Marine works are under way on the fifth phase of the Kuwait waterfront project at Salmiya. The client, United Real Estate Company, is developing the prime stretch on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

When completed, the KD45 million ($149.1 million) project will offer residents retail, food and entertainment facilities over an area of 41,361 sq m. The project includes a shopping mall, a 210-berth marina and a marina club. The local Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company is the contractor on the project. The dredging consultant is SSH/Dredging & Marine Contractor and the marine contractor is Gulf Dredging Company.

Phase five involves two stages. The first, involving onshore works, saw the construction of the shopping mall that opened last November.

The second stage is the marine works which is now in progress. The marine works will again be carried out in three stages, including the construction of a marina crescent that will link the inland mall by a bridge to the marina yacht club. The first stage is expected to be completed in June, the second by the year end and the third by the mid-2004.

The development will also have a three-storey hotel and a 70 to 80 m water garden tower. A sports building for jet ski and sail boats will be built under the tower. There will also be a helipad, VIP lounge, multipurpose hall, a park for entertainment and a boat repair yard.