A. Pharaon & Partners Law Firm.

The law No. 24 for the year 2004 related to the economic activities of GCC nationals in Bahrain has been amended to include the following negative list:

1. Religious hajj and umra services.

2. Foreign manpower supply.

3. Commercial agencies.

4. Real estate services and rental and management of land and property.

5. The following social services:

a. Care homes for people with special needs.

b. Re-qualification centers for people with special needs.

c. Re-qualification centers for senior citizens.

d. Community service centers.

e. Any office or center with activities related to social service after its scope has been defined.

6. The following cultural activities:

a. Establishing of printing houses and printers.

b. Establishing of newspapers and magazines.

A GCC nationals’ negative list means the list activities that cannot be practiced directly in Bahrain by the citizens of Gulf Cooperation countries, at which Bahrain is a member along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and United Arab Emirates. GCC nationals receive a favorable treatment in GCC countries and in some are treated equally with the same rights as of the citizens of that country.