Bahrain is hoping to build a city with shops, offices and homes in rows of skyscrapers rising to more than 50 storeys.

A blueprint for the city has been approved, following directives from His Majesty the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The project is expected to generate more than BD2 billion ($5.30 million) in real-estate investment over the next 50 years, said Housing and Agriculture Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

A masterplan is ready for the area along the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway, which runs across the country from Mina Salman past Tubli, Adhari Park, Isa Town and Saar, to the King Fahad Causeway. It will become the country's commercial, financial and tourism hub of the future, with skyscrapers rising either side of the highway, said Shaikh Khalid.

Local and international investors are being invited to help build the sky city.

Around 7 million sq m will be for high-rise housing and 2.5 million sq m for commercial purposes, said Shaikh Khalid.

This would accommodate about seven per cent of the population of Bahrain, he said.

"The plots will include plans for multi-purpose high-rise towers, ranging in height from 20 to more than 50 storeys, which will be used for housing, commercial and administrative purposes," explained Shaikh Khalid.

Each individual plot will measure 10,000 sq m.

Blueprints for the area allow for gardens and squares, service areas and low-rise buildings of up to three storeys, said Shaikh Khalid.