Work on the 3,520-unit Al Ramli housing project, an integrated and sustainable housing compound coming up over a 1-million-sq-m area in Bahrain, will begin this year with the first phase likely to completed over the next two years, said a report.

This comes as part of the Housing Ministry’s plan to construct the 25,000 homes included in the Government Action Plan, emanating from the royal order to build 40,000 residential units as soon as possible, reported BNA, citing the housing minister.

Bassim bin Yaaqoob Al Hamar said the new city was part of a series of landmark housing achievements attained during the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The minister dubbed the project as an integrated and secure urban residential area which is self-sufficient in commercial, social and educational needs, as well as modern infrastructure.

More than 65 per cent of the project will be allocated for residential neighbourhoods, 14.3 per cent for the main streets, 5.67 per cent for educational buildings, 1.74 per cent for a public garden, 8.3 per cent for social services, 1.85 per cent for public facilities and 2.20 per cent for other purposes, revealed Al Hamar.

The project will also boast of major facilities such as educational buildings, a mosque and green spaces, he said.

The minister said Al Ramli was among the vital projects featuring in the Housing Ministry future plans, noting that work in all the strategic projects, such as the Northern City, the East Sitra City, the East Hidd City and the Southern City, is under way thanks to the government’s support, and the provision of the budgets by the government and the Gulf Development Fund.

The ministry had put out a tender to build 1,264 units, the ownership certificates of 40 per cent of which have been handed over to beneficiaries as part of the 3,200 units ordered by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, said the report.

Al Hamar praised HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s unwavering support to the housing sector, and constant directives to the Housing Ministry to speed up the implementation of projects, it added.