MARRIOTT International is to operate a JW Marriott in Bahrain under a management agreement with owner Khaleejcapita.

The JW Marriott Manama, Bahrain Hotel, will have 274 rooms and suites and 102 residences in Bahrain Bay, adjacent to the Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) and opposite the Diplomatic Quarter. The 50-storey hotel is part of Bahrain Bay, a $2.5-billion development masterplanned by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

"The JW Marriott Manama will be a spectacular addition to Bahrain Bay development," said Abdul Aziz Al Rabban, chairman of Khaleejcapita. "Bahrain has an undersupply of luxury five-star hotels and we are confident that the project will be a great success."

The hotel will have an executive lounge with ocean view; one casual and five specialty restaurants; four lounges, including a lobby lounge and bar, a pool bar, quiet bar and rooftop lounge/bar; and 17,119 sq ft of meeting space. Recreational facilities will include a health and leisure club and luxury spa, indoor and outdoor pool, tennis and squash courts.

"Our currently open hotels in Bahrain, the Marriott Executive Apartments and The Ritz-Carlton, have been tremendously successful, and we believe that this JW Marriott Manama is ideally located for a luxury hotel in Bahrain’s commercial and financial centre," said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. "Our JW Marriott brand is reserved for select luxury hotels in key gateway cities around the world, and Bahrain is certainly one of these."