MANAMA - 19 FEBRUARY 2006 - With the significant progress made on the establishment of Durrat Al Bahrain, the Kingdom's largest planned residential, leisure and tourist resort, the Kingdom's coastline is being transformed as the 20 sq km island paradise takes shape.
The latest satellite photographs of the area provide a breathtaking view of the US$3 billion development project, which once complete, will be approximately the size of the city of Manama.
Currently, dredging and land reclamation work are advancing to their final stages, with all of the dredging and reclamation for the project expected to be completed months ahead of schedule.
Durrat Al Bahrain is comprised of a cluster of islands and land areas that together give the development its unique island lifestyle theme. These include: The Crescent, a semi-circular landmass extending into the sea, in addition to 6 Atoll Islands, 5 Petal Islands, a stand alone island set to house a 5-star family hotel and resort, a state-of-the art marina and an 18-hole golf course, which is expected to be developed by a world renowned golf course designer and operating company.
"As reflected in the latest satellite views, there has been remarkable progress made on this landmark project, which will offer a wealth of beach-life and leisure activities for residents and visitors," said Mr. Jassim Al Jowder, Chief Executive Officer of Durrat Al Bahrain.
He continued, "As the images project, land reclamation work is well underway and we have already completed a significant portion of the project's main features. All 5 Petal Islands are now finished in addition to two Atoll islands, setting the stage for work to begin on the construction of over 400 villas sold as Phase 1 and 2 of the project. Villas, which were sold out by February 2005, will be ready for delivery, to the delight of owners, by mid-2007."
The project is creating some 15 to 18 kms of sandy beaches and approximately 50 to 60 kms of new seafront.
Ensuring the project is developing according to schedule, four dredgers, of which one is the tallest in the world, are on site, with dredging capacity reaching a massive 100,000 cubic metres a day.
Also moving forward at a fast pace is work on the required infrastructure for the resort community and commercial centre, which at completion in 2009, is expected to accommodate more than 45,000 full time residents in addition to some 4,000 visitors a day.
Infrastructure development currently underway includes piling work for the project's 12 bridges, which will connect the various islands together and to the mainland, as well as water and sewerage facilities. Work is also in progress on a highway linking Durrat Al Bahrain to Manama, with completion expected by September of this year.
"Whilst we are committed to meeting all project development deadlines, we are equally committed to protecting Bahrain's environment, including marine life," said Mr. Al Jowder. A number of environmental impact studies, encompassing both land and sea, have been conducted, with continuous monitoring an integral part of the development work.
Durrat Al Bahrain has been planned as a world-class residential, leisure and commercial and tourist destination, offering a lifestyle experience unrivalled in the Middle East.
The Crescent, which will be the heart of the resort city, will boast 6,000 apartments, a large-scale modern shopping mall, restaurants and cafes, a piazza, public beaches and a host of community facilities, including a mosque, health centres and schools.
The Atoll and Petal Islands will provide quiet residential living, with a total of 2,000 luxury villas of different sizes, private and common beach areas, boat mooring options and breathtaking sea views.
The 400-boat, full service Marina will offer a canal-type lifestyle, with waterfront townhouses and apartments, cafes and shopping. The adjoining 18-hole championship golf course will also house a 300-room hotel and over 250 villas facing the golf course or the sea.
The Island Hotel is envisioned as a 400-room signature hotel, with private beach and an aqua park.
To facilitate access for all prospective residents, innovative ownership and financing schemes have been put in place. A freehold ownership law has opened opportunities for investment by expatriates and well-thought out financing structures, both Islamically compliant and conventional, are also in place to assist mid-level income earners to own the home of their dreams in Durrat Al Bahrain.
-Ends-
About Durrat Al Bahrain
Durrat Al Bahrain is owned by the Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company, in which Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain each hold a 50 percent stake. Durrat Al Bahrain, a 20 square kilometre area of desert and sea, once complete, is expected to be the size of Manama, Bahrain's capital city.
The master planner/architects of the project is W.S. Atkins, the renowned engineering design and consultancy, and project/development manager is KMC Bovis, a joint venture between the Kuwaiti Manager Company and Bovis Lend Lease.
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© Press Release 2006
