IT is hard to believe that just 15 years ago most of the Juffair we know today did not exist.
This epicentre of apartment living built on reclaimed land, scattered with residential towers, apartment blocks and villas is one of the clearest demonstrations of Bahrain's real estate explosion.
Over the last decade Juffair has established itself as one of kingdom's key residential areas with hundreds of home buyers, property investors and developers investing in the area.
Juffair is a key location. Situated near the Grand Mosque, it is just a stones throw from the popular restaurants and hotels of Adliya and right on the doorstep of the glistening blue waters of the Gulf.
Star Real Estate is currently selling freehold apartments in two new developments. Two impressive towers, due to be completed in July 2009, will rear up over the Juffair skyline.
The Regent Tower and Fortune Plaza will occupy key positions. Both towers will overlook the magnificent fountain off the shore of Juffair that blasts a towering jet of water from the sea.
From the other side, the towers will command views of Bahrain's spiraling cityscape.
The Regent Tower will total an impressive 20, 431 sqm and rise to a stately 29 floors.
Distinctive architecture with hundreds of square metres of exterior glass will be complemented by terraces and balconies.
While it is a simple design, it is also elegantly understated and incorporates a state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Aside from the excellent location, a real draw for this tower is its interior.
There are of intelligently designed one, two, three and four bedroom apartments on offer.
All have a luxuriously appointed reception areas and chic Italian-style built-in kitchens with granite worktops and wooden cabinets.
The apartments are spacious, ranging from 69 sqm for a one bedroom apartment to 363 sqm for a four bedroom duplex apartment.
Real bonuses are the terraces and balconies, which are spacious and perfect for barbeques and al fresco dining.
For leisure there is a health club with facilities for men and women, an indoor Jacuzzi, squash court an outdoor swimming pool with pool deck all spread over one floor.
For gentler recreation there is also a recreational club and snooker lounge.
In terms of security, there is also a 24-hour integrated security service that includes CCTV monitoring systems.
A few blocks down the road and the equally impressive Fortune Plaza will reach 32 floors with 93 apartments.
Unlike the Regent Tower, this development offers four different types of two bedroom apartments as well as two four bedroom duplex apartments.
The two bedroom apartments range from 100 sqm to 177 sqm. There are only two four-bedroom duplex apartments on offer each totaling a vast 377 sq m. There are four double bedrooms, large open-plan living and dining areas and upstairs seating areas.
Both properties come with parking floors, elegant entrance lobbies and plenty of lifts.
These are two excellent investment opportunities in terms of location and property design, but what is really remarkable is the price. Where-else in Bahrain could you hope to buy a luxury apartment for just BD53,800?
And a 95 per cent mortgage agreement with easy stage payments has already been agreed.
