MAF Investments-Bahrain has awarded the BD128 million ($339 million) main contract for the BD200 million Bahrain City Center to Cebarco-WCT at a recent signing ceremony.

MAF Investments Bahrain is the owner and operator of the Bahrain City Centre, which is slated to become the kingdom’s first integrated leisure and shopping destination.
The agreement, signed by Graham Dreverman, the CEO of MAF Shopping Malls and Khalid A Rahim, chairman of WCT, now paves the way for construction work to begin on the landmark project. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2008, the project, when completed, will be the largest mall in the kingdom.
“Cebarco-WCT has proven itself through its many construction successes, which include the highly commended Bahrain International Circuit, the North Manama Corridor project and Durrat Al Bahrain Highway. We are confident that Cebarco-WCT is an ideal partner for such a major project, which will improve the standard of living in the kingdom and provide many jobs for Bahrainis,” says Maher Al Shaer, general manager of MAF Bahrain.
Located in Seef, the 150,000 sq m shopping complex will offer over 360 stores and will include two multi-level international department stores, the largest indoor water park in the region, the first Carrefour hypermarket in the kingdom, a 5,600 sq m Magic Planet in-door amusement park and the largest cinema in the Middle East with 20-screens. Over 40 restaurants and food outlets  will offer cuisines from all over the world. Bahrain City Centre will also incorporate two international hotels with a total of 550 rooms with a combined offering of five-star and four-star amenities.