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A major new development company will soon start work on a $1.6 billion 'Health Island', off the north-east coast of Bahrain, which is set to revolutionise healthcare in the kingdom and become a key aspect of Bahrain's infrastructure.
The project, being spearheaded by Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), a subsidiary of Bahrain-based Ithmaar Bank, will also turn the kingdom into a regional centre for health tourism and reinforce its role as a regional and international business hub.
The Health Island will have state-of-the-art health and wellness facilities and services set in a landscaped resort built on reclaimed land off Muharraq's north east shore.
The island will comprise a diagnostic centre, alternative medicine centres, a nutrition and diabetes centre, an aesthetic surgery centre, a sports medicine centre, a women and children's centre, as well as deluxe spas, boutique hotels and luxury residences.
Established in 2006, IDC is mandated with executing major development projects, with a focus on real estate, infrastructure, resorts, hotels, medical facilities and commercial buildings.
It has a $2.9 billion initial project portfolio, with over half going towards IDC's flagship Health Island initiative, and the remainder to two future projects in Bahrain.
Spearheading the grand design is CEO, Mohammed Khalil Alsayed, an engineer and currently the president of the Bahrain Society of Engineers.
Mr Alsayed, a former under-secretary for the Ministry of Works and Housing, has extensive experience in leading major developments and infrastructure projects, having been involved in numerous key projects in Bahrain, including the National Museum, the Bahrain International Airport, the Bahrain International Formula One Circuit and the King Hamad Hospital. He also served as project director of the Hidd New Port and Industrial Area project.
Educated in the US and Australia, Mr Alsayed is a member of the American Society for Civil Engineers, the Project Management Institute USA, the American Society for Management, the Society of American Value Engineers and the Bahrain Society for Strategic Planning.
Mr Alsayed stated that IDC's projects would offer attractive investment opportunities for investors and partners alike, and with the possibility of competitive returns. In addition, the projects will significantly contribute to Bahrain's GDP, creating hundreds of job opportunities for Bahrainis.
The Health Island initiative will encompass a total of 1,250,000 sqm of land.
IDC engaged the services of the internationally reputed DP Architects, Singapore who have designed the master plan.
Mr Alsayed further clarified that the project will focus on wellness and health, with an emphasis on preventative medicine.
"In all the real estate developments witnessed throughout the region, our Health Island project stands out through its focus on wellness and health," he explained.
The development is designed in clusters of health centres that will offer diagnoses and consultation concerning specific health conditions.
Mr Alsayed said that a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre will be the first of the planned centres. A nutrition centre and a centre devoted to diagnosing and treating patients with diabetes - a disease that is increasingly becoming a problem in Bahrain and the rest of the world - will treat patients in a tranquil and attractive environment.
There will also be centres specialising in plastic surgery, skin care, sports medicine and alternative medicine - including Chinese, Thai, Swiss and French approaches.
About 10 to 15 per cent of patients diagnosed at the Health Island's centres will need hospital care, Mr Alsayed estimated.
IDC has already held preliminary discussions with established prestigious hospital operators in the Far-East and the West in this regard.
A range of luxury spas and wellness facilities will promote good health and also provide treatments for guests. Health Island will also be home to five-star boutique hotels, with Chinese, Thai and French themes, complementing the alternative medicine centres and spas available on the development.
For those who choose to live full time on the island, there will also be apartments, condominiums and private villas.
The properties will all be landscaped with sea views offering a host of services including a commercial development with boutiques, restaurants and cafes. IDC officials say the design of the island will focus on green spaces and water views.
The beautifully sculpted environment aims to be environmentally friendly as well as be the ideal place to promote wellness. Around 50 per cent of the development, including the island's beaches and businesses, will be open to the public, while the rest will be within gates and private areas.
"One nice thing about the island is that we will have a canal running through it, with restaurants, cafes and shops on either side.
"Health Island will be a low rise development as compared to other developments elsewhere that are perceived to be commercially intensive and high-density. We are making sure that there will be a lot of green space. This will add to the development's value," explained Mr Alsayed.
The project is set to commence shortly with the reclamation of the sea-bed.
Mr Alsayed said: "While reclamation is likely to take around 14 to18 months, the island will be ready for infrastructure development in phases even before the full reclamation, canal works and rock protection is complete in all respects. General infrastructure works will run with a minimal lag after reclamation progresses in phases. The total duration for infrastructure works is expected to be around 36 months."
He added: "Construction of the development itself in each cluster would follow once each developer takes over. On a conservative basis, it is expected that three to five years will be required for construction work."
In addition to the Health Island, IDC's initial portfolio includes two other major projects.
The $1.2 billion Aljazayer Beach Resort project will see the creation of Bahrain's first world-class leisure, family tourism and beach resort. It will include public beaches, hotels, marinas, a theme park, water park, cultural centre, commercial district, residential units and chalets.
The project will completely revamp the existing facility and turn it into a major attraction for both residents and tourists.
A further $175 million will go towards developing a hotel project in the Seef District, which will comprised a hotel tower, including serviced apartments, and an office tower. The hotel will be a family-oriented Sharia-complaint property which will be the first in a chain of luxury hotels that IDC and its parent company Ithmaar Bank will develop in the GCC and beyond.
IDC officials said that the response so far to the projects has been very enthusiastic, with many trans-national investors, companies and developers showing keen interest.
While IDC's current portfolio of projects is primarily in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the future the company intends to expand to the greater MENA region - including Syria, Morocco and Jordan, as well as other emerging markets which offer good potential for growth and investment.
For more information on IDC's projects visit adjacent stands EO2 and FO2 (located between the two main entrances) at the Bahrain International Property Exhibition 2007 being held from November 28-30, at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
Fact-box
Location:
The island will be located on the north east coast of Muharraq in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Overall project cost:
$1.6 billion
Construction timeline:
Three to five years.
Main features of Health Island
The island will be divided into clusters, each focusing on different aspects of healthcare, wellness, residences and recreation:
Medical cluster
There will be a 358-bed wellness hospital catering to medical aesthetics, nutrition, diagnostics, alternative medicines and sports medicines. In addition, a 216-bed children's and women's hospital will cater to a range of maternal and paediatric care.
Hotel cluster
There will be three five-star boutique hotels each comprising of 60-70 villas and suites. Each hotel will be inspired by a particular theme - French, Chinese or Thai. There will also be a Middle Eastern and Turkish inspired four-star hotel comprising of 110 rooms with a commercial podium.
Exclusive villas
There will be 38 large lagoon-view villas, 36 spacious garden-view villas and 44 sea-view villas.
Residential condominiums
There will be approximately 202 waterway residences enclosed in six to eight storey buildings; 424 pier-side residences spread over five to seven storey buildings and 154 luxury condominiums set in nine storey buildings.
Quayside residences
There will be 312 quaysides residential units housing three to four storey buildings.
Mixed use apartments and condominiums
270 units of low rise canal-view condominiums all with commercial podiums and a total of 160 guestrooms catering to serviced apartments.
Canal and retail activities
There will be two to four storey buildings for supermarkets, commercial and retail outlets, a Cineplex, arcade and waterfront restaurants. There will also be two to eight storey buildings for an administration block, commercial activities and retail outlets.
