Bahrain is set to become a global leader in the field of ecotourism as it plans to open the world’s largest underwater theme park, said a report.

Details of the new project were revealed in a statement issued by the Personal Representative of His Majesty King Hamad and president of the Supreme Council for Environment, Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said a report in BNA.

Covering an area of over 100,000-sq-m, the exceptional dive experience will include several structures such as a submerged 70-metre Boeing 747 as a centrepiece, as well as a replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house and artificial coral reefs.

The sculptures will be fabricated from eco-friendly materials, and submerged to provide a safe haven for coral reef growth and a habitat for marine life, the report said.

The dive site will also provide researchers with rich information and data on marine ecology and biology and will be a major boost to the kingdom’s ecotourism sector, it said.

Scheduled to launch in the coming months, the underwater dive site is an eco-friendly project undertaken by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) in partnership with the Supreme Council for Environment and the private sector.

"The underwater park highlights the kingdom’s commitment to preserving its marine habitat by incorporating the highest international environmental standards in this eco-friendly project," Shaikh Abdullah highlighted.

"Moreover, the project will become an international tourist attraction, given its large area, location and unique experience for diving enthusiasts," he said.

The diving site is set to be open before the summer of 2019, the report said.