A DESERT oasis of hotels, resorts and shopping malls and family attractions is being planned on underused land in the southern half of Bahrain.

The Southern Municipal Council revealed its plans to draw up a list of all government-owned land in the Southern Governorate, which covers an area stretching from Sakhir to Zallaq and includes Askar, Riffa and Isa Town.

This land will then be parcelled up according to its size, location and investment potential before being offered to developers on long-term leases.

“What is now wasteland in most of the area covered by the governorate will in the next 10 years turn into an oasis of multi-million-dinar investment projects,” said council chairman Ahmed Al Ansari.

The idea is to promote the Southern Governorate as a major tourist destination ‘throughout the year’, Al Ansari said.