13 March 2026, 11:55 AM
The Kingdom of Bahrain has ratified three major pieces of legislation covering social insurance protection for Gulf citizens, reforms to civil evidence rules, and the protection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued Laws (11), (12) and (13) of 2026 after they were approved by the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, marking another step in the country’s efforts to update its legal and regulatory framework.
Law (11) of 2026 approves amendments to the Unified System for the Extension of Insurance Protection for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council who work in member states other than their own. The system is designed to ensure that GCC nationals working elsewhere in the Gulf continue to enjoy social insurance benefits under their home country’s scheme.
The amendments strengthen coordination among pension and social insurance authorities across the region and broaden the scope of protection available to workers. They also introduce new mechanisms for collecting insurance contributions and updating employee data, while expanding coverage to include benefits such as retirement, disability and unemployment protection.
The unified insurance framework, first adopted by GCC states in 2006, allows Gulf citizens working in another member state to remain insured under the social security system of their home country, helping preserve their pension rights and providing financial protection in cases such as old age, disability or loss of employment.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued Laws (11), (12) and (13) of 2026 after they were approved by the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, marking another step in the country’s efforts to update its legal and regulatory framework.
Law (11) of 2026 approves amendments to the Unified System for the Extension of Insurance Protection for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council who work in member states other than their own. The system is designed to ensure that GCC nationals working elsewhere in the Gulf continue to enjoy social insurance benefits under their home country’s scheme.
The amendments strengthen coordination among pension and social insurance authorities across the region and broaden the scope of protection available to workers. They also introduce new mechanisms for collecting insurance contributions and updating employee data, while expanding coverage to include benefits such as retirement, disability and unemployment protection.
The unified insurance framework, first adopted by GCC states in 2006, allows Gulf citizens working in another member state to remain insured under the social security system of their home country, helping preserve their pension rights and providing financial protection in cases such as old age, disability or loss of employment.