A major new marina development on Bahrain’s Muharraq coastline has been given the green light following a year of delay.

The BD25-million ($66 million) project includes a hotel, shopping mall, an indoor and outdoor theme park, a main office tower and commercial and residential buildings.

It will also include a fish market and jetty for fishermen, a public jetty, marina and an open beach.

The development is being spearheaded by a consortium of Turkish, Saudi and local businessmen on the Al Ghous (diving) Corniche, which faces Manama.

The Muharraq Municipal Council has now voted in favour of the project, ending a deadlock that stretches back to October 2011. The council was previously split on whether to sanction the development or support a Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry revamp of the area.

The ministry completed the first phase of redevelopment six years ago, setting up children’s rides and other family recreation facilities at a cost of BD700,000 ($1.8 million).

It had planned a BD2-million ($5.3 million) second phase revamp including a restaurant complex and other maritime facilities, but work never started.

Council chairman Abdulnasser Al Mahmeed, who originally vetoed the project last year, has now pledged his support, describing it as a step in the right direction to revamp the area and give Muharraq a facelift.

The marina development will be located on the coast between the Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Causeway and the Sheikh Isa bin Salman Causeway, which link Manama and Muharraq.