Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), the development arm of the Bahrain-based Ithmaar banking group, is to build an iconic 44-storey building as well as a mixed-use freehold and serviced apartments development that will include a 240-room four-star business hotel in Bahrain.

IDC chief executive officer Mohammed Khalil Alsayed unveiled the two developments at last month’s Cityscape Dubai 2008 exhibition.
The 44-storey structure, ‘Light of Bahrain’ will have  freehold and serviced apartments, while ‘Reflections of Bahrain’ will include a 240-room four-star business hotel, restaurants and a retail arcade.  To be built near the Shaikh Hamad Causeway that links Muharraq to Manama, both projects are currently in the concept stage.
Detailed architecture designs are to commence shortly, with DP Architects appointed as the concept design architect for both projects.
“Details of units will be firmed up after we approve the architectural designs but we already know that the apartments are expected to be in an assortment of sizes,” Alsayed said.
Meanwhile, reclamation work on IDC’s  flagship Dilmunia, a $1.6 billion man-made health island, is well under way.
Dilmunia will feature state-of-the-art facilities such as a diagnostic centre, nutrition and diabetes centre, cosmetic surgery, aesthetic medicine centre, women and children centre, alternative medicine centre and sports medicine centre.
The project will highlight holistic well-being through its wellness centres and a range of five-star deluxe spas and boutique hotels, as well as provide facilities for residential clusters, commercial facilities and recreational amenities.