Lawyer Zuhair Abdel Latif explained that organizing time sharing activities in the residence units has become an innovative way to attract tourists and enhance investment in the real estate and tourism sector, noting that the law sharing time in the residence units (Time Share), for which Law No. (1) of 2025 was issued, came to ensure the rights of beneficiaries by providing an encouraging legal environment, and enhancing transparency in all requests and licenses related to time sharing activities.
Abdul Latif stressed the importance of taking into account legal precautions to ensure the rights of the beneficiary from the system of time sharing in the residence units, and to verify that the project and the company submitted to the time sharing system are licensed by the competent authorities, such as the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, and to ensure that there is a clause that allows the contract to be canceled within a specified period without fining fines, which is a right guaranteed by the law in some countries, as well as ensuring that all information related to the unit, such as the site, facilities, and facilities, And the period of use, clearly explained in the contract.
What is “Time Share”?
On what is the time sharing system, lawyer Zuhair Abdel Latif explained that the time sharing in the residence units, also known as “Time-Share”, is a system that allows individuals to buy the right to use a residence unit (such as an apartment or villa) for a specific period of time during the year, usually one or more, and he said that this system is often used in tourist properties such as resorts and hotels, where buyers can Take advantage of the unit during the annual agreed period, or exchange it with other units in various locations.
He pointed out that this system appeared during the 1960s in Europe, specifically in France, where it was put as a way to make holidays at a reasonable cost, then spread in the United States during the seventies, and it became common in tourist areas such as Florida and Hawaii, and over time, other countries around the world, including countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, have adopted it, as it became an innovative way to attract tourists and enhance investment in the real estate and tourism sector.
Important guarantees
It must be taken into account
On the guarantees of the buyer or investor in this system, Abdullatif stressed the importance of taking into account legal precautions to ensure the protection of the beneficiary’s rights, namely: to ensure that the project and the company submitted to the time sharing system are licensed by the competent authorities, such as the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
He stressed the need to carefully review the contract and ensure that all items are understood, including rights and duties, the period of use, and additional costs such as maintenance fees, as he warned of the importance of verifying the presence of a clause that allows the contract to be canceled within a specific period without endurance, which is a right guaranteed by law in some countries, as well as ensuring that all information related to the unit, such as the site, facilities, and the period of use, is clearly shown in the contract, preferred to use With a specialist to review the contract and ensure that it is compatible with the laws.
Abdul Latif also pointed to the need to verify the exchange system, and if the contract includes the possibility of exchanging units with other sites, and ensuring that the authority responsible for the unit management has a good reputation and has experience in this field, and stressed the importance of maintaining a copy of the contract and all relevant documents, including payment and correspondence receipts.
The issuance of Law No. (1) of 2025 in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the aim of organizing time sharing activities in the residence units is an important step towards enhancing investment in the tourism sector and ensuring the protection of the rights of beneficiaries from these activities.
The most prominent judgments
The law defines basic terms such as “time sharing”, “residency unit”, and “time session”, which contributes to clarifying the scope of application, and the law requires obtaining licenses to practice time sharing activities, while specifying the conditions and procedures for granting and renewing these licenses, to ensure the rights of the beneficiaries by setting clear standards of contracts, including the right to cancel during a specific period without bearing any fines.
The Law of the Bahrain Authority for Tourism and Exhibitions is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the provisions of the law, including issuing licenses and monitoring compliance, where the Legal Adviser to the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Amira Al -Taan, said in a dialogue event organized by the Legislative and Legal Opinion Authority in this regard: “The Authority will cooperate with the relevant authorities, to put the decisions implementing the law, whether in terms of licensing procedures and then control Inspection of projects, all of which achieves the stability of transactions, and arises in this sector, and is in the interest of achieving the best outputs.
For his part, the Executive Director of Legal Affairs of the Economic Development Council, Hussein Al -Qaidoum, said that the law created the organizational framework for sharing time in tourism real estate, by providing new opportunities for investors and real estate employees; To make the most of their projects through competition in providing time sharing products; Which will contribute to increasing flows and tourism revenues, and achieving higher occupancy rates for tourist establishments throughout the year.
