Al Sahel Resort is set to develop a new five-star property on the southwest coast of Bahrain, said a top company official at the Gateway Gulf, a major investment event being held in capital Manama.

More than 500 global investors and business leaders are here in Bahrain to explore ways of unlocking the opportunities being created by the economic transformation in the GCC.

Announcing the property launch, Chairman Khalid Al Rumaihi said the resort is the first phase of the Al Sahel development, which will be completed within two years.

This unique destination boasts 1.25 km of pristine coastline and will be nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while being within easy reach of all of the Bahrain's major tourism destinations and transport links. Furthermore, its out-of-city location makes it the kingdom’s first ‘retreat’ style venue.

"The unique location, as well as high degree of privacy, enable us to serve regional audiences looking for exclusivity. Being the first-of-its-kind in Bahrain, coupled with the high quality and variety of services and amenities on offer, it will allow us to capture the ‘longer-stay’ segment of visitors," he added.

The five-star resort will offer an unrivalled level of seclusion and feature both room and villa-based accommodation, and a comprehensive range of entertainment and leisure components for the whole family including restaurants, water features and sports, cinema, teen smart room, kids club, meeting and conference services, sports and spa facilities.

The wider destination will complement the resort and include leisure, retail and entertainment options to provide a complete offering away from the city centre, said the top official.

“Tourism is one of the highest potential growth sectors for foreign investment, accounting for 10% of the total investment flows into the Kingdom last year,” remarked Al Rumaihi.

"In addition to Al Sahel, we are expecting 15 new four- and five-star hotels and resorts to open across Bahrain in the next two years, joining a wide range of existing luxury brands," he added.

Jumeirah Group, the global hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has already signed a hotel management agreement to operate a luxury Jumeirah hotel and spa within the first phase of the development.  

Jumeirah’s CEO José Silva said: "We are renowned for our bespoke concept and we are excited at the prospect of bringing our hotel and spa experience to the Al Sahel development. With a distinct secluded beachfront ambiance, the Jumeriah Al Sahel Resort will offer 207 keys between the luxury hotel and villas, where guests will be able to enjoy our state of the art spa, as well as a range of dining, retail and sporting amenities all set within a stunningly designed resort."

Bahrain’s tourism sector witnessed rapid growth in 2017, with the total number of tourists visiting the kingdom increasing by 11.9 per cent.

The kingdom is seeing further enhancement to its tourism infrastructure to support this growth, which is set to play a significant role in Bahrain’s economic diversification and contributing 6.3 per cent to the GDP.

The Al Sahel Resort will continue to add new facilities, helping to drive tourism to the southwest coastal region of the kingdom.

Bahrain has the potential to deliver a unique experiential offering in the region, with a cosmopolitan capital city, natural islands, a rich and accessible history with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and an authentic, open culture.

Held under the patronage of HRH Pince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), Gateway Gulf provides a direct route into accessing the GCC market by showcasing major investment-ready projects worth $18 billion, with projects in the planning phase driving up the value of the project pipeline to $26 billion.

The event also offers an opportunity to match funding with large-scale infrastructure projects in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service