KUWAIT’S second city was last month renamed after its ruler, as the multi-billion-dollar project reached another key milestone in its construction.

Launched as Al Khiran Pearl City, the $2-billion coastal development was renamed Sabah Al Ahmed Sea City in honour of Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, who was also on hand to inaugurate the city under its new name and witness the flooding of the latest stretch of waterway to be constructed under the project’s third phase.
The flooding will create 250 km of prime new inland beachfront for the country and link up with the first two phases of the project that have already been delivered. Currently, the development consists of a range of premium waterfront villas and apartments, with fully functioning utilities and transport networks.
On completion, the project would have doubled the length of Kuwait’s coastline to provide an extensive area of high-value real estate.
The new city, which is being developed by La’ala Al Kuwait Real Estate Company, is a flagship for coastal developments in the Gulf, recognising the importance of creating a balance between the commercial and environmental landscape.
Located 85 km south of Kuwait City, it will eventually house a population of around 100,000.
The main consultant Buro Happold, which  has been involved with the project since its inception, is providing an extensive number of services to ensure the optimum design for this large-scale project, which spans five phases in total.
The main challenge for Buro Happold team has been to work within the parameters of the hydraulic studies to provide an efficient and environmentally sustainable urban development.
Project director for La’ala Al Kuwait Real Estate Company Ian Williams said: “The opening of the waterway to this phase marks another important milestone on the project. Phase Three is the largest of the phases to date covering almost 11 million sq m. We now start the delivery of the infrastructure services which we hope to complete in 18 months.”