DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ, Bahrain

What is particularly significant about it is that this 12-square kilometre city is being created entirely on reclaimed land off the northern shores of Muharraq.

Already, the first stage of reclamation is 97 percent complete with handover of the northern islands in March 2010. Stage 2 reclamation is already underway and will begin staged handover of land from the first quarter of 2011. Much of the land that’s available for early access is focused on the local development market and is particularly affordable.

To make the development more affordable, DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ is working closely with design consultants to challenge current design standards and optimise development efficiency. Feasible international alternatives are encouraged to be adopted when they meet or exceed the current design standards. Since meticulous research and planning had gone into the project during the initial stage, it later enabled the developer to efficiently stand true to the planned costs during the implementation stage.

While working with proven investors and developers, DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ discovered that there is a great deal of interest shown, particularly for the affordable and mid-income targeted product.

To meet the demands of the market, the developer will offer a wide variety of products in all property types, for institutions, investors and home-owners alike. The properties will be available in luxury as well as cost-effective variants to further boost the community mix in the project. The prices will be based on a numbers of factors that still need to be finalised.

A mix of luxury as well as affordable housing products has thus enabled the developer to successfully address the various challenges posed by the short and long-term cycles of real-estate development.

Speaking of challenges, DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ has incorporated environmental commitment as part of its corporate vision. Since its very inception, the project has set new benchmarks in the Kingdom of Bahrain with regards to the implementation and environmental monitoring of reclamation techniques.

DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ has consulted with international expert environmental bodies as well as its master-planners, and locally, with the Directorate of Environmental Assessment and planning (DEAP) and Marine Resources Directorate (MRD), to ensure that the best options are selected.

Many of these activities are being carried out for the first time in Bahrain. DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ can proudly say that these initiatives have helped to move the environmental agenda forward and hope that other developers will follow.

As a fully integrated mixed use community, the developer has ensured triple bottom line sustainability by combining environmentally sustainable development and providing new homes for the people of Bahrain in a quality urban fabric, whilst encouraging sustained local employment, economic investment and growth.

The regulations for DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ have been developed to provide for a long term sustainable community that blends both traditional and modern architectural themes. For instance, parking requirements that exceed the current standards have been proposed. These parking regulations have been developed by reviewing the regulations of many international countries, such as the US, UK and Australia.

Recreational and public facilities to benefit the residents of DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ are planned throughout the development. Locations for health centres, public and private schools, police stations, fire stations and mosques have been identified. In addition, there have been discussions with government ministries to provide a full-scale municipal government complex within the community. Open space areas for recreation, to be located in each of the communities have already been identified.

But the main attraction for the residents of DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ and the Kingdom of Bahrain will be the public beach proposed on the south eastern shore of the community.

Directly and indirectly, DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ will promote economic growth and development by facilitating business and employment at a variety of levels, from the inclusion of a new Central Business District and incorporation of smaller localised operations in tailored commercial villas along with the establishment of a dedicated service and logistics Centre for businesses of all sizes. This will give opportunities for residents within DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ to live, work and entertain within the same community.

DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ is very optimistic about the market over the next 5 years. From its inception, DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ has included housing products for all strata of society, and while the current focus is on the more affordable products, other market segments will be prioritised as the development progresses.