Work is to begin this month on a BD1.5 million ($4.1 million) expansion at the Busaiteen Club, Bahrain. The project will provide additional facilities including two halls, a swimming pool, a health club and a grass court. Also to be built are a 40-room sports hotel including a stadium and a commercial complex.

Meanwhile, almost 80 per cent of work has been completed on the BD250,000 Hidd Social Centre which is being built for the elderly and the disabled. Bahraini businessman Ali Al Mussalam, who chairs the Hidd Community Committee and is financing the project, said the centre would include a multi-purpose hall to accommodate 350 people, five flats and a medium-sized swimming pool.

Plans approved for 725 houses

Manama: Plans have been approved for the construction of 725 housing units in various areas of Bahrain including the districts of Al Rawdah and Al Lawzi in Hamad Town, Salmabad and Isa Town.

The houses are being built under the directives of the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and will cost BD13.2 million ($35.6 million). A number of Bahraini construction companies have been approached to carry out the project.

$3m allotted for Seef roads

Manama: The Directorate of Roads at Bahrain's Ministry of Works and Agriculture will spend a total of BD1.2 million ($3.18 million) on several road projects in the Seef District. They include major road maintenance of the King Faisal Highway, a bypass road for the Central Market interchange, road alterations, construction of sliproads and the building of a four-lane dual carriageway from Avenue 18 (west of Dana Mall) to the Pearl Roundabout as well as the conversion of Avenue 40 into a dual carriageway from Al Seef roundabout to the junction of road 2819.

Hospital for heart patients

Kuwait City: Kuwait's Minister of Health Dr Mohammed Al Jarallah has announced that a new hospital for heart diseases will be built and that the government will spend KD30 million ($100.67 million) on a programme to upgrade hospitals run by his ministry. He was speaking at a ceremony marking the inauguration of the renovated fourth ward at the Chest Diseases Hospital. The renovation cost KD220,000.

Futuristic HQ for Civil Aviation Authority

Dubai: A new futuristic regional headquarters for the General Civil Aviation Authority is being built in the Al Garhoud area of Dubai, UAE, at a cost of Dh73.4 million ($20.4 million).

The building, being constructed in the shape of a crescent to reflect Islamic culture, has been designed by Hazel Wong, the architect behind the Emirates Towers development.

$5m building planned

Dubai: A Dh18.5 million ($5.1 million) commercial and residential building is to be constructed in the Port Saeed area of Al Khawaneej Street in Dubai, UAE. The building, which will occupy a 14,000 sq ft plot, will have four basement levels, a ground floor, six upper storeys and a health club. It will include 8,355 sq ft of office space, 4,982 sq ft of commercial space and parking for 60 cars.