Concept design work is expected to start this month on the Salam Beach Resort and Spa, a $544.5 million project being developed in Bahrain by Dubai International Properties (DIP), a member of the UAE-based Dubai Holding.

The project is to be built over a 500,000 sq m beachfront area along the southwest coast of Bahrain close to the Formula 1 track.
“Our  preliminary programme includes a 250-room five-star beach resort hotel with a spa and conference and banqueting facilities, a 400-room family-oriented four-star beach resort hotel, 400 waterfront villas, 300 apartments, a  variety of sports activities, a suq retail area and a 100-berth marina,” Mohamad S Sinno, senior public relations manager of DIP, told Gulf Construction.
“The project is still at an early stage of the development - so most of the current details outlined are of af preliminary nature, subject to future changes as we further refine the concept,” he points out.
The development will involve the construction of a network of canals spanning 5 km to run throughout the site in order to maximise the waterfront scenery.
“The project architecture is themed to provide an authentic Bahraini scenery/built environment, using traditional, vernacular design language,” he explains. “The project area will be intensively landscaped and provide a variety of waterfront experiences along the beach, on the water and on the landside, along canals.”
Construction work is expected to commence in late 2006 and the project is targeted for completion by the second quarter of 2009, he says.
According to Sinno, a number of consultants have already been appointed: WATG (Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo) of California, US, is the architectural consultant, Currie & Brown - IPM, Dubai/Bahrain is the project manager and DG Jones, Dubai/Bahrain is the cost consultant.
“'Salam Beach Resort and Spa Bahrain will be the second Dubai International Properties project with such a name. This is in line with Dubai International Properties strategy to build a 'Salam Resort and Spa' global brand name,” says DIP chief executive Farhan Faraidooni.
The first project in Oman is known as Salam Yiti Lifestyle Resort and Spa and is being built ar a cost of over $817 million.
 Elaborating on the Bahrain project,  Faraidooni says: “Like all our projects in various parts of the Gulf, the Bahrain development will stand out with its own unique identity, based not only on the architecture or the look of the project, but also because of its unique interior decor and the extraordinary services and facilities that it will offer to the visitors.”
 ‘We will create a resort development that will define a new level of luxury in Bahrain,” he adds.
DIP has  several other projects on the drawing boards, including developments in Qatar, Turkey and in North Africa.