A multi-million dinar investment project centred on the Marina Club, in Manama, Bahrain could be extended all the way along Al Fateh Corniche.

Negotiations are currently underway between the government and Amlak, which plans to start work on the Bahrain Marina Development Project in the third quarter of this year, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

An upgrade of the corniche, which runs along the coast to Ahmed Al Fateh Islamic Centre (Grand Mosque), was supposed to start in 2010.

However, a funding shortfall meant the BD1.2 million ($3.1 million) project was put out to tender - and plans by three developers who came up with multi-million dinar proposals in 2012 were rejected by the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry for "technical" reasons.

"Negotiations with Amlak, which is the real estate investment arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), have started," ministry assistant under-secretary for common municipal services Mohammed Al Shaikh told the GDN exclusively.

"We want them (Amlak) to get the whole corniche, in return for creating a proper seafront for the public.

"This means that Amlak will have to bulldoze the existing facilities, mainly cafes and restaurants whose leases have expired, to pave way for family rest areas and children's rides, besides greenery.

"They will, in return, get the corniche's grassy areas that they can use for additional investment projects besides what they have planned.

"Existing cafes and restaurants could also have a place there, depending on the direction Amlak wants to take.

"The offer given to Amlak is very appealing, but it will depend on negotiations with the Cabinet's ministerial committee for infrastructure.

"If nothing transpires, and I hope it does, then we will have to explore other options."

He said children's rides had been introduced but the corniche was in major need of a proper upgrade that required significant funding.

In November 2013, the then area councillor Ghazi Al Dossary complained to the GDN that the corniche was literally crumbling into the sea and branded it a "safety hazard".

Amlak is already pushing ahead with its project at the Marina Club, which will span nearly 150,000 square metres and offer state-of-the-art residential, entertainment, leisure and marina facilities in the heart of Manama.

It is due to be completed by 2019 and includes a five-star luxury hotel, apartments, waterfront villas, a shopping mall, fully-integrated family entertainment and educational centre and a recreational waterfront space with dining and retail outlets. - TradeArabia News Service