Shape of things to come

BAHRAIN may be a relatively small country with a land area of below 700 square kilometres but that won’t hold it back from recent boom in housing developments that has set off a building mania in different corners of the island.

These are heady days for the Middle Eastern archipelago as an unprecedented number of investment projects are bringing forth a lot of new property onto the market in a very short time.
Be it on reclaimed land offering a waterfront luxury living or lush green environment in a gated suburbia, ambitious projects are offering a wide range of choice to property investors.
Bahrain’s opening up of its housing market has been rooted in the fact that it wants to increase foreign investment and encourage expatriates to pump their money back into the local economy instead of investing it elsewhere.
Hence the freehold property laws that have been in effect since 2001 give ownership rights to foreigners and expatriates buying property in Bahrain.
Here we take a look at some of the developments that has put Bahrain on the map of a range of impressive projects.
As we were compiling the information we were told by agents that the prices of properties were on a steady incline.
Amwaj Island
Amwaj Island is a $1.5 billion (BD567,000) group of reclaimed man-made islands north of Muharraq covering an area of 30 million square feet.
It is a mix of residential neighbourhoods featuring villas and high rise apartments, commercial districts, hotels, cafes, school and leisure resorts.
Amwaj is being completed in phases and the entire project is due to finish by 2010 and will have an estimated population of 30,000. The prices of residential properties vary according to the type of accommodation.
In Saraya Al Bahr the prices of villas vary from BD200,000 to BD280,000 depending on the villa type and location. Meena 7, the seven tower apartment block, has a price range of BD49,000 for a one bedroom to BD129,000 for a three bedroom.  
Riffa Views
Riffa Views is a “high end” golf residential development occupying 28 million square feet, 78 per cent of which will be open space. Riffa Views will comprise of three distinct signature estates (The Oasis, The Lagoons and The Park) each individually themed.
Chief executive officer Richard Browning said: “Riffa Views has set the standard for home-buyers who are seeking the ultimate living experience.
“This is because buying a home in Riffa Views means more than buying a property; it means becoming a part of an exclusive community, which boasts a stunning 18-hole golf signature course, a tennis facility in association with Boris Becker, among other excellent leisure facilities, quality shopping and a world-class international school.”
The prices of villas are dependant on the plot size and location but vary from BD123,000 for two bedroom villa, BD169,000 for three bedroom villa, BD181,000 for a four bedroom villa and BD250,000 for a five bedroom villa.
Al Areen Spa and Resort
Al Areen Spa and Resort which is located in the south of Manama on a serene hill top rising from the desert next to the Al Areen Wildlife Sanctuary promises the state-of-the-art Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort as the highlight of the residential compound.
The first Banyan Tree Resort in Bahrain, it occupies a total built up area of 32,000 square metres and will be an oasis in the middle of a desert. It will feature luxurious villas, exhibition centre, library and therapeutic treatments at the tranquil spa.
The residential Oryx hills price ranges from BD220,000 to BD350,000 depending on the plot size which ranges from 720 sq metres to 1200 sq metres and the type of villa.  
Durrat Al Bahrain
Durrat Al Bahrain is a $1.2 billion project located at the southern tip of Bahrain and is expected to be the size of Manama once completed. It is planned as a luxurious waterfront residential project with 12 islands and a crescent covering a total area of 20 million square metres.
The crescent which will be located at the heart of Durrat Al Bahrain will represent the commercial heart of project and will include shopping malls, hotel, restaurants, school, healthcare facilities, exhibition and conference centres.
The project will have a marina and an 18-hole golf course. Upon completion in 2010 it is expected that there will be approximately 60,000 permanent residents and 45,000 visitors per day.
The prices of three bedroom luxury villas in petal islands start from BD185,000 and the villas in atolls range from BD275,000 to BD534,000. 
Other major projects
Marina West , Abraj Al Lulu, Bahrain Bay, Marvida Towers are some of the other towering residential apartment blocks that are fast becoming landmarks of Bahrain. Although the prices are dependant on many factors like location, view, area they range from anywhere between BD40,000 to BD400,000.