Where to get free, official help in Bahrain — the labour, consumer, banking, data-protection and health authorities, plus the police ombudsman and human-rights body. Most are free; migrant workers can file without a lawyer.
In immediate danger? Dial 999.
Individual labour disputes and the mandatory pre-court settlement step under Labour Law 36/2012 — unpaid wages, end-of-service, and unfair dismissal.
Legal basis Bahrain Labour Law for the Private Sector (Law 36/2012)
How to reach File an individual labour dispute with the Ministry; a settlement attempt is required before the case goes to court. Bring your contract and CPR.
Who it's for: Private-sector and migrant workers.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
VAT and excise registration, filing, refunds and disputes, including objections against an assessment.
Legal basis VAT Law (Decree-Law 48/2018)
How to reach Register and file VAT/excise through the NBR portal; submit an objection within the deadline to dispute an assessment.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Consumer Protection module; complaints against banks and finance companies — fraud, unauthorised transactions and disputed fees. Complain to the bank first.
Legal basis Central Bank of Bahrain & Financial Institutions Law (Decree-Law 64/2006)
How to reach Complain to your bank first and keep the reference; if unresolved, escalate to the CBB with your transaction details and correspondence.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Report crime and cybercrime; the anti-economic-crime and electronic-security directorates handle online fraud. Dial 999 for emergencies.
Legal basis Cybercrime Law (Decree-Law 60/2014)
How to reach Report online fraud and cybercrime to the MOI's anti-economic-crime / electronic-security directorate; dial 999 in an emergency. Save your evidence first.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Complaints about misuse of your personal data under the Personal Data Protection Law (Law 30/2018) — unauthorised collection, sharing or processing.
Legal basis Personal Data Protection Law (Law 30/2018)
How to reach Ask the company to fix or delete your data first; if it refuses, file a complaint with the PDPA under the PDPL.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Independent Ombudsman for complaints of police or security-force misconduct, including mistreatment in detention.
Legal basis Ombudsman mandate (MOI Decree 27/2012)
How to reach File a complaint of police or detention misconduct with the Ombudsman by phone, email or its online form; it investigates independently of the police.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Labour Market Regulatory Authority
Work permits, employer transfers and the Wage Protection System; runs the Expatriate Protection Centre and services for migrant workers, including those who have left an abusive employer.
Legal basis Labour Market Regulation Law (Law 19/2006)
How to reach Use the LMRA portal for permits and transfers; a worker who has fled abuse can seek shelter and a new-employer transfer through the Expatriate Protection Centre.
Who it's for: Migrant workers and employers.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Courts, including the Sharia and family courts for personal-status matters — marriage, divorce, custody and maintenance — plus notarisation.
Legal basis Family Law (Law 19/2017)
How to reach File personal-status cases at the family courts; the Ministry also handles notarisation and religious-endowment matters.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Health ministry / Supreme Council of Health; complaints about public and private health facilities.
Legal basis Health regulations (NHRA / Supreme Council of Health)
How to reach Report a facility or a licensing concern through the Ministry of Health or the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
Independent human-rights body that receives complaints, including labour and migrant-worker issues, and refers them to the relevant authority.
Legal basis National Institution for Human Rights mandate
How to reach Submit a complaint to the NIHR by phone, email or its form; it receives labour and migrant-worker cases and refers them to the relevant authority.
Who it's for: Migrant workers and residents.
Verified 2026-07-05 · official source
This is legal information, not legal advice — a directory of official, free channels, not an endorsement. Hotlines and links can change; each entry shows the date we last verified it. If a number or page no longer works, tell us on the contact form.
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