Bahrain has announced plans to build a $175 million (BD66.15 million) indoor ski resort on one of its islands.

The Iceberg Tower is planned south of the old Shaikh Hamad causeway bridge linking Manama and Muharraq, near the Coastguard headquarters.

A feasibility study will take eight weeks, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB).

The project involves the construction of a 1.5 km ski track in a multi-storey building. The total area is 150,000 sq m. When completed, the resort will include facilities for skiing, ice climbing, snow boarding, ski-jumping and sledging. Plans also include an ice-sculpture park, arctic zoo, science park and convention hall. Later plans include a hotel, shopping mall, medical centre, marina and seaside resort.

The Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry has already approved a site for the development of the island. The entire project is expected to be completed in five years.