Prostitution laws in Bahrainالبحرين
Bahrain's Penal Code (Legislative Decree 15/1976) punishes any man or woman who relies wholly or partly for a living on earnings from prostitution with up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)), and soliciting another person in a public place with up to two years; any notice containing an invitation to prostitution counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Clients are not targeted by any provision found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over, though adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Running premises for prostitution carries two to five years and closure (Art. 328). Enticing or assisting prostitution carries imprisonment (Art. 324); coercion, five to seven years (Art. 325); living off another's prostitution or protecting it for a benefit, up to five years (Art. 326).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Living wholly or partly on one's own earnings from prostitution is a crime (Art. 326(1), Penal Code of 1976), as is soliciting in a public place (Art. 329). No offence aimed at clients was found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over; adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Brothels, procuring and living off others' prostitution are crimes.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Every person, male or female, who relies wholly or partly for a livelihood on earnings from prostitution or immorality is liable to up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)). On detection, the police refer the person for a medical examination, and someone found to have a venereal disease is ordered into a medical institution until recovery (Art. 330).[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No provision of the Penal Code targets clients, and consensual sex with a woman aged 21 or over is not itself an offence (Art. 345 covers ages 14 to 21). A married client may commit adultery, which carries up to two years (Art. 316).[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Establishing or running premises for immorality or prostitution, or assisting in any way in doing so, carries two to five years' imprisonment. The court orders the premises closed and the property and furniture in them confiscated. Premises count if they are normally used for others to engage in prostitution.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Enticing a person into prostitution or assisting in it carries imprisonment, up to five years if the victim is under 18 (Art. 324). Inducing prostitution by coercion, threats or deception carries five to seven years, seven to ten under 18 (Art. 325). Living off another's prostitution through influence, or protecting a person engaged in it in return for a benefit, carries up to five years (Art. 326(2)-(3)).[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Soliciting another person in a public place to immorality or prostitution carries up to two years' imprisonment, and every notice containing an invitation implying a temptation to prostitution, or drawing attention to it, counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Inciting passers-by to debauchery on a public road carries three to six months and/or a fine of BHD 100 to 1,000 (Art. 354, as replaced in 2025).[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Every person, male or female, who relies wholly or partly for a livelihood on earnings from prostitution or immorality is liable to up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)). On detection, the police refer the person for a medical examination, and someone found to have a venereal disease is ordered into a medical institution until recovery (Art. 330).[1]
Note. Wording from the English version published by the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission; the Arabic text is authoritative.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No provision of the Penal Code targets clients, and consensual sex with a woman aged 21 or over is not itself an offence (Art. 345 covers ages 14 to 21). A married client may commit adultery, which carries up to two years (Art. 316).[1]
Confidence: medium. Whether clients have been prosecuted as accomplices, for example for 'assisting' prostitution under Art. 324, or under other laws, was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Establishing or running premises for immorality or prostitution, or assisting in any way in doing so, carries two to five years' imprisonment. The court orders the premises closed and the property and furniture in them confiscated. Premises count if they are normally used for others to engage in prostitution.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Enticing a person into prostitution or assisting in it carries imprisonment, up to five years if the victim is under 18 (Art. 324). Inducing prostitution by coercion, threats or deception carries five to seven years, seven to ten under 18 (Art. 325). Living off another's prostitution through influence, or protecting a person engaged in it in return for a benefit, carries up to five years (Art. 326(2)-(3)).[1]
Article 327 doubles the minimum and maximum penalties of Articles 324 to 326, up to fifteen years, where the offender is the victim's spouse, in-law, carer or a person in authority over the victim.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
Soliciting another person in a public place to immorality or prostitution carries up to two years' imprisonment, and every notice containing an invitation implying a temptation to prostitution, or drawing attention to it, counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Inciting passers-by to debauchery on a public road carries three to six months and/or a fine of BHD 100 to 1,000 (Art. 354, as replaced in 2025).[1][2]
Confidence: medium. How Article 329(2) on notices applies to online ads, and whether it requires a public place, was not checked against case law; Bahrain's cybercrime legislation was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| مرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976 بإصدار قانون العقوبات Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1976 with respect to the Penal Code Arts. 324-330 · Art. 316 · Art. 345 | Chapter 3, 'Immorality and Prostitution' (Arts. 324 to 330), covers prostitution offences; Arts. 316 and 345 set the limits of the offences on adultery and consensual sex with young people.[1] | |
| قانون رقم (25) لسنة 2025 بتعديل بعض أحكام قانون العقوبات الصادر بالمرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976 Law No. 25 of 2025 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code Art. 354 | Replaced Art. 354 on inciting passers-by to debauchery on a public road, with a fine of BHD 100 to 1,000.[2] |
Timeline
Sources
- مرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976 بإصدار قانون العقوبات (Legislative Decree No. (15) of 1976 with respect to Enactment of the Penal Code (consolidated Arabic text and English version)). Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain, 8 April 1976. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- قانون رقم (25) لسنة 2025 بتعديل بعض أحكام قانون العقوبات الصادر بالمرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976 (Law No. 25 of 2025 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code). Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain, 28 May 2025. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026