Dubai: Durrat Al Bahrain has awarded a 6.998-million Bahraini dinar ($18.5 million, Dh68.04 million) contract for the construction of 83 villas on the Petal 1 Island, the kingdom's largest mixed-use development.

The contract, awarded to Bahrain-based Projects Construction Company, is the first of the many to be announced for building villas in the $3-billion development, where dredging and land reclamation is in its final stages. Construction of villas on Petal 1 Island will begin soon and its completion is scheduled to end in 12 months.

"We are delighted to award the first contract," said Jasem Al Jowder, chief executive officer of Durrat Al Bahrain.

The Durrat Al Bahrain project comprises a cluster of islands and land areas which include The Crescent, a semi-circular landmass extending into the sea, six atolls, five Petal Islands, a standalone island for a 5-star hotel and resort, a state-of-the-art marina and a golf course.

The Petal 1 villas are part of first phase of construction on the island. It also includes construction of over 300 villas on Atolls 1 and 2, for which contracts will be awarded within the next three months.

All of the Phase I villas, which were sold out by February 2005, will be ready for delivery by mid-2007. "There has been remarkable progress made on this project and everything, from reclamation to infrastructure work, is on or ahead of schedule," said Al Jowder.

A contract for Phase I infrastructure work, which will include building power and water facilities and roads, is expected to awarded within next few weeks.

Durrat Al Bahrain has been planned as a world-class residential, leisure, commercial and tourist destination. It is expected to accommodate more than 45,000 full-time residents at a time, in addition to some 4,000 visitors a day, upon completion in 2009.

Facilities

The Crescent, which will be the heart of the resort city, will have 6,000 apartments, a shopping mall, restaurants and cafes, a piazza, public beaches and a host of community facilities, including a mosque, health centres and schools.

The Atolls and Petal Islands will provide a quiet residential living, with a total of 2,000 luxury villas of different sizes.

The Island Hotel is envisioned as a 400-room property, with private beach and an aqua park.