Diyar Al Muharraq has signed a BD5.28 million ($14.4 million) contract with Hyder Consulting, the international advisory and design consultancy, to offer a range of design and supervision services for the key project.

Under the deal, Hyder will provide design and supervision services for half of the ambitious 12 sq km project, said a company official.

Diyar Al Muharraq is one of the biggest mixed-use residential urban developments undertaken by a private sector in Bahrain.

Situated on the northern shores of the Bahrain’s Muharraq island, the $3.2 billion is unique in offering an unprecedented lifestyle for people of all incomes to enjoy, as the pricing structure and selection of freehold properties is accessible to buyers across the income levels.

Its physical scale is also impressive with the expected number of planned properties standing at 30,000, which will house over 100,000 people on completion.

Diyar Al Muharraq’s long term strategy includes a plan to support the ministry of housing’s social housing programme.

All of this requires extensive and detailed infrastructural support, and Hyder Consulting, operating through its global network, will supervise early infrastructure development, including roads, bridges, traffic, geotechnical, water, electricity, communication, sewerage, drainage, district cooling and landscape architecture.

Diyar Al Muharraq CEO, Aaref Hejres, said: 'Our vision is to create a unique city for the future, offering a choice of housing and a quality lifestyle for all.'

'We need therefore to focus on providing an extensive, modern and fully functioning infrastructure, capable of ensuring that our new city functions efficiently and offers the maximum convenience for residents and visitors alike.'

'Hyder Consulting is well-equipped to take on such challenges and satisfy the needs of such a large development, and we are confident that they will take the masterplan forward from the conceptual stage to become a long-awaited reality.'

Rod Athey Pollard, project manager at Hyder Consulting Bahrain, said this was the largest single project won by Hyder Consulting in the Kingdom.

'Diyar Al Muharraq is an exciting and challenging undertaking. “Hyder was chosen for this project firstly because of our wide range of competencies, which runs from landscape architecture to urban planning.'

Describing the project as an important one for Bahrain, Zahir Al Ugaily, area director at Hyder Consulting Bahrain, said the company was pleased to play a vital role in it.

'Our portfolio of projects across the Kingdom underscores our commitment to aiding the development of the country,' he added.

Diyar Al Muharraq’s masterplan maps out a self-contained city with many accessible, landscaped public spaces, incorporating around 40 kilometres of waterfront which includes sandy beaches and a marina.

This will be among the largest publicly accessible waterfront in the Kingdom. The development also includes provision for numerous community spaces and facilities, abundant landscaping, a number of international 5-star hotels and a large shopping mall with extensive parking, business district and light logistic and support area.-TradeArabia News Service