A new hotel operated by luxury chain Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is set to open on Bahrain's west coast by 2018.

Work on the five-star Fairmont Bahrain Resort is now due to start in the Al Jazair Beach area, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, and FRHI Hotels and Resorts.

The project is being overseen by Mumtalakat subsidiary Bahrain Real Estate Investment (Edamah), which develops and manages government properties and lands.

Plans include a Fairmont spa and health club, restaurants and lounges, as well as a public beach.

The public-private partnership is part of a government initiative to develop the southern part of the country, said FRHI Hotels and Resorts Fairmont brand president Jennifer Fox.

"Bahrain has one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East and is a country that continues to diversify with a strong focus on residential, leisure and retail opportunities," she said.

"With the government's plans to develop the southern area into a major residential, commercial and entertainment hub, we believe it's a very opportune time to be entering the market and look forward to being a key part of the country's future growth."

The hotel will include 215 luxury rooms and cover an area of 2,000 square metres on the coast near the Bahrain International Circuit.

"The hotel is in the early stages of development in Al Jazair area, which is a mixed-use project comprising of a public beach, retail and restaurant outlets, hospitality components and entertainment facilities," said Edamah in a statement.

"South of the capital, within close proximity to Bahrain International Circuit and the Saudi Arabian King Fahad Causeway - and just 35 minutes from the Bahrain International Airport - the hotel is expected to be a popular destination for leisure, business and MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) guests visiting the region."

Mumtalakat chief executive Mahmood Al Kooheji described the location as having one of the best beaches in Bahrain.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Fairmont to open the first Fairmont hotel in Bahrain and to create a prime destination for both residents and visitors to the kingdom," he said.

"The hotel will be developed in Al Jazair area, one of the most beautiful beaches in the kingdom, and will contribute positively to its development into a prime touristic destination in the region.

"It will also create jobs and opportunities for further partnerships between the public and private sector." - TradeArabia News Service