Author : Editor
Bahrain's pioneering $1.6 billion Dilmunia Health Island took a step closer to becoming a reality yesterday with a call for tenders for the project's initial infrastructure phase.
The first of four infrastructure development phases, the tender encompasses work relating to the ambitious 125 hectare island's highways, bridges, landscaping and its power, portable water, sewerage and drainage and telecommunications networks.
Development manager Ithmaar Development Company (IDC) has invited a selection of pre-qualified local, regional and international contractors to tender for the contract from more than 30 of them bidding to be pre-qualified for the job.
The successful contractor will be appointed during this quarter, and will be expected to fully launch its operations during the second quarter of the year.
Phase 1 infrastructure works will take approximately 24 months to complete, but will enable the completion of various sub-developments within the same time frame, meaning that end-users can be handed the keys to their units by mid 2014.
The contractor will be working closely with infrastructure designers Mott MacDonald Limited and cost consultants DG Jones and Partners to deliver this landmark project, which is expected to turn Bahrain into a world-class health tourism destination, attracting millions of dollars in investment and creating thousands of highly-skilled jobs in the process.
"Dilmunia is more than just a high-quality real estate development because it will also be adding value through the health and wellness infrastructure it will bring to the kingdom," said IDC chief executive Mohammed Khalil Alsayed.
"In many cases it will be introducing entirely new industries, for which people in Bahrain previously had to travel abroad.
To ensure that the development meets its high standards, IDC has set up a rigorous selection process, inviting reputable contractors who meet certain pre-set requirements.
"Dilmunia, with the uniqueness of its concept, continues to generate interest from potential end-users, sub-developers and operators alike.
"As we have witnessed recently, high-quality real estate developments, even without the benefit of thematic infrastructure such as Dilmunia's, are more immune to adverse market conditions than traditional real estate, with many investors viewing such projects as a kind of 'safe haven'," he added.
Preliminary development, including dredging, reclamation and rock protection works, have already been completed. The artificial island, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, is located off the northeast coast of Muharraq.
It will be comprised of a mix of residential, leisure and commercial sub-developments, surrounding core health and wellness facilities.
"This first phase will include most of the work related to the island's highways, bridges, landscaping, as well as its power, portable water, sewerage and drainage, and telecommunications networks, which together add up to approximately 50 per cent of the services of Dilmunia," Mr Alsayed said.
"It will be followed by a second package of works, expected to begin later in 2012, which will include the installation of the Grand Canal. Phases two, three and four will see the completion of the Grand Canal and other infrastructure work for the remainder of the development."
Source : gulf-daily-news.com
