The Bahrain City Centre (BCC) will complete all structural work by next month and is due to open in 261 days.

Majid Al Futtaim Group (MAF) said the project has seen over 10 million man hours of work and is set to become Bahrain's premier entertainment, shopping and leisure resort.

"It houses not only the biggest indoor/outdoor water park in the Middle East but also the largest cinema complex in the region," MAF Investments deputy chairman Maher A Aziz Al Shaer told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

"Bahrain City Centre will target the largest market sector in Bahrain as it contains a mix for luxury seekers to price driven customers and for those looking for entertainment to normal everyday grocery shoppers," Al Shaer said.

The three-level centre will occupy a total built up area of 450,000 sq m with a gross leasable area of 150,000 sq m.

This will break down into approximately 11 per cent for the Carrefour hypermarket, 30pc for major anchor retail stores, 16.6pc for the leisure area which includes a bowling alley, cinema and water park, 6.4pc for 54 food outlets and restaurants, and the remaining 36pc for smaller retail outlets.

"The BCC aims to be the city centre of Bahrain and a main destination not only for Bahrain residents but for GCC neighbours," Al Shaer said.

The BCC will also house a traditional suq offering traditional Arabic goods. The four corners of the BCC will also be themed separately in the motifs of sky, sand, earth and water.

More than 97pc of tenants have completed and signed contracts and more than 55pc of the stores housed at the BCC will be entirely new in Bahrain, Al Shaer said.

Fit outs are expected to begin by the end of the year and new stores to Bahrain include Ferragamo, Burberry, Roberto Cavalli, Max Fashion, Centrepoint, Paris Gallery, H&M, and Virgin Mega Store.

Other stores will include Ralph Lauren, Rolex, Kiabi, Debenhams, Home Centre, Zara, Mango, and Massimo Dutti.

At least 4,000 jobs are expected to be created, with at least 50pc of its workforce Bahraini.

"This project will have an impact on Bahrain's economy and create jobs in cleaning, security and maintenance sectors," Al Shaer said. - TradeArabia News Service