How do I open a bank account in Bahrain and can I be paid without one?

Salaries in Bahrain are covered by the Wage Protection System (WPS), run through the LMRA and the Central Bank of Bahrain, so wages should be paid into a bank account and tracked. This means you normally need a local account. To open one you usually need your CPR card, passport and a salary letter from your employer, who often helps when you start. Being paid only in cash, with no bank record, is risky because you have no proof if wages go unpaid. If you are still paid in cash after your CPR is ready, ask to be moved onto WPS bank payment. A bank record also helps if you ever file a wage complaint with the LMRA.