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Bahrain Recording Laws: All-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamReviewed May 15, 202626 min read
Bahrain Recording Laws: All-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to record a phone call in Bahrain without the other person knowing?

No. Bahrain requires all-party consent for recording any communication. Recording a phone call without the knowledge and agreement of every participant violates Article 4 of the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 60/2014), which carries penalties of imprisonment and fines up to BHD 100,000 (approximately USD 265,000). The recording also violates the Penal Code privacy provisions (Articles 370 and 372, as amended by Law No. 25/2025) and the Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 30/2018).

What is the maximum penalty for illegal recording in Bahrain?

The maximum fine under a single statute is BHD 100,000 (approximately USD 265,000) under Article 4 of the Cybercrime Law, combined with imprisonment. However, penalties stack across multiple laws. A person who records and shares a private conversation could face charges under the Cybercrime Law (BHD 100,000 fine), the Penal Code under Article 372 (up to five years prison and BHD 5,000 fine), and the PDPL (up to BHD 20,000 additional fine for individuals, BHD 40,000 for corporations), all from the same act.

Can my employer record my phone calls at work in Bahrain?

Only with your written, explicit consent. Under the PDPL (Law No. 30/2018), employers must obtain specific, informed consent before recording employees. This consent should be included in your employment contract or a separate recording policy. The employer must also notify the Personal Data Protection Authority and cannot retain recordings indefinitely. Employers who record calls without your knowledge and consent violate both the PDPL and the Penal Code.

Are CCTV cameras legal in Bahrain?

Yes, but with restrictions. CCTV systems require prior authorization from the Personal Data Protection Authority under Article 15 of the PDPL. Camera operators must inform people about the presence of cameras, store footage securely, use it only for its stated security purpose, and avoid sharing footage publicly without consent. Residential installations must respect neighbors' privacy and homeowners must inform neighbors about the cameras. Workplace CCTV also requires written employee consent under the PDPL consent standard.

Can a secretly recorded conversation be used as evidence in Bahrain?

Using a secretly recorded conversation in court is problematic because the recording itself is a criminal act under Article 4 of the Cybercrime Law and Articles 370 and 372 of the Penal Code. Presenting illegally obtained evidence could expose the person submitting it to prosecution. Bahraini courts generally do not admit evidence obtained through criminal activity. The person attempting to use such a recording risks facing charges that carry heavier penalties than whatever dispute they were trying to prove.

Is it legal to record police officers in Bahrain?

There is no statute in Bahrain expressly granting the right to record police officers or government officials. The general recording laws apply equally to recordings of police activity. Given that Bahrain has used cybercrime and public-order statutes to prosecute individuals for online expression critical of authorities, filming a police encounter carries significant legal risk under the Cybercrime Law and the Penal Code. Anyone considering recording police activity in Bahrain should consult a Bahraini lawyer before doing so.

Is deepfake content illegal in Bahrain?

As of May 2026, Bahrain does not have a deepfake-specific criminal statute. However, Shura Council members proposed adding Article 10 (bis) to the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 60/2014) in November 2025. The proposal would criminalize producing or falsifying audio-visual content to damage reputation or honor, with fines of BHD 3,000 to BHD 10,000 plus imprisonment. As of May 2026, the bill was at committee stage and not yet enacted. Existing law covers some deepfake scenarios: distribution of fake audio or video to damage reputation can engage the Penal Code's privacy and disclosure articles.

What is the PDPA adequacy list and does it affect recordings stored abroad?

The Personal Data Protection Authority published Resolution No. 42 of 2022 establishing an Adequacy List of 83 countries that meet Bahrain's data protection standards. Personal data, including voice recordings, can be transferred to those 83 countries without separate PDPA approval. Transfers to countries not on the list require either prior PDPA written permission or the explicit consent of the individual whose data is being transferred. Organizations that store call recordings in foreign data centers must verify the country is on the list or obtain a specific authorization.

What is voyeurism under Bahraini law and what are the penalties?

Bahrain's Penal Code, as amended by Law No. 25/2025, criminalizes recording individuals in private settings without their knowledge under Article 370. This covers eavesdropping on private conversations, filming people in intimate or compromising situations, and recording in locations where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The penalty for the basic offense is BHD 500 to BHD 1,000 plus imprisonment. Distributing the recording escalates the fine to BHD 1,000 to BHD 3,000. If the material relates to personal honor, Article 372 applies and penalties can reach five years imprisonment and a BHD 5,000 fine.

Sources and References

  1. Bahrain Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission -- Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1976 (Penal Code)(lloc.gov.bh).gov
  2. Bahrain Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission -- Penal Code Amendments History(lloc.gov.bh).gov
  3. Bahrain Personal Data Protection Authority -- Law No. 30 of 2018 (PDPL) and Regulations(pdp.gov.bh).gov
  4. Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority -- Telecommunications Laws(tra.org.bh).gov
  5. UNODC SHERLOC -- Bahrain Penal Code Decree No. 15 of 1976 (English Translation)(sherloc.unodc.org).gov
  6. Council of Europe Octopus Cybercrime Community -- Bahrain Country Profile(coe.int).gov
  7. Bahrain eGovernment Portal -- Personal Data Protection(bahrain.bh).gov
  8. Eastlaws -- Law No. 25 of 2025 Amending the Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 3812, May 29, 2025)(eastlaws.com)
  9. Mondaq -- Legal Update: Amendments to the Bahraini Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 3/2025)(mondaq.com)
  10. Daily Tribune Bahrain -- Parliament Passes Revised Draft Law Criminalising Invasion of Privacy (May 2025)(newsofbahrain.com)
  11. Daily Tribune Bahrain -- New Bill to Impose Tougher Penalties for Secret Recordings(newsofbahrain.com)
  12. Daily Tribune Bahrain -- Deepfake Creators Face Jail, Hefty Fines (November 2025)(newsofbahrain.com)
  13. Daily Tribune Bahrain -- Bahrain Moves to Criminalize AI Misuse in Deepfake and Defamation Cases(newsofbahrain.com)
  14. Legal 500 -- Bahrain Penal Code: A New Era in Combating Cybercrime and Device Theft(legal500.com)
  15. Al Doseri Law -- Bahrain Penal Code Amendments: Legislative Decree No. 3 of 2025(aldoserilaw.com)
  16. Akin Gump -- Bahrain New Data Protection Law Now in Force(akingump.com)
  17. DataGuidance -- Bahrain Data Protection Overview (PDPL Resolution No. 42/2022 Adequacy List)(dataguidance.com)
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