Inaugurated in 2008, the Bahrain Logistics Zone is located at the heart of Salman Industrial City in Al Hidd Industrial Area adjacent to the Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP) and fifteen minutes from the Bahrain International Airport (BIA). Now, the BLZ has transformed into a regional trans-shipment hub with highly-integrated logistics as it is designed and operated by Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications for delivering warehousing and logistics infrastructure supporting the goods flow from the Khalifa bin Salman Port. Furthermore, the Bahrain Logistics Zone benefits from the aggressive pricing and world-class services in import, export, re-export operations, reduced time required for unloading & re-shipping, a strategic geographic location which provides easy access to GCC markets. All of these facilities position the BLZ as a destination for companies seeking to access the Gulf region.

Advantages of Setting up Your Business in Bahrain Logistics Zone

• 100 percent foreign ownership is allowed
• Zero percent corporate tax for companies operating in the zone
• Allows setting up a Limited Liability Company (W.L.L)
• Ideal location for expanding your operations in the Middle East
• An unparalleled network of inter-modal capabilities by sea, air and land
• User-friendly commercial environment
• Proximity to Bahrain International Investment Park , BIA, Bahrain Investment Wharf and Khalifa bin Salman Port
• Smooth transit to Saudi Arabia via King Fahd Causeway
• Excellent connectivity to Khalifa bin Salman port (Largest port in Bahrain)
• Effective freight forwarding from port to Bahrain International Airport within 20 minutes
• Business shareholders are allowed
• Flexible business operations allowing cross-docking activities
• Cost-effective spaces for offices and warehouse units
• Adherence to the International standards and best practices in logistics services and facilities

Facilities in the Bahrain Logistics Zone

• Excellent porting and berthing facilities for large container ships
• Cargo & freight forwarding facilities
• Dedicated 24/7 on-site customs inspection
• Fully-equipped, modern infrastructure
• Round the clock port operations with security
• Economical and efficient warehousing solutions
• Robust transportation infrastructure
• Competitive lease rates
• Flexible plot options according to the requirement
• 100 hectares of prime real estate ready for expansion
• Outstanding personalised customer service
• A special waste management system

Bahrain Logistics Zone in ideal for

• Logistical support services (i.e., Import of raw materials and equipment, trans-shipment activities)
• Regional distribution (i.e., Exporting finished goods and products)
• Freight forwarding (i.e., sea to air & sea to land final point distribution)
• Processing, assembly and packaging
• Storage and warehousing of products
• Travel agencies
• Finance, Insurance and investment
• Consulting & management services

How to Start your Business in the Bahrain Logistics Zone?

1.Apply for Land / Serviced Facilities

The process for setting up your business in the Bahrain Logistics Zone is a simple, transparent and fair application process

1. Prerequisites Review eligibility and selection criteria to ensure that your company meets them
2. Complete the Application Form, and the completed application form must contain the

• Financial information containing the audited financial statements for the past three years
• Company information comprising the annual reports and/or business plans as applicable to demonstrate competence and other materials including descriptions of activities and operations and list of clients and work completed
• Additional information that supports your application

3. Submit the application form with additional supporting documents
4. Allow for two weeks for a response from the BLZ Selection Committee

2.Check your Eligibility

As part of the PMA's vision to be a catalyst for economic development in Bahrain, the Bahrain Logistics Zone has been set up as a pioneering landmark logistics development with the overall objectives of creating adequate and high value-added employment, promoting private sector involvement and creating direct and foreign direct investments for Bahrain.

3.Select your Nature of Business

The Bahrain Logistics Zone aims at attracting high performing and long-term sustainable operations that focus on

• Third Party Logistics (3PL) services
• General and specialized storage and distribution activities for export/re-export purposes
• Value-added logistics services such as assembly, cosmetics weighing, mixing, filling, packaging and repackaging, de-consolidation/consolidation, kitting, palletising, labelling for distribution, testing and repair, and other value-added-logistics activities

4.Evaluation

All applications received will be reviewed and evaluated by the BLZ Selection Committee. A comprehensive review of all form and supporting documents will be undertaken by the BLZ Selection Committee to ensure that companies accepted for development can deliver on the commitments and objectives of the Bahrain Logistics Zone. Upon completion of the application evaluation process, applicants will be informed of the decision (average decision time = 2 weeks)

5.Selection Criteria

To ensure that the overall objectives, strategy, and effectiveness of the zone are achieved and maintained, each company application will be evaluated based on its ability to meet the following three tiers of selection criteria

1.Economic

With a 30% weight in their application, companies are assessed based on their ability to support Bahrain's economic development objectives through:

1. Leveraging Bahrain as a regional hub for operations
2. Creating mid and high-value jobs and knowledge transfer opportunities
3. Operations that entail value-adding activities
4. Promoting Direct / Foreign Direct investments
5. The innovation in business concepts and operations

2.Industrial

Also with a 30% weight in their application, companies should demonstrate their ability to support the Bahrain Logistics Zone objectives through

1. Leveraging the port facilities and customs free procedures
2. Export / Re-export focused operations
3. Operations that include permitted and target activities in the zone
4. Match to land and utility capacity availability
5. Compliance with safety, health and environment standards

3.Financial

Most importantly, the business with a 40% weight in their application, applicants must prove their ability to meet minimum business sustainability standards through

1. Experience and capabilities
2. Financial health
3. Legal compliance

6.Application Decision

Official letters communicating decisions regarding applications will be sent to companies. Applicants will be either accepted, waitlisted or rejected in the Bahrain Logistics Zone.

• Accepted Companies that are accepted move on to further discussions with Ports and Maritime Affairs about specific plot/facilities location and lease agreement negotiation. If accepted, companies will be subject to lease agreement terms and conditions.
• Waitlisted Companies that may be accepted if negotiations with other admitted companies fail and space become available.
• Rejected Companies under this category are not successful in obtaining space at the Bahrain Logistics Zone.

Companies Operating out of Bahrain Logistics Zone

• Almoayed Wilhelmsen (Shipping Company)
• Aramex (Worldwide shipping and courier services)
• Bandar Al Khaleej (Saudi logistics firm)
• DHL (Market leader in International logistics industry)
• ECU Worldwide (one of the top international cargo & air freight logistics company)
• Fetchr (Dubai-based startup offering pickup and delivery services based in GPS)
• Kuehne Nagel (Swiss-based global transport and logistics company)
• Schmidt-Heilbronn Logistics (European logistics company)

Why Set up your Business in BLZ?

The BLZ has a purpose-built Infrastructure with ample road network, large-scale berthing facilities and plot entry allowances, designed explicitly for handling container truck traffic and freight-forwarding operations while remaining as the dedicated customs-free zone and value-added logistics park in Bahrain. With excellent connectivity to the Bahrain's state-of-the-art Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman port, BIA, and high-speed road connectivity to Saudi Arabia & the Middle East regional market, combined with the low business operating costs makes Bahrain Logistics Zone the perfect choice for logistic companies and regional trade businesses who are planning to expand their operations into Middle East.

If you are looking for setting up a business in the Bahrain Logistics Zone, we at Xcellence are here to help you make the process hassle-free.Contact ustoday as our Bahrain team is expert in offering you the right guidance and information regarding the incorporation of the free zone company in the Kingdom of Bahrain according to the local laws, customs and provide you with a foresight of the business environment in the area.