The newly-developed BD15 million ($39.78 million) Adhari Park could be opened to the public by Eid Al Fitr, which falls in mid-October.

But massively increased project costs will take years to recoup, says the developer.

The project was expected to be cost around BD9.1 million, but this soared by more than BD6 million as costs rose for building materials and contract work.

The Adhari Park Development Company has decided to postpone plans to build an Aqua Park, due to the huge amounts of water required, it announced yesterday.

Chairman Jamal Al Hijji told a Press conference at the park yesterday that the project is expected to generate profits of 14 per cent annually, but it will need up to eight years to make up for the money spent," he said.

It will cost BD500,000 a year to run the park.

Al Hijji said the opening date was dependent on the connection of power to the project, with the park expected to open within 40 days at the most.

"The park's outdoor facilities are already done and we are trying to open at Eid Al Fitr, but if we can't then it would be postponed until Eid Al Adha, at the end of December," he said.

Al Hijji said that the company had studied prices to ensure that people could afford them.

"We have options under which people can either pay a ticket for all the rides or pay separately for each one and prices are reasonable, as they range between 250 fils to BD1," he said.

"Safety tops our priorities and the rides we have meet international safety standards.

'They have been checked by the company supplying them before operation, and later on by another specialised company, to ensure they are safe to ride.

"The rides have cost BD3 million and have been mostly imported from Italy."

The new park is built on an area measuring 165,319sq m and features 34 rides, a go-cart, hanging train, a monorail, a mini-golf course, a bowling alley, a billiards hall, a game's arcade, family recreation facilities, a traditional shopping mall with 25 shops and a children's museum.

"The Aqua Park has been postponed because it requires huge amounts of water and this needs a special arrangement and budget," said Al Hijji.

Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Ministry Under-Secretary for Municipalities Affairs Dr Juma Al Ka'abi visited the park yesterday.

He said that the Electricity and Water Ministry would co-operate with the company to ensure that the required power is connected as soon as possible.

"Connections to the project will be done during next month to ensure that the park opens on time," he said.

The park is part of the second phase to revive the Adhari area, which hosts one of Bahrain's most renowned landmarks - Ain Adhari.

The natural freshwater spring was renovated and reopened to the public three-an-half years ago.

The project is being constructed by Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) and Kuwaiti Markets and Commercial Complexes Company, which has been contracted to run the park for 30 years.

They formed the Adhari Park Development Company (an independent company), with three other partner companies

Part of the historic park was reopened to the public in September 2003, after the pool and surrounding area was renovated and a mosque built, at a cost of BD60,000.

Until a decade ago, the pool was one of the most popular recreation sites in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service