Phase 1 of Salam Resort Bahrain, which is being developed at a cost of $1 billion near the Bahrain International Circuit, is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

It will include a 285-room luxury beach hotel, seven waterfront hotel villas, a 20,000sq m state-of-the-art conference centre, six royal villas on a private island, a spa and 33 spa suites.

The second phase will encompass a residential community and retail outlets set in traditional suq style.

The project is being developed by Sama Dubai, the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding.

Initial works on the hotel's main structure have now reached the lobby level, said Sama Dubai executive chairman Farhan Faraidooni.

"All bridges, road access and infrastructure around the main hotel area are also making fast progress, in line with our promised delivery timeline," he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

"Reclamation of the Royal Island is 70 per cent complete. The island will house royal villas, where the heads of state will reside during the 2010 GCC summit."

Faraidooni said his team was in constant communication with the Public Commission for the Protection of Wildlife, Environment and Marine Resources.

"This is to ensure that our reclamation process follows the standards set by the organisation, to protect marine life at the site," he added.

"In fact through careful engineering, Sama Dubai is taking extra measures to safeguard the resort's coastline."

The conference centre will also be finished in time for the next GCC Summit in Bahrain, said Faraidooni.

Salam Resort Bahrain will offer five-star service throughout its comprehensive range of facilities, he added.

The resort will be managed and operated by Jumeirah International, the luxury international hospitality group and a member of Dubai Holding.

The project also consists of a freehold residential component, which will be completed by 2011 in the second phase of construction.

"We endeavour to launch developments that enable local communities to be self-reliant," said Faraidooni.

"We also work relentlessly to promote the utilisation of indigenous resources in order to contribute effectively to the country's economy.

"Salam Resort Bahrain is expected to generate approximately 1,050 jobs, a major proportion of which will be filled by Bahrainis."

The project will throw open niche career opportunities through its key components including the five-star deluxe hotel, spa and wellness centre, and the conference centre, said Faraidooni.

"Salam Resort Bahrain also integrates a unique theme that is tailored to the needs of a highly demanding tourism market," he noted.

"Capturing the spirit of traditional local architecture, this project is designed to reflect the nuances of a typical Bahraini community.

"The project will attract regional and international tourists as well as Arab nationals and expatriates living in Bahrain and the Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia."

Salam Resort Bahrain is designed by DSA Architects. - TradeArabia News Service