Building a better Bahrain

The development is progressing on target and is due for completion by mid-2009.

Riffa Views is the result of investment by Bahrain-based bank Arcapita, the developer behind Victory heights in Dubai Sports City and a new residential and commercial waterfront in Bahrain.

The Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge, Askar

Historically Bahrain has had a tense relationship with its neighbour Qatar.

Now, they have put their differences aside with plans to build the 45km bridge linking the two nations.

The idea was first mooted in 2001, when the two countries were involved in a dispute over the ownership of the Hawar Islands off the coast of Qatar.

In September 2001, Denmark-based Cowi signed a US $11.3 million contract with Qatar's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture for the project's preliminary engineering and environmental investigations.

The causeway will link Ras Ashairij in north Qatar with a site in the north Askar region of Bahrain; the exact path of the link has been chosen to minimise the impact on both countries' environments.

The Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge is expected to be the longest fixed link across water in the world.

The bridge aims to benefit both countries by not only allowing cars and road freight to travel freely between them, but also becoming a symbol of the new spirit of partnership.

The Bahrain World Trade Center, Manama

The building looks set to become the symbol of the country's construction boom.

Its two towers are each 240-metres high, with 50 floor in each.

It is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines, with three 29m turbines built on bridges between the towers.

BWTC comprises of residential areas, a five-star hotel, a high end shopping centre called Mooda Mall and sophisticated office space.

The project has received several awards for sustainability, including the 2006 LEAF Awards for ‘Best Use of Technology within a Large Scheme' and the Arab Construction World ‘Sustainable Design Award'.

It was designed by Atkins and the main contractors are Ramboll, Norwin and Elsam Engineering.

It is due for completion later this year.

Durrat Al Bahrain, Southern Bahrain

Durrat Al Bahrain is the country's largest residential project.

The US $2.9 billion scheme is taking up 20km² of land reclaimed from the desert and sea.

Designed to resemble a necklace, the Durrat development will consist of 13 different islands; five pearl-shaped islands, an arc of six atolls, a crescent-shaped island that will house a residential complex and last but not least, an island that will revolve around a five-star resort and aqua park.

When finished, people can enjoy a golf course, luxurious shopping centres, excellent restaurants, promenades and a planned marina.

The project takes its name from the Arabic word for Pearl.

Durrat Al Bahrain is owned by the Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company, in which the Government of Bahrain and Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain each hold a 50% stake.

The master planner/architect of the project is Atkins; the project/development manager is KMC Bovis, while a joint venture between the Kuwaiti Manager Company, Bovis Lend Lease and HAJ is the quantity surveyor.

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