E-Commerce Consumer Protections
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Bahraini national legislation, decree-laws, and ministerial orders.
Bahraini National Law
What is this right?
Online shopping in Bahrain is covered by the same consumer protections as in-store purchases, with additional rules for electronic transactions:
- Right to information: Online sellers must clearly display the business name, contact details, product description, total price (including delivery fees), and terms of sale before purchase.
- Right to cancel: For most online purchases, consumers have a cooling-off period during which they can cancel the order and receive a refund, unless the product is customised or perishable.
- Delivery obligations: The seller must deliver the product within the agreed timeframe. If no timeframe was stated, delivery must be within a reasonable period.
- Payment security: Electronic payment providers must comply with Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) regulations on transaction security and fraud prevention.
- Cross-border purchases: Bahrain law applies to any transaction where the consumer is based in Bahrain, even if the seller is abroad, though enforcement may be limited.
When does it apply?
- You made an online purchase and the product was not delivered or does not match the description.
- You were charged more than the displayed price or hit with unexpected fees during checkout.
- You want to cancel an online order within the cooling-off period.
What should you do?
- Screenshot the product listing, price, and terms before completing the purchase.
- Contact the seller in writing to request cancellation, refund, or replacement.
- If the seller does not respond, file a complaint with the MoITT (call 17007).
- For payment fraud, contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge and report to the CBB if needed.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not buy from websites with no contact information — legitimate businesses display their details.
- Do not share your bank card PIN or OTP with the seller — legitimate merchants never ask for these.
- Do not wait too long to dispute — banks have time limits for chargeback requests.
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