A much-awaited revamp of Manama’s ‘crumbling’ Al Fateh Corniche is one step closer to reality following the conclusion of six months of negotiations over its future.

An upgrade of the corniche, which runs along the coast near Ahmed Al Fateh Islamic Centre (Grand Mosque), was supposed to start in 2010, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

However, a funding shortfall and the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry’s rejection of a number of tenders due to ‘technical reasons’ left the project in limbo.

In February, the GDN reported that Amlak, which is the real estate investment arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Social Insurance Organisation, was in discussions with the government to take over the corniche’s upgrade.

It already has plans to start work on a multi-million-dinar facelift of the Marina Club, at the far end of the corniche, by the third quarter of this year.

“Negotiations with Amlak have concluded and they will be taking over the corniche alongside their original development at the marina,” Capital Trustees Board acting chairman Mazen Alumran told the GDN.

“The board has been tasked with working alongside parliament on details regarding the project’s design and has drawn up some general ideas.

“The plans have to complement the new marina project and at the same time provide new attractions – but with Amlak getting the whole corniche, we have someone who appreciates the bigger picture.”

Alumran said priority would be given in the new designs to existing businesses already operating on the corniche, but they would have to fall in line with what the developers have in mind.

“Our main idea for the area is to turn it into something resembling Dubai’s The Walk, which incorporated existing outlets into a new concept,” he said.

“Existing venues will be prioritised, but not favoured, and may not see their current locations handed back to them.

“Amlak could work on its original project besides the area near the new National Assembly complex, leaving the middle section to the businesses that are already operating until their contracts expire.

“We want the place turned into a family-friendly tourist destination with fewer sheesha cafés and the like.”

A public beach is also on the cards for the seafront section of the development, the official revealed.

“Under the plans, people will be able to swim from an open public beach that will be accessible at any time,” he said.

“But we are studying our options here, as we still have time before the end of September when we have to submit our report to parliament as swimming in open water raises safety and security concerns that need to be addressed.”

Crumbling

In November 2013, the then area councillor Ghazi Al Dossary complained to the GDN that the Al Fateh Corniche was literally ‘crumbling into the sea’ and branded it a ‘safety hazard.’

The Amlak project at the Marina Club, which will span nearly 150,000 sq m, is due to be completed by 2019 and will include a five-star luxury hotel, apartments, waterfront villas, a shopping mall, fully-integrated family entertainment and educational centre and a recreational waterfront space with dining and retail outlets. - TradeArabia News Service