• UG-1.1 UG-1.1 Legal Basis

    • General

      • UG-1.1.1

        Volume 5 (Specialised Licensees) of the CBB Rulebook is issued by the CBB pursuant to the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law 2006 ('the CBB Law'). The CBB Law provides for two formal rulemaking instruments: Regulations (made pursuant to Article 37) and Directives (made pursuant to Article 38). Other articles in the CBB Law also prescribe various specific requirements (for example, requirements relating to licensing (Articles 44 to 49), or the notification and approval of controllers of licensees (Articles 52 to 56)).

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.2

        The Purpose Section of each Module specifies in all cases the rulemaking instrument(s) used to issue the content of the Module in question, and the legal basis underpinning the Module's requirements.

        October 2010

    • CBB’s Rulemaking Instruments

      • UG-1.1.4

        Regulations are made pursuant to Article 37 of the CBB Law. These instruments have general application throughout the Kingdom and bind all persons ordinarily affected by Bahraini legislative measures (i.e. residents and/or Bahraini persons wherever situated).

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.5

        Because Regulations have wide general application, they are subject to two important safeguards: (i) the CBB is under a duty to consult with interested parties and to review and consider their comments; and (ii) the finalised Regulations only become effective after they are published in the Official Gazette.

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.6

        Directives are made pursuant to Article 38 of the CBB Law. These instruments do not have general application in the Kingdom, but are rather addressed to specific licensees (or categories of licensees) or approved persons. Directives are binding on those to whom they are addressed.

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.7

        Unlike Regulations, there is no duty on the CBB to either consult with addressees or publicise a Directive by publishing it in the Official Gazette (save that an addressee must obviously have actual or constructive notice of a Directive). However, as a matter of general policy, the CBB also consults on Rulebook content issued by way of a Directive.

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.8

        All of the content of the CBB Rulebook has the legal status of at least a Directive, issued pursuant to Article 38 of the CBB Law. Certain of the requirements contained in the CBB Rulebook may also have the status of a Regulation, in which case they are also separately issued pursuant to Article 37 of the CBB Law and published in the Official Gazette. Where this is the case, then the Rulebook cross-refers to the Regulation in question and specifies the requirements concerned.

        October 2010

      • UG-1.1.9

        In keeping with the nature of these regulatory instruments, Regulations are used to supplement the CBB Rulebook, either where explicitly required under the CBB Law, or where a particular requirement needs to have general applicability, in addition to being applied to licensees or approved persons.

        October 2010