The Arabian Gulf University has awarded the first of the contracts for the construction of the multi-million King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Medical City, a multiple-phased development to come up on a one-million-sq-m area in Bahrain, said a report.

A mixed-use development, the project comprises academic and medical facilities, a research centre, on-site accommodation and other communal facilities to create a self-sustained campus.

Under the $260-million first phase, a 288-bed hospital supported by on-site staff housing and other communal facilities will be developed, followed by the setting up of medical clinics, medical services building, specialised research centres in the prevailing diseases in the GCC region, including cancer, diabetes and obesity in the next phase, reported the BNA.

The signing of the contract coincides with the festivities in the Gulf such as the third anniversary of the ascension of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Bahrain’s National Day, and the ascension His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, remarked Dr Khalid Abdul Rahman Al Ohaly, the president of AGU at the signing ceremony.

The contracts were awarded to Hafeera Contracting Company and Partners Contracting Company, according to a Gulf Daily News report.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi and the ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Bahrain Dr Abdullah Abdul Malik Al Shaikh.

"This signing is the actual beginning and launch of construction work on the medical city project, as the project contractor has begun the work of building the medical city on the site," stated Dr Al Ohaly.

Lauding the Saudi monarch for the giant healthcare project and King Hamad for the donation of a million sq m of land at a strategic location for the construction of the Medical City, Dr Al Ohaly said the medical city was designed by expertise and competencies from various medical specialisations from all GCC countries, stated the BNA report.

"Over 60 workshops have been held, attended by more than 100 experts to design the medical city, working closely with the National Health Regulatory Authority in order for the Medical City to meet high standards," he noted.

"We are currently working side by side with the Supreme Council of Health to include the medical city under the health services covered by the health insurance of Bahrain, to provide medical services to all residents of the kingdom," he added.

He affirmed that the medical city will be a distinctive addition to the residents of the southern governorate, as well as the residents of Bahrain and the Gulf community.

Once operational, the medical city will boast 300 beds and a full range of outpatient clinics, in addition to 15 operating rooms and quality support medical services such as advanced laboratories and a pharmacy.

According to him, the three objectives of the project are: the education and training of the students of the College of Medicine in the University who hail from GCC countries; providing the faculty at the College of Medicine of AGU to practice their medical professions and also to establish centres for clinical research to address health issues prevalent in GCC such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Al Ohaly also commended the efforts of Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister for the strategic medical city project.