20 years from the international filing date, and cannot be renewed thereafter.

Patent annuities are applicable on the anniversary of the grant date of a patent.

The exact time frame for registration of a Patent in Bahrain cannot be determined. However, the Patent Office has already started substantive examination for pending applications in Bahrain, and currently examining applications filed for the year 2014. 

Yes, provided the amended claims and specifications are filed at the patent office before the substantive examination.

National phase patent applications in Bahrain must be filed within 30 months from the first priority date or from the international PCT application's filing date (if no priority application was filed); confirming that this time limit is non-extendable.

Yes, absolute novelty is a requirement for filing a national patent application. The priority claim term shall be 12 months as of the date of first filing, according to Paris Convention.

According to the patents law of Bahrain, all inventions are patentable in Bahrain; except the following:

(i) Plants, animals, and processes – which are mostly organic – are used for the production of plants or animals, with the exception of micro-organisms, non-organic and microbiology processes.
(ii) Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods.
(iii) Methods of surgical or therapeutic treatment of human or animal body and methods of diagnosis applied to human or animal bodies, with the exception of products used in any of these methods.
(iv) Schemes, rules, and methods of conducting commercial activities, exercising pure mental activities, or playing a game.

Yes, the patent office allows a grace period of 6 months to pay the relevant annuity without late fees and a further grace period of 6 months with late fees payment.