Laws

Disclaimer: The official version of the law and any amendments thereto is published in Arabic in the Official Gazette. This version of the law, including amendments thereto, is provided for guidance and easy reference purposes. The Legislation & Legal Opinion Commission does not accept any liability for any discrepancy between this version and the official version as published in the Official Gazette and / or any inaccuracy or errors in the translation. For any corrections, remarks, or suggestions, kindly contact us on translate@lloc.gov.bh Published on the website on May 2024 Law No. (8) of 2021 regarding Sports Professionalism, as amended We Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Having reviewed the Constitution; Legislative Decree No. (5) of 1983 amending Emiri Decree No. (2) of 1975 establishing a Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, as amended; Law of Associations, Social and Cultural Clubs, Private Bodies Working in the Field of Youth and Sports and Private Institutions, promulgated by the Legislative Decree No. (21) of 1989, as amended; And the Legislative Decree No. (41) of 2002 regarding the Privatization Policies and Regulations, The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have approved the following Law, which we have ratified and enacted: Article (1) In applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context requires otherwise: Authority: The General Sports Authority established pursuant to Decree No. (61) of 2021, or any other entity named by decree. Chairman: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Sports Authority or any person named by decree. Olympic Committee: Bahrain Olympic Committee. Sports Game Federation: A non-governmental entity responsible for managing a specific sport or sports and organizes this sport or sports at the local level, and it is affiliated with the relevant international sports federation. Contracted Entity: Any legally acknowledged sports club registered with the Authority, or any sports federation that is a member of the Olympic Committee, or any licensed institution authorized to represent professional athletes. Sports Professionalism: Engaging in the field of sports as a profession or occupation to achieve financial returns according to a contract between the contracting parties. Professional Athlete: A player, member of the technical, medical, administrative or refereeing staff or others working in the sports field who receive financial compensation as a salary or bonus for providing their administrative, technical, mental or physical expertise to the contracted entity based on a specific contract between them and the contracted entity. Professional Contract: An agreement made between the professional athlete and the contracted entity, in which the professional athlete undertakes to provide any administrative, technical, mental, or physical expertise to the contracted entity according to specified procedures and working hours in exchange for an agreed-upon financial compensation. Article (2) a- The contracted entities may enter into contracts with professional athletes for the practice of the specific sports activity mentioned in the professional contract. b- The professional contract shall be registered and approved by the sports federation of the specific sport, and both parties shall adhere to the rules of the national and international federations. Article (3) a- The sports federation shall establish an office responsible for registering the professional contracts subject to the provisions of this Law, including any modifications to such contracts, and preparing the necessary records. b- A decision shall be issued by the board of directors of the sports federation defining the procedures for the operation of the office and the registration process. c- A decision shall be issued by the board of directors of the sports federation, after the approval of its general assembly, to determine the fees for registering and approving professional contracts and any amendments thereto. The contracted entity shall register and approve the professional contracts at its own expense. Article (4) A- The Chairman shall issue a general regulatory framework for the regulations related to the sports professionalism system and contracts for professional athletes, provided that it includes the general rules regulating sports professionalism contracts and the contractual relations arising from them, in a way that ensures that these contracts are consistent with the provisions of the relevant laws, and in accordance with the systems and regulations of international sports federations. B- The Sports Federation shall issue the regulations for the sports professionalism system and professional athletes' contracts, which include all technical issues related to sports professionalism, including the terms and conditions of sports professionalism, the sports covered by the sports professionalism system and the type of professionalism that is applied, whether in whole or in part, as well as the terms and rules of professional athletes' contracts and the periods after which they are entitled to transfer, and the financial rights resulting from that All of this is in accordance with the regulatory framework referred to in Paragraph (A) of this Article and in a manner that does not conflict with the regulations and rules of international sports federations. Article (5) The Prime Minister and the concerned Ministers - each within his jurisdiction - shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. King of Kingdom of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Issued at Riffa Palace: On: 17 Shaaban 1442 A.H. Corresponding to: 30 March 2021 [1] Amended per Legislative Decree No.40 of 2025 [2] Amended per Legislative Decree No.40 of 2025

We, Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Emir of the State of Bahrain. Having reviewed the Constitution; Emiri Order No. (4) of 1975; Emiri Decree No. (2) of 1975 establishing a Supreme Council for Youth and Sports; And Law No. (1) of 1975 regarding the Determination of the Fiscal Year, Rules for General Budget Preparation and Control of its Implementation and the Closing Account; Upon the submission of the Prime Minister; And after the approval of the Council of Ministers; Hereby Decree the following Law: Article (1) A Supreme Council for Youth and Sports shall be established, affiliated with the Cabinet, hereinafter referred to as "the Council". The Council shall oversee a public institution named "the General Organisation for Youth and Sports", responsible for supervising the youth sector, its related affairs, youth centres, national clubs, and associated facilities and projects. The Council shall also have a committee called "the Bahrain Olympic Committee", which shall oversee the national sports federations. Article (2) The council aims to achieve integration in various aspects of youth and sports activities in order to develop socially, mentally, and physically capable citizens. In order to achieve this goal, the council is entrusted with the following competences: 1- Formulating the general policy for the ministries, authorities and institutions related to youth and sports matters, particularly those concerning the development of youth and sports affairs as well as setting the policy for Bahrain's relations with the international and global organizations concerned with youth and sports, participating in international conferences, and establishing the policy for creating the specialized facilities for youth and sports sectors and monitoring their implementation, all within the general policy of the State. 