The first phase of a BD15 million ($39.78 million) shopping and leisure complex in Bahrain, featuring 27 villas that have been converted into commercial outlets, is expected to be open early 2012.

The Avenue in Saar includes restaurants, cafes, a salon, garden centre, pilates studio, car rental business, frame shop and flower and chocolate shop.

'We have Villa Mamas, a skin clinic, coffee shops, Health House, Counter Burger and Rosso's Italian restaurant,' said Mega Holdings Company facilities manager Liz Hambley.

'We also have Fabulook which is a beauty salon that is already open. A lot of the villas will be turned into restaurants and there will be a seating area around the pool.

'Some tenants are doing their own renovations but they all have to be approved by our engineers Emaar. Each villa is 210 sq m and has three bedrooms and some tenants are even using their rooftops. We are expecting the site to be open by early next year.'

Mega Holdings Company is behind the BD15m-plus project located across the road from Saar Cineplex.

The initial phase includes 300 parking spaces, two new substations, drainage, sewerage, power optics, landscaping, pedestrian paving, roadway and a boundary wall. Several of the tenants are Bahraini entrepreneurs launching businesses for the first time, while some are young businesswomen offering products and services directed at women and families.

'It's been great to watch it develop,' said Hambley.

Enthusiastic

'The tenants are very enthusiastic and for some of them it is their first business and they are putting everything into it. A lot of them are Bahraini women who want to start their businesses outside of their homes.'

Hambley said the development was much needed considering the number of people living in the area.

'For the amount of residents in the Saar area there is nothing around here until you go to Budaiya,' she said.'What's nice about this development is there is a green area where people can sit out and there is a pedestrian walkway.'

In phase two, which will start early next year, 400 more parking spaces will be created, along with a substation and nine other commercial units for a bank, shops and restaurants.

There will also be a plaza and a multi-purpose hall that can be used for weddings, conferences and celebrations. In phase three, expected to begin by the end of next year, developers will create an authentic suq area.

'It's a developing project and something different for this area,' said Hambley.

'It's good for families, they can go to the cinema and then cross the road and go for dinner. A lot of Saudis go to the Saar Cineplex and now they will have somewhere close by they can go for dinner.' – TradeArabia News Service