Bahrain is one of the Gulf's oldest financial centres, home to a dense concentration of banks and insurers regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). The CBB Rulebook sets specific physical security expectations, and its ATM security module publishes camera specifications any bank-facing design must meet.
The rulebook requires CCTV recording of all ATM environment activity, and for drive-through ATMs, lighting adequate for cameras to capture vehicle plates day and night. For cash dispensing machines: minimum 700 TVL for analogue, vari-focal 2.8mm-12mm lensing, minimum 0.5 lux sensitivity (0 lux with IR), and IR range of at least 10-20 metres; for IP cameras, minimum 2MP (1080p) with the same lens/sensitivity/IR figures. These are concrete, checkable numbers — any design serving a CBB-licensed institution should be benchmarked against them directly.
| Facility type | Primary driver | Key design requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Bank branch / ATM lobby | CBB Rulebook | Minimum resolution, IR range, lighting for plate capture |
| Financial Harbour / Bahrain Bay tower | General commercial security | Perimeter and lobby coverage, access control integration |
| Retail and mixed-use podium | Loss prevention | Wide-area coverage, entrance crowd monitoring |
| Logistics/free zone facilities | Asset protection | Yard and dock-door coverage |
Design guidance
For any CBB-licensed client, specify cameras meeting rulebook minimums as a floor. Design ATM lobby lighting as part of the CCTV package, not left to the electrical contractor. Design coverage for sensitive areas to work alongside access control's audit trail for cross-referencing.
Common mistakes
Specifying resolution against generic guidance without checking CBB minimums; treating ATM lighting as an afterthought; under-provisioning retention, which should be confirmed against the specific CBB module for the licensee type.
Future outlook
As Bahrain's fintech sector grows under Economic Vision 2030, expect more branchless and hybrid banking formats requiring lighter-footprint CCTV designs that still meet the same rulebook minimums.