BahrainAI regulation

Regulation Status

• In July 2025 the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) launched the National Policy for the Use of AI and adopted the GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethical Use of AI; a comprehensive binding AI law has been approved by the Shura Council but contested by government, and is not confirmed in force.
• Bahrain has engaged regionally, discussing an Arab framework agreement on unified AI rules with Algeria at the 2024 UN Internet Governance Forum and amid wider Arab League calls for an AI regulatory framework.
• Bahrain's Shura Council unanimously approved an AI law in April 2024 aimed at curbing illicit AI-related activity (including biometric tampering, privacy invasion and discrimination) with fines from BD1,000 to BD10,000, and a later draft proposed a dedicated oversight unit and protections for investors, privacy, fundamental rights and children.
• The government pushed back on the draft AI law in November 2024, telling Parliament it may be redundant given existing legislation such as the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law (2018), the Personal Data Protection Law (2018) and the Cybercrime Law (2014), and favouring regulatory sandboxes instead.