VK Universal Property Manage-ment Company, the property management division of VKL Holdings, will be developing a BD20 million ($53 million) state-of-the-art shopping mall in Hidd as well as an exotic five-star hotel and multi-storey apartment block facing the seafront at the Bahrain Investment Wharf, also in Hidd.

The main contractor for these projects is Al Namal Construction Company,
Being built on land leased from the Al Hidd Club, the four-storey mall complex is expected to take 18 months to complete, once permission has been obtained from the relevant government authorities.
VKL Holdings is the parent company of the Al Namal and the VKL Group of companies in Bahrain.
Among the other major developments being undertaken by the group is an 85,000 sq m mall in A’ali, and two 43-storey residential towers in Juffair.
Meanwhile, construction work on the group’s 20-storey Saach Tower in Juffair is nearing completion, as per schedule.
Under the leadership of its managing director, Varghese Kurian, the Al Namal and VKL Group has, over the years, emerged as a conglomerate under the VKL Holdings banner. It has developed a large number of residential, office, retail and hospitality projects, and has plans to diversify into healthcare and educational sectors. Recently, for instance, the Al Namal Group has entered into a 50:50 joint venture partnership with the Chennai-based Sooriya Hospital, to set up a 50-bed multi-specialty hospital with a diagnostic unit in Bahrain.
At the forefront of the group’s subsidiary companies is Al Namal Construction, one of the leading construction companies in Bahrain. It has been rated by the government as a Class ‘A’ construction company - “in recognition of the high standards and professional services offered to its clients,” states a company spokesman.
Since its inception in 1997, Al Namal Construction has successfully completed more than 200 projects including luxury villas, high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, resorts and industrial buildings. Employing a multi-national workforce of more than 1,100 people, the company is headed by highly qualified project managers and engineers.
Says Kurian: “Al Namal Construction is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including mechanical hoists, tower cranes, concrete mixers, mechanical dumpers, road rollers and supporting vehicles. To take care of construction safety, we have a team of qualified and experienced safety officers who implement all the safety aspects at sites as prescribed by ministerial orders.”
VKL Holdings’ success, says Kurian, lies in its vertical integration strategy, besides the group’s commitment to excellence and innovation. He explains: “At VKL Holdings, we have always strived to offer our clients excellence and convenience at competitive rates through our commitment to high quality standards and continuous improvement. We have also developed an intricate network of suppliers, service providers and industry professionals for providing efficient, customised solutions to our clients.
“Largely, it is our vertical integration strategy, which we have adopted from early on, that has helped us stay ahead of our rivals in Bahrain’s highly competitive construction market. We have incorporated focused and specialised in-house business units for the different works and trades associated with construction, which helps us not only achieve economies of scale, but also facilitates the execution of our turnkey projects, enabling us to control our quality standards, guarantee timely deliveries and keep the costs to a minimum.”
Under its vertical integration strategy, complementing almost every construction need, VKL Holdings has set up a host of subsidiary companies that specialise in different activities, including property management, land reclamation and dredging, electromechanical, electrical, wrought iron and aluminium works, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) and interiors products as well as elevators and other building materials.
V K Universal Property Management was set up in 2004 by a well-established proprietor, who has successfully developed, managed, marketed and sold over 60 commercial and residential buildings throughout Bahrain with property values in excess of $300 million.
“VKL Universal Property Management displays an innovative edge when it comes to understanding the needs and desires of property buyers,” says the spokesperson.
Similarly, Al Namal Electromechanical Contracting (Nemco) is a specialist in the field of mechanical, heavy engineering and steel fabrication, providing complete mechanical installations and services. It offers hot and cold water services, plumbing and sanitation, fire protection systems, water treatment plant installation, and HVAC installation and maintenance, among a host of services.
Al Kooz Electrical Contracting (Kemco), another of its subsidiaries, has successfully executed high standard electrical jobs throughout Bahrain, according to the spokesperson.
 “Kemco is a Bahrain State Electrical Department (BSED)-approved electrical contracting company, with a highly developed infrastructure and managed by professionally-qualified personnel and assisted by BSED-licensed electricians and engineers. Its combination of management, manufacturing and installation capability makes it possible to provide a full fit-out service that delivers the highest quality products on time and within the budget,” he adds.
Saach Interior Designs specialises in undertaking and supervising complete interior jobs for buildings, including hotels, corporate houses, and conference halls. It has a workforce of 150 experienced carpenters with the latest machinery and equipment at their disposal, according to the spokesperson.
Another group member Al Saman for Sand and Concrete undertakes land reclamation and sand dredging. The company has two state-of-the-art dredgers – a cutter suction dredger and a trailing suction hopper dredger.
VKL Holdings also represents Shanghai Sanei Elevator, a leading Sino-Japan joint venture manufacturer of elevators and escalators, including high-speed elevators, machine-room-less elevators, panoramic lifts, home lifts, escalators and moving walks.
For its various building materials needs, the group relies on its in-house trading division, Saach International Trading, which specialises in the import and export of a vast range of building materials and products.