WITH first-phase reclamation work complete on the 12-sq-km Diyar Al Muharraq, one of Bahrain’s biggest mixed-use residential urban developments, building works are expected to commence on the first 3 sq km of the site off the coast of Muharraq.

The massive project’s anticipated total investment on reclamation and infrastructure is BD1.2 billion ($3.2 billion), with Kuwait Finance House (KFH) being the major investor.
The development, the first to focus on offering a variety of housing options across all groups of society, will boast up-to-date amenities, a quality lifestyle and has received international attention due to the high importance it accords to the environment.
Engineered, designed and masterplanned by international consultancy group Scott Wilson and Gulf House Engineering, the development is now progressing towards becoming a well-planned city. With reclamation completed on the first 6 sq km of the development, work is proceeding ahead of schedule on Phase Two covering the remaining 6 sq km, with 40 per cent of the reclamation complete, a spokesman for the developer Diyar Al Muharraq tells Gulf Construction.
Some 3 sq km of its total area is now ready for access and commencement of building works, he adds.
“Diyar Al Muharraq is being built to stringent specifications and as such, the standard of infrastructure will be high. Discussions are under way with the relevant government ministries to address the practicalities of long-term management,” says the spokesman.

The development will add 40 km of coastline to the country.

The multi-staged project to be delivered in phases over the next 15 years, with the first areas targeted for completion starting from 2012. As part of the phased development, plots will be released in bulk to developers with a stipulation on the period within which their plots would have to be developed. Diyar Al Muharraq will also act as a developer for certain areas.
The project’s development team has created developable land at a safe reclamation level, and has taken measures to ensure the flexibility of the landform, allowing uniform settlement to facilitate future development.
In addition, Diyar Al Muharraq is working closely with industry leaders and government authorities to study the use of district cooling within the project, subject to the appropriate regulatory, technical and economic considerations.
Leading international engineering, planning, environmental and management consultancy Hyder is offering advice on the infrastructure. The company has handled a number of prestigious projects in the Gulf, including the Burj Dubai Development and Dubai Festival City in Dubai, Qatar Education City in Qatar and Al Areen and Riffa Views in Bahrain.
The mega project is being managed by reputable and experienced Bahrain-based project management firm Hisham Abdulrahman Jaffer, which has been active in its various preliminary phases.
Reclamation is being undertaken by Great Lakes Nass, a joint venture company of the renowned international organisation Great Lakes, Dredge and Dock Company (Great Lakes) and the Bahraini company, Nass Group. This is the fourth project that the joint venture is working on after its success in reclaiming the Khalifa bin Salman Port, Industrial Area in Hidd, and the Durrat Al Bahrain project.
Situated on the northern shores of Muharraq, Diyar Al Muharraq will offer a range of housing options and a quality lifestyle. It will have a cohesive mix of residential and commercial properties with the potential for around 30,000 dwellings for more than 120,000 people.
The development will have among the most extensive publicly accessible waterfronts in the kingdom – as well as all the elements one expects from a vibrant community, including schools, medical centres, parklands, sports facilities, and a wide selection of retail services including, banks, and hotels all supported by a high standard of infrastructure services.
The fully self-contained city features 40 km of new coastline with a combination of strategically-located seafront properties and facilities, most of which are accessible to all residents and visitors. These include the Ras Raya Harbour, a dedicated fishing port to serve the local fishermen of the area; as well as a carefully-planned network of water canals; two marinas; an extensive promenade featuring cafes and restaurants; sandy beaches; water taxis; and a waterfront mall that is designed to be the largest mall in Bahrain.

Housing & commercial areas
Unlike many private developments in the kingdom, Diyar Al Muharraq will offer small, medium and large plot sizes to ensure that housing is available across all income groups. It will offer a range of housing options from apartments to townhouses and family villas of varying sizes on a freehold basis. All residences will have access to the same high standard and a wide choice of facilities.
“A unique aspect about the project is that it is open to all strata of society of most income levels, whether they are Bahraini nationals or foreign residents. Freehold property will be available as per the freehold laws of the country,” says the spokesman.
Diyar Al Muharraq will also have a thriving business area with commercial premises including office space, showrooms and warehousing. Both residential and commercial areas will be supported by extensive infrastructure provided as an integral part of the development.
A number of hotels have also been planned adjacent to the city’s main commercial and beachfront area. These will offer the full range of five-star facilities, including a private beach, and will encourage external tourism and local visitors to the new city.

Landscaping
Landscaping will play a key part in Diyar Al Muharraq, making it a pleasant place to live in. The use of local drought-resistant species where possible, to minimise the water requirements for landscaping, is a key parameter in the landscaping design.
The combination of different land uses through innovative landscaping will make the city more vibrant. The quality of space between buildings is of prime importance for Diyar Al Muharraq, and a series of integrated landscaping features will be used to create inviting and functional areas.
Tree-lined avenues will be combined with soothing water features and extensive open spaces in residential areas will include large parks through to smaller pocket parks and seating areas. Of the two main parks, one will be an extensive garden, the other will have a beachfront location. In addition, corniche waterfront parks will allow people to make the most of the city’s extensive waterfront.

Environmental initiative
In line with its commitment to the environment, Diyar Al Muharraq has allocated more than BD3 million ($8 million) to its environmental plan and a number of pioneering initiatives in the region.
The project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) and marine studies have been conducted on a scale that is unprecedented in Bahrain, according to the developer.
“It is the first project in the GCC to commission and adopt an online environmental management system as part of its environmental management plan (EMP),” the spokesman says.
It has ongoing partnerships with leading international and local associations such as the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) two-year initiative designed to improve environmental impact assessment (EIA) practices throughout the region.
“The award-winning initiatives in its environmental assessment plans have set new benchmarks in the region, such as the (Diana) water quality monitoring system,” says the spokesman.
In addition, the developer has consulted with international environmental experts and masterplanners and locally, with the Directorate of Environmental Assessment and Planning (DEAP) and Marine Resources Directorate (MRD), to ensure that a robust environmental initiative is in place. It has collaborated closely since the project’s conception with Scott Wilson to account for such factors as extreme sea levels, climate change, visual appeal of revetments and access to water, all with a long-term view of maintaining the quality level of public amenities.
A set of strategies will include marine habitat enhancement schemes, which encourage regeneration and repopulation, and the participation in long-term initiatives to support marine life and fisheries’ conservation activities within Bahrain’s waters, as well as direct compensation for local fishermen.
Other consultants working on the project include Davis Langdon, which is providing managed solutions for the project’s investments in infrastructure, property and construction, and Trowers and Hamlins, Diyar Al Muharraq’s legal consultant.
Diyar Al Muharraq recently moved to its new headquarters in the western tower of the Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC).
Aaref Hejres, CEO of Diyar Al Muharraq, says: “We consider the Bahrain World Trade Centre, with its unique electricity-generating wind turbines and high environmental standards, the perfect match to Diyar Al Muharraq’s vision, which focuses heavily on environmental preservation.”