How to Verify an IT Company's CR in Bahrain Before You Hire Them
Before you sign with a software, website or hosting provider in Bahrain, spend five minutes checking its Commercial Registration. Here is what to look for and why it matters.
By Friend Tech Team 2 min read
Choosing a technology partner is a long-term decision. Your POS system, website, business email or server may depend on that company for years. In Bahrain there is a simple first check that many business owners skip: confirming the provider's Commercial Registration (CR).
What a CR tells you
Every business operating legally in the Kingdom of Bahrain is registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The public CR record shows:
- The registered commercial name in English and Arabic, so you know exactly who you are contracting with.
- CR number and status – whether the registration is active, and its registration and expiry dates.
- Licensed business activities – for an IT company, look for activities such as computer programming, software publishing or computer consultancy.
- Commercial address – a real, registered location in Bahrain.
How to check a CR in five minutes
- Ask the provider for its CR number. A legitimate company will share it without hesitation, and it is often printed on quotations, invoices and the website footer.
- Search the number or company name on Sijilat, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's commercial registration portal.
- Confirm the name on the CR matches the name on your quotation and contract.
- Check that the status is Active and the expiry date is in the future.
- Make sure the listed activities match the work you are buying – software, websites, hosting or IT consultancy.
Other checks worth doing
- A clear written quotation that separates one-time costs (development, setup) from recurring costs (hosting, licences, support).
- Who owns what – your domain, hosting account, email tenant and source code should be in your company's name or transferred to you on completion.
- Real references – ask to speak to an existing client or see a live project.
- Support terms – how you report problems and how quickly you can expect a response.
Friend Tech IT Solutions' registration
For transparency, here are our own details, which you can verify on Sijilat:
- Commercial name: FRIEND TECH IT SOLUTIONS (فريند تك لحلول تقنية المعلومات)
- CR No.: 199565-1 – Individual Establishment, status Active
- Activities: Computer programming (ISIC 6201), computer consultancy and facilities management (6202), software publishing (582)
- Address: Flat/Shop 557, Building 57, Road 383 (Government Avenue), Block 305, Manama Center, Kingdom of Bahrain
If you are comparing providers for a software, website, VPS or business email project, request a quote and we will put everything in writing.