Bahrain's municipal councillors yesterday approved a BD70 million ($185.7 million)project near Budaiya that will feature a public beach, health club, shops and residential property.

The Souk Al Arabia Resort will begin work as soon as the contractors are ready and will take around two years to complete, said Northern municipal Council chairman Yousif Al Boori.

It will cover 22,400 sq m, opposite the Northern Town, and will be run according to Islamic values, meaning there would be no outlets selling alcohol.

"After over 20 meetings with area councillor Mubarak Al Dossari, the investor and other related parties we have managed in over a year to make this project a reality," he said.

"We have also managed to reach a mutual agreement that will benefit the investor and the residents of the area."

The project will consist of five "step-shaped" buildings themed in traditional Bahraini architecture, four of which will be eight to nine storeys high.

The main one will include a commercial area on the ground floor, a health club on the first floor, offices on the second floor and nine residential floors above them.

The project is being spearheaded by an unnamed Pakistani investor, who has reportedly agreed to a number of clauses that benefit the local community.

Al Dossari earlier said the project was positive for the area because the investor planned to build a community hall within the development to benefit residents.

The permanent 870sq m facility would be available for residents from the area to hire for big occasions.

It would also feature six shops, with proceeds going towards the maintenance and running of the hall.

In addition, the investor has pledged to give BD15,000 every year to the Budaiya Charity Fund to be distributed among the needy.

He has agreed to provide this money to help 15 university students and 15 orphans.

The investor has been told the project should include its own sewage system and power supply.

The average height of the buildings will be around 50 metres and the resort will have a specialised entrance constructed in a manner to avoid creating traffic problems. The facilities in the resort will be available for everyone. -TradeArabia News Service