Bahrain is working on an ambitious plan to build the region’s biggest water sports and maritime facility in the kingdom. Land has already been earmarked for the project at Salman Town, a major urban development on the north coast, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The Northern Municipal Council has been tasked with developing the new maritime centre, which is expected to include scuba diving schools, sailing, fishing, a marina, aquarium, restaurants and aquaculture facilities.

“Under plans handed over to us by the Housing Ministry, there is a huge space allocated for a maritime centre at the town,” said council chairman Ahmed Al Kooheji.

According to Al Kooheji, the council is planning to put the project out to tender in the next few months, after details of the project have been finalised.

In April, plans to establish marinas on Bahrain’s southern coastline were tabled by the Southern Municipal Council.

Other projects include an eco-friendly, underwater theme park coming up off Diyar Al Muharraq along the coast of Muharraq.

The park will boast exceptional dive experiences including several structures such as a submerged 70-m Boeing 747 as a centrepiece, as well as a replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, sculptures and artificial coral reefs.

Sculptures will be fabricated from eco-friendly materials, and submerged to provide a safe haven for coral reef growth and a habitat for marine life.

Due to open in August, the project is being spearheaded by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and the private sector. It  is set to become the largest diving park in the world covering an area of over 100,000 sq m.