DUBAI: Bahrain's upper house gave final approval to a draft law on Monday that will see value-added tax (VAT) imposed for the first time, state news agency BNA reported.

The lower House of Representatives approved the bill on Sunday after a royal decree ordered parliament to hold an extraordinary session.

Introducing VAT at 5 percent was part of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreement in 2018, a big step for governments that have traditionally levied little tax and relied instead on oil revenues.

(Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi Editing by Robin Pomeroy) ((aziz.elyaakoubi@thomsonreuters.com; +971552994086; Reuters Messaging: aziz.elyaakoubi.reuters.com@reuters.net))