FCC

Bahrain Contracts Firm for $10 Billion New Airport Project

2023-05-15

The Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications in Bahrain has awarded a contract worth $1.437 million to Netherlands Airport Consultants. The consultancy firm, based in The Hague, will be responsible for conducting an initial study for Bahrain's ambitious greenfield airport project, estimated to cost $10 billion. The firm will oversee and coordinate the efforts of various specialised sub-consultants, acting as the primary advisor to the ministry. The comprehensive study will cover areas such as public policy, development strategy, technical analysis, economic evaluation, financial assessment, and regulatory analysis.

The new greenfield airport is planned to replace the current Bahrain International Airport (BIA) due to its inadequate infrastructure in meeting the growing demands of the kingdom. It will be constructed on a reclaimed island located north of Muharraq, where BIA is currently situated. This project has been under consideration for a while and was initially mentioned as part of the Strategic Projects Plan announced in November 2021. Back in 2017, MEED reported that the development could carry a price tag of $10 billion. The construction of the new island will involve dredging and infrastructure development, including the construction of a bridge or causeway to connect it to the rest of Bahrain.

In addition to this new airport project, the government of Bahrain, with financial support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), recently completed the construction of a new terminal building at BIA in 2021. Ongoing development is also taking place around the existing airport. On May 9, the Ministry of Works issued a tender for post-contract engineering services aimed at improving access to BIA. This project, known as stage three of phase one, will involve the construction of a flyover, culvert, land reclamation, and enhancements to the Arad and Khalifa AlKaber Highway. The ministry anticipates receiving bids for this project by June 4.