Bahrain-based Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) – which specialises in architectural planning, engineering design and project co-ordination and management – continues to give form to some of the choice dream projects in the country, some of the latest developments taking shape on its drawing boards being a mixed-use complex at the Al Areen Desert Resort and Spa, the Bahrain International Airport expansion and Riffa Views.

“We are keeping in step with the changing architectural landscape of Bahrain where many mega projects are being announced regularly and are already in the construction stage. Our name is synonymous with institutional architecture in the region and over our 36-year history, we have earned a good reputation for consistent high-quality, cost-effective and innovative engineering design ideas for many prestigious developments of the region,” says Cyrus Vesuvala, director of project management of MSCEB.
The practice has just been appointed to design all engineering services and prepare the detailed architectural design on the ambitious Sarab Al Areen development next to the Bahrain International Circuit in the Al Areen Desert Resort and Spa complex (see separate report). The Kuwait-based investor group GDREC is developing unique scheme, which is budgeted at around BD200 million ($534 million). Sarab Al Areen will boast a retail development of 116,000 sq m, with more than 160,000 sq m of parking, a 300-room hotel and more than 50,000 sq m of high-quality apartments. Callison Architecture of Seattle, US, was the concept design architects and Davis Langdon is the quantity surveyor. MSCEB-Davis Langdon is the project manager for the development. The project is likely to go to tender by mid-2007.
For the BD170 million Riffa Views, which is set around the picturesque vicinity of the Riffa Golf Club, MSCEB has been called upon to provide detailed design services on the architectural, structural and MEP (mechnanical, electrical and plumbing) for 942 villas, tenders for which have recently been floated. Construction work on the villas is expected to start in the first quarter of this year. Work is under way on the infrastructure and the golf course. In addition, it will also be involved with designing two mosques, a new country club, a shopping centre, an international school and other ancillary buildings on the project.
MSCEB also forms integral partner of a team consisting of JacobsGibb and HOK Architects selected by the Civil Aviation Authority to undertake the design work for the expansion of Bahrain International Airport: This project, which will enter into the detailed designing stage shortly is being implemented to provide the airport a capacity to handle over 12 million passengers per annum, when complete (see separate report).
Meanwhile, a number of projects that were designed by MSCEB have entered the construction stage, including:
• Amwaj Islands: The firm has been selected to be the structural consultant by the developer for some of the key developments on this mega project off Muharraq, in Bahrain, that will eventually house 30,000 people. MSCEB has so far undertaken work on a BD3 million high-tech Network Operations Centre (NOC), two 20-storey residential apartment blocks with basement car parking, costing BD 15 million, the Gateway Building and a five-star hotel development which will be operated by Marriott and named The Renaissance hotel. The 300-room hotel is scheduled to be completed in first quarter 2009. The NOC building is due for completion in the first quarter of this year while the 20-storey building will be ready by the year-end and the Gateway building by early 2009.
• Marriott Executive Apartments: MSCEB were appointed in 2004, to provide architectural and engineering consultancy services for the BD11 million Marriott Executive Apartments project, a 20-storeyed twin-tower development presently under construction at Juffair, Bahrain. The project involves design and supervision of work on the twin towers comprising ground, mezzanine and 19 upper storeys in each tower, with a total built-up area of more than 42,500 sq m. The two towers connected at ground and roof levels are half way through construction.
• Doha City Centre in Qatar: In this BD120 million project, MSCEB has designed the structural and MEP components, working closely with HOK Canada. The project consists of a major expansion to the east and west sides of the existing Doha City Centre.  The key components of the expansion are the construction of five 50-storey hotel towers, which rise out of a seven-storey podium extension to the existing facility, with three basement levels;
• Bahrain City Centre: MSCEB has been appointed to carry out the architectural detailed design for a four-star hotel and a car park building of 150,000 sq m over five above-ground levels (plus basement, which is common with the mall and hotel parking), while also assisting in obtaining local authority approvals and building permits. The project that will be commissioned in July 2008, is expected to cost around BD130 million (see separate report).
Established in 1970 in Bahrain, MSCEB offers wide range of specialised services which comprise architectural, civil and structural engineering, interior design, quantity surveying, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, project management and contract administration.
MSCEB has executed a wide range of projects for a number of clients both in the public and private sector including ministries, government bodies, commercial and industrial organisations, companies and individuals. It has been involved with the design and development of basic infrastructure of residential and commercial complexes, healthcare, banks and industrial buildings and resorts and recreational facilities.