Crystal Lagoons, the patented technology developer of giant crystalline lagoons, said it has started the year with a bang securing projects worth $2 billion in Egypt, including a contract to develop the largest ever water-based leisure attraction in North Africa region.

The six-phase Bo Islands project is being developed by Maxim Real Estate, part of the multi-faceted Maxim Holdings group of companies, said a statement from Crystal Lagoons.

Located on the Alexandria-Marsa Matrouh north coast road, the upscale tourism and residential community will cover an area in excess of 10 million sq m and is being developed at a total investment cost of around $1.8 billion.

On the contract win, Carlos Salas, the regional director ( Middle East) at Crystal Lagoons, said: "This will be our largest North Africa project to date, with 32 hectares of crystalline lagoons, which once completed, will be the largest manmade lagoon in the region."

"This is a phenomenal undertaking and one that we are eager to get off the ground as soon as possible," he stated.

According to Salas, the first phase of the project, equal to 10 per cent of the total area, will cost an estimated $455 million and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018.

Phase One will boast of 17.5 km of powder-white sand beachfront complemented by an impressive 32 hectares of sparkling lagoons, which will be home to a host of unique water-based activities.

The development will be home to 1,115 standalone villas and chalets, along with two luxury waterfront resort hotels offering 300 guestrooms, and an array of five-star services from world-class restaurants and state-of-the-art health and fitness facilities to waterfront retail and an electronic tram system.

Crystal Lagoons’ second project is the two-hectare El Gouna community development.

Situated on Egypt’s vibrant Red Sea coastline and the centrepiece of the $100-million mixed-use residential and tourism hub, it is being developed by leading Egyptian real estate company Hassan Allam Properties, with construction scheduled to begin in the second quarter.

"This is an extremely prestigious residential-meets-tourism development that targets high-end investors for whom a second home is a lifestyle prerequisite and who expect the highest standards of leisure facilities at which to enjoy their precious downtime," explained Salas.

"This is the second project we have partnered with Hassan Allam Properties on, and our appointment reflects the confidence that they have in us to once again deliver a one of-a-kind project," he added.
 
Crystal Lagoons already holds two Guinness World Records’ titles with successful locations at San Alfonso del Mar, Chile and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, which is currently the world’s largest lagoon at 12.2 hectares.

Its global portfolio of 300 projects located in 60 countries now includes a total of eight operational or under development sites in the Middle East, including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service