Bids are currently being evaluated for the reclamation package that will create the huge landmass to house a $1.5 billion development off the northeast coast of Manama.

The project, known as Bahrain Bay, will occupy a prime location opposite the Diplomatic Area and next to the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Causeway and offer a combination of commercial, residential and retail spaces, all set around the Manama waterfront.
The centrepiece of the development will be Bahrain’s first Four Seasons hotel, which at around 300 m will be the tallest building in the kingdom, according to sources close to the development.
The project will be executed in three distinct phases. Phase One will involve 430,000 sq m of land reclamation and infrastructure development, to commence later this month (January).
Phase Two will involve the construction of the two anchor developments – the Four Seasons hotel and the new global headquarters building for Arcapita bank – and is scheduled for completion in early 2008.
Phase Three will involve the development of residential, retail and commercial sub-projects around the anchor developments. It will include high-end waterfront residential developments with apartments, condominiums and penthouses, as well as marinas, cafes and restaurants and a number of public areas and promenades. At final completion, expected in December 2010, the total built area will be over 1.1 million sq m.
Masterplans as well as architectural and design standards for the development have been completed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a leading architecture and urban design firm, and are reflected in the concept designs completed for the Four Seasons hotel and Arcapita headquarters. The result will be the creation of an ultra-modern, urban environment featuring iconic structures. 
Bahrain Bay Development, a joint venture between Arcapita Bank and a Bahrain-based investment group, has been formed to oversee the development.
Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita, says: “Just five months from the initial announcement of this project, the preparatory stages for design and planning considerations have progressed very well and Bahrain Bay Development is able to launch the project ahead of schedule. Site work will soon commence on what we believe will be an outstanding addition to Bahrain, befitting its reputation as a regional centre for banking and finance. With its futuristic, urban designs, Bahrain Bay will be a stunningly presented collection of waterfront residential, retail and commercial developments, representing a unique new focal point in Bahrain.”
The Four Seasons hotel will include 220 rooms, conference facilities and a private beach, all specified to the high standards of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
The Arcapita headquarters will be a further landmark within the development, whose innovative design will provide more than 18,000 sq m of office space for the growing global investment company.
“There are many aspects that make Bahrain Bay a particularly attractive development,” adds Abdulmalik. “The demographic changes within Bahrain, its proximity to the rapidly-growing Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the location within Manama’s prime northern corridor make this a compelling project. Added to these, the early commitment of the highly regarded Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the innovative architectural design and the experience and track record of each of the companies involved in the development are among the many other components that make this a unique proposition.”
Additional support for the execution phase of the development will be provided by Turner Construction International and Atkins International, both of whom have considerable experience of premium, high-profile development projects in the Gulf and all around the world.
According to Abdulmalik, the Bahrain Bay development has sought advice and support from many sources, including Bahrain’s Economic Development Board. “The project team has taken feedback from the marketplace throughout the planning stage. Response from every quarter has been excellent, and Bahrain Bay is already in discussions with several interested parties to participate as developers of the other sub-projects of Bahrain Bay,” he adds.