The release of hundreds of doves struck a dramatic sight at the launch of Marina West, Bahrain’s first and unique gated residential beachfront community. In an extravagant event at the site of the development on the Kingdom’s west coast, more than 300 invited guests gathered, including dignitaries, the business community and media to watch history unfold as patron, HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Governor of the Southern Governorate and President of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, officiated the ground breaking ceremony.
During the event, Marina West project principals explained the vision for the development – crafted and refined over a two-year period - and outlined the five phases of the 33-month construction programme. Opportunities for freehold home ownership and investment potential in the development were also highlighted.
The finale of the lavish event poignantly symbolised Marina West’s unique harmonisation of nature and modernity when the doves ascended high into the west coast sky, above the azure sea and across the thousands of date palms surrounding the site.
“This is indeed an exciting time for us at Marina West and we are delighted to be graced by the presence and support of our patron, HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Governor of the Southern Governorate and President of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife,” said Ahmed Abubaker Janahi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AAJ Holdings Company, the company representing Marina West.
“Our celebration today marks a major milestone and demonstrates the strong support from the government and private sector in turning a dream, of two years ago, into a reality, today. Marina West embodies our vision to create a waterfront community, the core of which reflects the very best of lifestyle ambience where quality of life is unsurpassed. We are surrounded by the most beautiful elements of nature: the radiance of the sun, the calm of the sea, the profusion of greenery and of course, breathtaking sunsets. There is no better environment for a residential and lifestyle community than this, and those who choose to make their home here will be able to enjoy high quality living among these elements.”
Comprising 346,372 square metres of residential, retail and leisure space, Marina West will be Bahrain’s largest gated beachfront residential community. Its 11 towers will accommodate more than 1,280 luxury apartments, duplexes, simplexes, penthouse suites and townhouses. About 7,000 square metres of high quality retail units, a supermarket, restaurants, spa & fitness centre and car parking for approximately 2,000 cars are provided for in the two levels of common podium at lower floors. It also consists of a full range of leisure, recreation and entertainment facilities in addition to the marina and a private beach.
A contract valued in excess of US$ 250 million to develop the concept design and construct the entire project has been awarded to Bahraini-Greek joint venture, PCC-Terna.
According to Christos A Poullaides, Managing Director of PCC and Vice-Chairman of PCC-Terna, Terna brings its extensive expertise and experience with similar projects of this magnitude and complexity in Europe and across the Middle East to ensure the synchronisation of all aspects of the undertaking in order to deliver on time and on budget by December 2009.
The motto of PCC is ‘Building for a Better Future’, and this is entirely fitting with the Marina West project.
“Today piling works to create the foundations for the towers have begun and the substructure will follow. This will be succeeded by construction of the tower superstructures. A two-storey ‘podium’ to provide car parking and commercial premises will be built, and in the final phase we will complete the marina and all remaining external works,” he said.
Asteco Property Services Company is exclusive sales and marketing agency for Marina West. Pre and early sales activity has resulted in more than 10 per cent of the development already being sold to buyers and investors from Bahrain and the GCC including Saudi Arabia, and to expatriates from North America, Europe and Asia. Purchases have been for permanent, holiday and retirement homes as well as for investment purposes.
“Our role with Marina West is to extend the professional expertise of our team and to provide investors, home buyers and tenants with services spanning property sales and leasing, retail leasing, investment sales consultancy and development,” said Andrew Chambers, Managing Director of Asteco Property Services Company.
“From our experience we expect strong acceleration of our early success as more people become aware of Bahrain’s real estate sector, its price advantages, its supportive legal framework and economic stability, as well as, of course, the inherent value presented by the Marina West community.”
Marina West’s 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom freehold apartments, duplexes, simplexes, penthouse suites and townhouses range in size from 92 to 545 square metres. A variety of prices – which begin at BD 41,525 for a 1 bedroom duplex – enable a wide cross section of buyers and investors from Bahrain and beyond to gain freedom and independence from the empowerment of home ownership.
More information on Marina West is available by contacting Asteco Property Management on telephone number +973 17 690808 or by visiting www.marina-west.com.
