Work is progressing on a massive island resort off Bahrain's southeast coast, that will larger than the country's capital, when completed.

Massive in scale and ambitious in plan, the project to build the Durrat Al-Bahrain resort - or the large pearl of Bahrain - is moving ahead with the focus now set on developing its infrastructure and its Marina Village.

The island and onshore development is being developed by Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company - a joint venture between the Saudi-based Dallah Al Barakah and the Kingdom of Bahrain - and aims to create the one of the largest and most sophisticated touristic and residential cities in the region.

The complex is expected to be home to around 20,000 people when it reaches final completion in 2007.

About 30 per cent larger than Manama and situated 30 km from Bahrain's capital city, the resort calls for the development of a 20 sq km area along the country's southeast coast to offer the highest standards of living through its unique residential areas, entertainment facilities, and a wide array of activities amidst the abundant marine life along the city's coastline.

'This is the first project of its scale that is being developed on the back of successful past experience,' says Abdullah Shafeea, marketing and sales manager of Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company.

Durrat Al Bahrain draws on the experience gained developing Jeddah's prestigious Durrat Al Arus, which was launched a decade ago.

Seven man-made islands - which will be fingerlike projections into the sea - will be reclaimed and developed to accommodate most of the residential plots. Initially, five islands will be developed offering plot sizes ranging from 500 to 1,000 sq m. The other two islands will be developed at a later stage.

The project also entails the construction of numerous high-rise condominiums, two hotels including a 350-room five-star facility, an exhibition centre, an aqua park, an 18-hole golf course and village, a shopping mall, a marina with an associated residential area and a yacht club, an art city, commercial complexes, restaurants, a tennis club, several beaches and recreational facilities.

The project is being implemented in two phases and when completed, it will add an extra 30 km of coastline to Bahrain.

The first phase of the $1.2 billion project has involved the construction of an aqua park and dredging and reclamation works. The BD6 million ($15.9 million) Aqua Park, a focal point of the resort, was completed last November and now being enhanced based on theme being created by a Spanish firm.

Boskalis Westminster Middle East Limited and Saudi Archirodon Limited are working on the 18-month BD40 million ($106 million) dredging and reclamation contract for the project. A total of 6 sq km of land will be reclaimed for the project by the first quarter of 2004.

Dredging and land reclamation started in August and up to 27 million cu m of sand is being excavated to create the seven islands.

A 320-berth marina and its village, one of the major components of the Durrat Al Bahrain project, is to be built shortly over an area of 200,000 sq m. The designs for the Marina Village have been finalised by Ismail Khonji and Associates. Tenders are due to be announced within six months.

When completed, the estimated $30 million village will offer a total of 13 residential blocks comprising 300 apartments and a shopping arcade. It will also have a clubhouse, restaurants, coastguard station, control tower, and a 320-berth marina.

Phase One includes a 350-room five-star hotel, an 18-hole all-grass championship course, an exhibition and convention centre, a commercial district as well as a residential sector and an infrastructure servicing sector.

The second phase is considered to be a residential expansion for the project and will cover more than 4 sq km divided into more than 427 residential land plots excluding private residential islands. The average plot area will be 1,000 sq m with an average of 20 m of seafront.

Residential buildings will be constructed on an area of 9.571 sq m in the commercial residential zone. The flats will vary in size from 90, 120 to 220 sq m.

The golf residential area will stretch over an area of 1 million sq m and will boast an 18-hole course built to international standards. A golf academy club will be available to both city residents and visitors.

The golf village will have 127 residential plots with an average area of 2,000 sq m each, while flats in residential buildings will vary in size from 90, 120 to 250 sq m.

All the residential areas will enjoy top class amenities gymnasiums, sports fields, vast green surrounding, local mosques, and medical clinics.

The Art City will cover an area of 136,821 sq m and will boast a large theatre and special areas designated for media companies. It will include many cinemas as well as an ice skating rink.

The five-star hotel with a direct sea view will be constructed on area of more than 400,000 sq m. Conceptual designs are being carried out by L&O Architects of Hong Kong.

A large area on the south side is designated to house the facilities that will provide the whole project with its infrastructure servicing. It will include a main power plant, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant and technical administration buildings.

Residential plots

Durrat Al Bahrain will offer around 1,500 separate plots for sale where people can live on one of the seven islands, in a compound, or next to the golf course.

These include 1,200 sea-facing plots and 300 plots near the golf course.

Each coastal plot will have an average of 20 m of sea front.

Each of the five islands has its own global theme: Spanish, Malaysian, Mediterranean, Moroccan and Bahraini. Plots are offered in three sizes - 500, 750 and 1,000 sq m with prices varying according to its location.

Each plot will be provided with the necessary utilities including, water and electricity supply, sewage and drainage network, communications and satellite TV systems.

The sale of plots on the five islands currently being developed was launched early last year and is proceeding according to the company's sales plan, says Shafeea.

The project has received a further boost by the fact that expatriates can also own property at Durrat Al Bahrain following the issuance of a new law. A number of French, Canadian, British as well as non-GCC nationals have expressed interest in the project, says Shafeea, which ensures that the project enjoys a healthy ethnic mix.

The first four model homes in the ambitious project are nearing completion.

Infrastructure

Several tender packages for the infrastructure works are expected to be announced by June this year, according to Mahmood Ahmed A Rahman, general manager of Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain. The infrastructure designs have been completed by ACE International and the masterplan has been prepared by Ismael Khonji & Associates.

Meanwhile, the first of two superhighways to provide easy access to the resort city was completed last year. The 35 km Durrat Al Bahrain Highway has been built along Bahrain's east coast to connect the Askar Roundabout near Alba with the 20 sq km resort city. A second 30-km highway will be built north to south connecting Durrat Al Bahrain with the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway near Bahrain University's Al Sakhir campus. With the existing road, these will provide three alternative routes to the resort.