2- Empowering the youth to play their role in the public life and integrating their efforts into the comprehensive development programs. 3- Issuing licenses for the establishment of youth and sports bodies in coordination with concerned authorities. The council may delegate the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs or the General Sports Authority to issue these licenses. 4- Organizing awards, incentives and other forms of material and moral encouragement in the fields of youth and sports. 5- Developing the national plans to uplift the youth and addressing the challenges they face in all fields, along with focusing on the athletes and all their affairs, to achieve progress and achievements. 6- Approving the projects aimed at preparing and providing leaders in the youth and sports sectors. 7- Activating the principles of the National Action Charter and the Constitution related to the physical, mental and creative development of youth, and establishing the appropriate mechanisms for this in collaboration with the ministries, authorities and institutions in the Kingdom, in matters related to the youth and sports sector. 8- Monitoring the implementation of the general policy in the youth and sports sector, evaluating it, providing observations, proposals and directives regarding it to the competent authorities. 9- Proposing amendments to the legislations, expressing opinions on the draft laws, regulations, and decisions related to the youth and sports, and recommending the necessary draft laws and decisions to enhance the youth and sports sector. 10- Monitoring the application of the laws, international conventions, regulations and decisions related to the youth and sports sector, and tracking the implementation of the programs approved in the government plans and programs related to the youth and sports sector. 11- Participating in the government committees and councils formed by the government concerning the youth and sports issues. 12- Representing Bahraini youth in the international forums, conferences, meetings of Arab and international organizations concerned with the youth affairs, and working directly or through council-affiliated authorities to enter into cooperation conventions and joint programs. 13- Conducting studies and research related to the youth and sports sector, collecting information, data and studies related to them. 14- Holding conferences, seminars and discussion sessions to address topics related to the council's competencies. 15- Raising the public awareness about the role, rights and responsibilities of the youth and the importance of investing in them, utilizing the appropriate mechanisms, and supporting the sports sector for its constructive impact on society. 16- Issuing reports, bulletins, magazines and printed and electronic materials related to the council's objectives and competences. 17- Supervising, monitoring, issuing recommendations, directives, and decisions to the government entities serving the youth and sports sector, where it deems it beneficial for advancing this sector. 18- Reviewing the proposed budgets from the council-affiliated entities for implementing its decisions and projects, expressing opinions and approving them preparing them for adoption according to applicable regulations. 19- Considering all matters referred to by the Council of Ministers that fall within the council's jurisdiction Article (3) The council shall consist of a president, one or more deputies to the president, and at least eight members. The president of the council shall be appointed by a royal decree, and the appointment of the remaining members shall be done by a royal decree based on the president's nomination. Membership in the council is for a term of four years, renewable for similar periods. Article (4) The President of the Council shall do the following: Generally supervise the Council’s bodies and committees. Implement the decisions and recommendations of the Council. Represent the Council in its relations with other authorities. The Chairman of the Council may delegate others to perform some of their responsibilities. Article (5) The Council shall meet at least four times a year, and the Chairman of the Council or the majority of its members may call for a meeting if necessary. The meeting of the Council shall be valid with the attendance of the majority of its members, including the Chairman or one of the Vice-Chairmen, and decisions of the Council shall be issued by the majority of votes of the attending members. In the event of a tie, the side on which the Chairman of the meeting is shall prevail. Article (6) The Council shall have a budget to which the provisions that apply to the State’s budget and its closing account shall apply to the state budget and its closing account. Article (7) The Council shall be able to form committees from among its members and others, each of which shall specialize in one aspect of its activity. The Council shall monitor the work of these committees and coordinate between them. Article (8) The Council shall establish an internal regulation organizing the progress of work in it and its committees. By virtue of this regulation, a decision shall be issued by the President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, and he shall also prepare internal regulations relating to financial and administrative affairs. Article (9) The Council shall submit an annual and detailed report on its activities, projects and what has been implemented thereof to the Council of Ministers no later than the first of May of each year. Article (10) The Ministry concerned with Youth and Sports Affair shall be responsible for proposing and implementing plans, projects, programs and services for children and youth and sports in accordance with the decisions and recommendations of the Council, in cooperation with the concerned agencies and authorities in these fields. It shall also contribute to providing and equipping youth and sports facilities, providing the necessary technicians for them and preparing and training youth and sports leaders. Article (11) State agencies shall provide the council with the data, statistics and studies related to its competencies and to cooperate with it in facilitating the council's performance of its duties and tasks. Article (12) The decisions of the council shall be effective and binding on all authorities in the Kingdom, including ministries, authorities, institutions and others, provided that these decisions shall fall within the general framework of the approved government program. The aforementioned authorities shall be responsible for taking the necessary measures to implement these decisions. Article (13) The General Organization shall have a functional body and the laws and provisions that apply to government employees shall apply to its employees, technicians, administrators and employees. Article (14) The Emiri Decree No. (14) of 1975 establishing a Supreme Council for Youth and Sports shall be repealed. Article (15) The Prime Minister and the Ministers -each within his jurisdiction- shall implement the provisions of this Law, and it shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Emir of the State of Bahrain Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Issued at Riffa Palace On: 29 Rajab 1403 A.H. Corresponding to: 12 May 1983