Work is progressing well on the Avenues Mall Project, a 273,000-sq-m retail and tourism destination coming up in the centre of Manama facing King Faisal Highway.

The BD45 million ($116 million) project is being developed by a group of Bahraini investors, in partnership with Mohammed Mahmoud Al Shaea Company; a leading company in the Kuwait retail sector, and Mabanee; the owner of the Avenues Mall of Kuwait.

The mall boasts of 75,000 sq m of open green areas and public gardens besides an innovative design. It has been conceived in such a way that it allows the sunlight to enter the mall without the heat of the sun.

Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf toured the Avenues site along with a lot of other ministry officials.

He was later given a detailed explanation about project implementation and the phases that have been so far completed.

He stressed on the importance of project completion on time and urged the team in charge of implementation to overcome any obstacles or difficulties facing the project.

Mabanee CEO Waleed Al Shoraian said about 70 per cent of the Bahrain Avenues project had been completed and work is progressing as per schedule.

According to him, the main construction works have been completed, in addition to the area allocated for the cinemas. Also the work on the roofs, floors, toilets and the glass facing the sea are over.

The work has now started on the structure of the steel dome for the mall and the southern garden and also for paving the outside roads and walkways with asphalt, stated Al Shoraian.

Work has also commenced on the implementation of the main storm water drainage network for the mall, connecting the sewerage channels and installing the irrigation channels for afforestation and aesthetic purpose, he said.

The mall overlooks a brilliant waterfront, while the areas for rent occupy 40,000 sq m, including global commercial shops, food court and coffee shops. The parking lot also accommodates over 1,400 vehicles, noted Al Shoraian.

Visitors will also have the chance to enjoy the view of a charming waterfront at the length of 1.5km, which comprises of a kids playing area, a jogging track, a game hall, luxurious restaurants and coffee shops, commercial shops and cinemas, he added.-TradeArabia News Service