The first batch of villas in the Deerat Al Oyoun development in Bahrain's Diyar Al Muharraq is expected to be completed and handed over next year.

This was revealed during Bahrain's Housing Minister Basem bin Yacoub Al Hamer's visit to the project site. He was received by Diyar Al Muharraq chairman Abdulhakim Al Khayyat, chief executive officer Dr Maher Al Shaer and other senior officials.

He was briefed about progress of work on the Mazaya villas and social housing units at the development which are nearing completion, said a Bahrain News Agency report.

The Deerat Al Oyoun spans across 1.2 million sq m and features 3,100 villas.

The residential integrated community also comprises service centres and green spaces, located close to shopping malls, public beaches, recreational facilities, mosques, medical facilities, and a modern transportation network, the report said.

Al Hamer described the Deerat Al Oyoun development project as the fruit of partnership with the private sector, paying tribe to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for spearheading the scheme.

"The Deerat Al Oyoun development project epitomises the success of the partnership between the ministry and the private sector to provide social housing," he said, highlighting the importance of the cooperation in providing decent housing for Bahraini citizens.

The partnership between the ministry and the private sector, which started three years ago, has already provided more than 6,000 housing units in the projects of the Northern Town, Al Lawzy and Deerat Al Oyoun at Diyar Al Muharraq.

He commended Diyar Al Muharraq board of directors, executive management and personnel for their efforts to spearhead massive investment projects.