Lulu breaks new ground as Reef Island

The joint venture between the Bahrain government and the Mouawad Group for Real Estate Development Company promises to be Bahrain's most exclusive site.

"We have renamed the project Reef Island in order to differentiate it from several other projects which also go by the name Lulu. We believe that the new brand emphasizes both the development's uniqueness and beauty," said Robert Mouawad, Chairman of Mouawad Group for Real Estate Development Company and Lulu Tourism Company.

Lying off the shores of Manama, the 579 thousand square meters (6.23 million square feet) free-hold development, will include a total of 1,217 apartments among 39 residential buildings, 65 villas, 49 beach villas and a 250-room 5-star hotel & spa, currently under construction at a cost of BD 450 million (US$ 1.20 billion).

With its luxurious designs and spacious parks, Reef Island promises to be an island paradise complete with modern amenities and infrastructure. Its facilities will include a shopping mall, a medical center and a marina & yacht club.

"All of the residential buildings, except for the project's icon tower, are low rise, ranging from 5 to 13 floors," said Mouawad. "They take up less than 30 per cent of the total land area, providing a unique environment where landscape and open space areas provide an exclusive style of living."

"Reef Island will have a central location, 15 minutes from the airport, 5 minutes from the business district, and just a few minutes from the Financial Harbor and central Manama," he added.

Land reclamation for the project was completed in 2005 with the marine works for completion by May 2007, and infrastructure works, including roads, electricity, water, sewerage and telecommunications by the end of 2007. The building construction will commence middle of this year with the first phase scheduled to be completed in early 2009 and the second by the end of 2010.

"We have world-class companies working on the project to ensure that we meet these deadlines. As developers, we have also gone to great lengths to ensure proper water flow around the island and any impact on the environment is minimized," added Mouawad.

The main contractor for the marine and infrastructure works is Bahrain-based AMA, which is being supported by many other Bahraini subcontractors. The Mouawad Group has been involved in many luxury projects in Lebanon and France, including Grand Hills Hotel and Spa in Broumana, residential buildings in Solidere and Beirut, Hotel de Vendome 1 Place Vendome, Paris and Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat in French Riviera.