Construction work is under way at Bilaj Al Jazayer, a flagship waterfront tourism and real estate development on Bahrain’s southwest coast, located close to key attractions such as Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain Horse Racing Track, Exhibition World Bahrain and Al Dana Amphitheatre.

Designed as a self-contained, sustainable city, the project is set to redefine the kingdom’s tourism landscape.

Being developed by Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, the scheme will transform a 1.3-million-sq-m beachfront into a mixed-use lifestyle destination featuring public beaches, hotels, branded residences, beach clubs and leisure attractions, anchored by a 3-km public beach with upgraded amenities and promenades. The development supports Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 by enhancing public access to the waterfront, driving tourism and creating sustainable investment opportunities.

Key components include a public beach and promenade with F&B, retail, beach amenities and landscaped walkways; mixed-use residential offerings with branded residential buildings and serviced units integrated with hotel and beach club facilities; and a hospitality cluster featuring two Minor Hotels brands – Avani and Tivoli – marking their debut in Bahrain.

The Bilaj Al Jazayer plan features tree-lined streets, shaded courtyards and a major public park that ties directly into the waterfront.

Phase One marine works are complete, while infrastructure, landscaping and the first vertical developments – including the two Minor Hotels, three branded residential buildings, a beach club and Bahrain Surf Park – are now advancing on site.

Subsequent phases will broaden the residential, leisure and commercial mix in line with market demand and Bahrain’s long-term tourism strategy.

The first phase of infrastructure works are being carried out by Cebarco. This initial phase focuses on the creation of a modern beach boulevard, designed to seamlessly connect with the Gulf of Bahrain highway.

The Bilaj Al Jazayer Beach masterplan, prepared by UK-based Foster + Partners, draws inspiration from Miami’s low-rise Art Deco architecture and Bahrain’s traditional vernacular, proposing a multi-layered, human-centric urban fabric. The permeable plan features tree-lined streets, shaded courtyards and a major public park that ties directly into the waterfront, according  to Foster + Partners.

The masterplan is structured around three primary axes: Beach Drive, running the full length of the beachfront; Main Boulevard, set back but running parallel; and Bilaj Al Jazayer Avenue, which links the two. These green arteries are designed to promote walking and cycling. Human-scale buildings on Beach Drive incorporate ground-level shops, restaurants and cafés to activate the promenade and provide uninterrupted sea views.

Bilaj Al Jazayer will transform a 1.3-million-sq-m beachfront area into a mixed-use lifestyle destination.

Two large hotels with branded residences bookend the site and form strong visual anchors, while smaller boutique hotels are distributed at roughly 500-m intervals, with residential neighbourhoods arranged between them, according to Foster & Partners. Informed by Bahrain’s traditional passive design strategies, the mixed-use districts feature shaded green courtyards and narrow alleyways that create cooler outdoor spaces.

At the heart of the masterplan sits a public surf park, which will utilise advanced wave-generation technology to mimic natural ocean conditions on land. A lush park forms a green buffer between the beach and the main road, while a series of piers extending into the sea create protected coves that help shield the shoreline.

In October last year, Mohammed Jalal Contracting was appointed as the main contractor for the construction of the Azure Beach Club project at Bilaj Al Jazayer.

Within the masterplan, Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii serves as the flagship leisure anchor, occupying an area of around 50,000 to 52,000 sq m. The park will feature a variety of leisure and entertainment amenities, such as F&B outlets, retail spaces, event areas and cabanas.

Developed by Edamah in partnership with GFH Financial Group, the facility will use Wavegarden Cove technology – the first in the region to feature it – capable of producing up to 1,000 waves per hour and will host the Club Hawaii Surf Academy catering to all ability levels. Poullaides Construction Company  is the main contractor for the surf park, which is scheduled to open this year, with a major international surfing competition planned to be held during this year.