Bahrain parliament committee report on audit office findings: ministries borrowed about BD4.9bn not in Finance Ministry's debt register; work permits breached labour law
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Bahrain's National Audit Office 2024-2025 findings, reviewed by parliament's Financial and Economic Affairs Committee across 81 entities, identified about BD4.9 billion of borrowing in 2024 by ministries and public bodies from banks and external funds that did not appear in the Finance and National Economy Ministry's debt register, on top of public debt of about BD19.3 billion at end-2024 (BD3.9 billion unrecorded in 2023). The audit also found the Labour Market Regulatory Authority issued work permits to foreigners holding commercial registrations and did not cancel some after registrations were obtained, which the audit says breaches the Labour Market Regulation Law. The committee, chaired by MP Ahmed Sabah Al Salloom, concluded its review on 11 February 2026 after nine meetings and issued ten recommendations; parliament was due to debate and vote on the report.
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