WORK will begin soon on a BD18-million ($47.7 million) project to build a major theme park in Muharraq, Bahrain, featuring an ice rink, aquamarine centre, karting track and amusement rides.

The Muharraq Municipal Council approved new designs for the Muharraq Grand Garden after it drastically changed the original blueprint and cut its budget. It backed a decision by Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi to scrap the inclusion of furnished apartments and spa suites and reduce the number of commercial outlets.

Located near Bahrain International Airport, the park will include Bahrain’s first full-size ice arena, which will cost BD4 million ($10.6 million).

It has an area of 93,000 sq m which will also include large green areas, restaurants, a fitness club and gym, a centre for the elderly and family resting areas. It will also feature a commercial complex on the side of the airport which will be leased to airlines, car rental companies and cargo providers.

Muharraq Municipality director-general Saleh Al Fadhala said the contract was already drawn up, but they were waiting for a date to be set for the agreement to be signed with the investor. “The minister has already accepted the deal between the council and the investor and now it just awaits to be inked,” he said.