1 hour away.
Direct highway connection to Saudi Arabia
Grow a team from a young pool of skilled and educated Bahrainis.
A region with high internet & mobile penetration.

Supportive government programs.

Different programs and support from Tamkeen that helps foster entrepreneurship and enabling startups to thrive in the Kingdom.

Programs that help you launch, grow, and scale.
Subsidize training costs for your team.
Startup acceleration programs that turn your ideas into reality.
Subsidize your wages, increments, and promotions.
Empowering women-focused programs.
Subsidize 50% of your needs, from accounting to marketing.
Subsidized participation in major global startup events.
Subsidized industrial land and corporate tax exemptions in Bahrain International Investment Park.
Go global with Export Bahrain's different support programs.

Malaeb

Bahrain-born app for booking football pitches in minutes. Book, invite, and play with Malaeb.

Startup: Shaifa Jalil, Abdullatif Ameen, Safa Mohamed, Dana Hameed Awachi, Pooja Rajendra Joshi

Photography & Videography: Etar Productions

Malaeb

Bahrain-born app for booking football pitches in minutes. Book, invite, and play with Malaeb.

Startup: Shaifa Jalil, Abdullatif Ameen, Safa Mohamed, Dana Hameed Awachi, Pooja Rajendra Joshi

Photography & Videography: Etar Productions

Leading regulatory reform.

The Island of Two Seas has always been known as for trade and business, now it’s shifting its focus to into the digital era with leading regulations!

Find product-market fit in the Central Bank of Bahrain's regulatory sandbox.
Peace of mind with the Personal Data Protection Law.
Protect minority shareholder rights in a flexible way.
Bankruptcy laws & low minimum capital requirements.
Access to government procurement, 20% allocation for SMEs.
Engage with forward-thinking cloud-first policies.
Leverage free trade agreements with 22 nations—including the US, Singapore, and EFTA.
Launch without a physical address through Sijili (Virtual CR).
Progressive policies promoting female inclusion and workforce diversity.

An exceptional, loving lifetstyle.

In Bahrain, being friendly is not only a favorable aspect for conducting business, it is a defining characteristic of the island. Bahrainis are hospitable and laid-back, cosmopolitan, and open-minded.

A welcoming and inclusive culture that’s friendly, and hospitable.
Easy to settle in, rated as the best country in the region to live and work from.
Wide variety of recreational activities to relax, have fun, or stay active.
Beautiful arts and cultural scene that is growing every day.
An exciting food scene that’s home to something for everyone.
World-class shopping and entertainment haven making it a paradise for you.

Bahrain’s community for innovative startups, made up friends, support, opportunity, and you!

© 2025 StartUp Bahrain


StartUp Bahrain is powered by Tamkeen, the Kingdom of Bahrain's Labour Fund, and is in strategic partnership with Brinc, Spring Venture Services, General Assembly, Reboot, and Ordable.

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