The Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC) building is expected to open early next year, project representatives said.

All major structural work is now complete, they said.

More than 70 per cent of the office space is now ready to be handed over to the tenants and a significant number of them have already begun their fit-out design programmes, says public relations firm Hill and Knowlton.

"Major structural works including concreting, foundation and steel works are now complete," said Simha Lytherao, senior project manager for Atkins, who are the architects and engineers for the project.

"In addition, all mechanical, electrical systems, service floors, chilled water pipe work, electrics and fire protection systems are 75 per cent finished. Of the 27 lifts, 20 have been installed and six are operational."

The state-of-the-art development is continuing as planned with initial testing of the turbine propellers scheduled in September.

The building has also been fitted out with sophisticated self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology features, ranging from connectivity to surveillance and security systems and a district cooling system, which is an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems.

The BWTC's two towers will each provide 32 levels of corporate office space with expansive sea and city views. It also provides supportive facilities including high-speed passenger lifts, a full service business centre with video conferencing facilities and meetings and conference rooms.

"In the BWTC, more than 70pc of the office floors are now ready for handover and a significant number are already under way with their fit-out design programmes," associate director of DTZ Bahrain, BWTC's leasing and managing agent, Claire Hughes, said.

"Inside, finishes and services to the public areas are substantially complete."

Leasing and managing agents DTZ Bahrain have also confirmed that 95pc of the MODA Mall, which will be part of the complex, has been leased, with a soft opening expected in the fourth quarter of this year.

Other BWTC amenities will include restaurants, cafes, a health spa and a five-star hotel. In addition, three sky-lit courts, the Centre Court, the Garden Court and the North Court, will connect MODA Mall and the Sheraton Hotel.

MODA Mall will comprise 16,500 square metres of retail and leisure space, consisting of the existing 6,900sqm Bahrain Commercial Complex, which us due to be refurbished and a new 9,600sqm extension at the hub of the BWTC towers.

The new extension will contain some 50 new stores, bringing the total number of retail outlets in the complex to 160. Designer clothing and jewellery boutiques are set to open including Kuwaiti designer clothing store Villa Moda, as well as designer stores from Christian Lacroix, Emporio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Hermes.

The lead contractors on the BWTC towers are Bahrain-based contractors Nass Murray & Roberts Joint Venture. The leasing and managing agents are global real estate advisers, DTZ Bahrain, with international technology providers Xpand Advisory / NCS providing the intelligent business systems technology.

Local project managers HAJ are acting as client representative and cost manager.