A $1 billion (BD378 million) financial city is to be built on Manama's coastline, housing 10,000 workers in a string of futuristic buildings.

Bahrain Financial Harbour will be built at Mina Manama, partly on land to be reclaimed from the sea.

With a land area of 202,272 sq m, the harbour will house the "highest office towers" in Bahrain, residential apartments, retail outlets, and maritime facilities, developers said.

The project is a joint venture between Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House, Remoon Business Development Consultants and Ahmed Abubaker Janahi Architects.

The main goal to build a complete project that is dynamic and refined like no other, says a source. It will also be a centre for investors and businessmen not just from Bahrain, but from around the Middle East and other regions as well.

Manama Harbour, currently Bahrain Financial Harbour, lies on the Northern shore of Central Manama City, and is 10 minutes away from the airport. BFH is situated in the place of the old harbour and expanding eastward, westward and into the sea. Total land mass will equal 202,272 sq m, consisting of high office towers.

The other buildings to be constructed will include a financial hall, residential apartments, corporate residential apartments, retail shops and outlets, maritime facilities and other recreational projects.

The architectural design of BFH is based both on the water around it and its futuristic idea. The buildings will include most intricate details to end with an elegant overall structure.

Construction work is expected to start in the second quarter of next year and should take six years to complete.

The project consists of 25 internal developments which are all open to bids from regional and international companies.