Durrat Al Bahrain 6.02

Durrat Al Bahrain is the third largest artificial island in Bahrain after Northern City and Diyar Al Muharraq Islands. It has a distance of 40.5km south of the capital, Manama, on Bahrain Island.DescriptionDurrat Al Bahrain islands include five-star hotels, an 18-hole golf course, 12 bridges, and a marina. The marina will span three of the islands and will cover a land area of approximately 0.7km2 with a cost of about US$1.3 billion.The marina is a joint venture between Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain and Tameer, one of the GCC region’s leading developers. The marina development is the first of its type and size in the Middle East.HistoryIn 2002, plans were laid down for the project. Work began in 2004. In February 2008, work on the project was interrupted as more than 1,300 laborers downed tools in a dispute over pay. Workers who were based at a labor camp in the development site, went on strike demanding better salaries and complaining of poor living conditions. The strike was subsequently called off soon after.GeographyThe US$7 billion project consists of a series of 15 large artificial islands, covering an area of about 5km2. It has six atolls, five fish-shaped islands, two crescent-shaped islands, and two more small islands related to the Marina area.