Manama: An $815 million expansion of Bahrain International Airport will be completed by the first quarter of 2019, it has emerged.
The contract is due to be awarded by December and includes seven major projects such as a new passenger terminal, 24 air bridges, arrival and departure lounges and airport aprons.
It is among a package of major development projects totalling $2.2 billion which are being funded through the government and the $10bn Gulf Development Fund, which was pledged to Bahrain by its neighbours in 2011.
Details of the expansion were released yesterday following a meeting attended by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
The expansion will increase capacity at the airport to 17m passengers a year, up from 4m at present.
In a presentation, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed detailed the multi-phased plan and budget, in addition to technical designs of lounges and other facilities.
Other projects included in the package, covering housing, infrastructure, electricity, water, health, social development and roads, were also discussed during the meeting with work set to start soon.
Both leaders reviewed technical designs and timescales, as well as the progress of other projects, and gave directives to fast-track work.
Directives for a study to be conducted on establishing beachfront projects at the junction of Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway were also issued by the
Premier.
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