Bahrain-based Manara Developments, a real estate company established by Al Salam Bank Bahrain and other GCC investors, announced that it has obtained environmental approvals for its Nurana project.

The project is owned by NS Holdings Company and managed by Manara Developments.

'We are extremely pleased to have obtained the environmental approval from the relevant authorities in the Kingdom which allows us to start the process of commencing reclamation work on the project site,' Manara managing director Dr Hasan Al Bastaki said.

'We have also reached an initial agreement with the renowned international contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, to handle the reclamation of the Nurana project. The first phase of the reclamation work is expected to take around nine months and will cost approximately BD8 million,' he said.

Located to the north-west of the Bahrain Fort, Nurana is a large urban development near Seef district set to create a vibrant mixed-use community. Approximately 60 per cent of the project will be designated for residential units that will meet the needs of different end users, while the remaining 40 per cent will be designated for commercial and tourist purposes, as well as other amenities.

Dr Al-Bastaki added that the project's draft master plan has been completed and Manara is now finalising the detailed design specifications for the various components of the master plan.

'We have designed the Nurana project and will develop it based on our 'all considered' philosophy, which gives this project a people-centric focus, economic dynamism, and social responsibility'

'Amid these very positive developments, we expect the first units of the Nurana project to be offered to the end-users, investors, and sub-developers - individuals and corporate - by the end of this year,' Dr Al Bastaki said.-TradeArabia News Service