Aljazayer Beach Resort, is a $1.2bn (BD453m) project which will see the creation of a world-class leisure, family tourism and beach resort.

It will include public beaches, hotels, marinas, a theme park, water park, cultural centre, commercial district, residential units and chalets.

The project will completely revamp the existing facility and turn it into a major attraction for both residents and tourists.

Bahrain's only public beach may be lost to developers
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

MANAMA

EIGHTY per cent of Al Jazair Beach - Bahrain's only public beach - is being handed over to private investors, Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Mansoor bin Rajab told MPs yesterday.

He said only half-a-kilometre remained registered as municipal land, while 1.9km were now with the Economic Development Board (EDB), which has earmarked it for private development projects.

The Minister was yesterday summoned to parliament's public utilities and environment affairs committee, to respond to questions by MPs who are worried that people will be left with nothing.

"The only public beach is being turned into private property," said committee chairman Jawad Fairooz.

"We will ask our legal consultants to help us save the beach.

"Documents will be sought from the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry and the Finance Ministry, to learn if the beach is being turned into private property or not and if it is legal.

"The issue will be referred urgently to the council next week, so that action can be taken to stop the process."

"The faster we act, the betterchance we have of saving the place.

apart from the beaches on the ritz and novotel, where can bahrainies actually soak thier feet in sea water?!

^^^ Qatar??

apart from the beaches on the ritz and novotel, where can bahrainies actually soak thier feet in sea water?!

Yes and that's only for Bahrainies who can actually afford to get into these places.

Red light for beach project
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

ECONOMIC Development Board (EDB) officials were yesterday warned not to authorise any development projects on Bahrain's only registered public beach - without Southern Municipal Council's approval.

The call went out after councillors read Press reports quoting Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Mansoor bin Rajab saying 80 per cent of Al Jazair Beach would be turned into private investments.

He said the beach was no longer under the council's authority and only half a kilometre remained registered as municipal land.

Mr Bin Rajab reportedly added 1.9km of the beach was now EDB land and plans were afoot to organise development projects.

The minister's comments were read out as he was summoned to parliament's public utilities and environment affairs committee to respond to MPs concerns that people would be left with nowhere to go.

Council chairman Ali Al Mohannadi warned the EDB at the council's meeting that they would take serious action if the council was not informed about future projects.

"If we are left out, then the council will speak to parliament, to question the concerned minister, because taking the land away from the public and then building on it without their knowledge, is something no one accepts," he said.

"The EDB would be first summoned to one of the council meetings to get an insight on the areas under their authority and to ensure they agree not to permit any project unless the council is aware about it.

"We are very concerned about the loss of the beach, which used to be under the Southern Municipality not so long ago, and everyone is sad as this public utility will be taken from the people and given to investors."

At a parliament meeting last month, public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Jawad Fairooz said there were not enough public places and the only ones left were being turned into private property.

He said legal consultants would be asked to guide MPs on ways to save the beach.

Mr Fairooz added documents would be sought from the Municipalities and Agriculture and Finance ministries to check if the beach being turned private was legal.

alaali@gdn.com.bh

Al Jazair beach to be given major facelift


PRIVATE developers are to turn Al Jazair beach into a modern toursim area, with hotels and other facilities, MPs heard yesterday.

Eighty per cent of the beach has been handed over to the Economic Development Board, which has hired a company to draw up a strategy for development by private investors Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Mansoor bin Rajab told MPs.

The 20pc which remains under the ministry's control is also being developed, to make it more attractive for families, he said.

This will cost BD90,000, over two years, said Mr Bin Rajab.

He said that the ministry would spend BD30,000 this year on planting trees, constructing a walkway, installing shades and new lights, in addition to a family rest area.

The projects will cover an area of 5,000 square metres.

Another BD60,000 will be spent to separate proper chalets from barasti huts, with the chalets area being fenced and security guards being employed, said Mr Bin Rajab.

"We will spend BD10,000 this year and BD50,000 next year," he said.

Mr Bin Rajab said that all these proposals were pending, awaiting consent from the Southern Municipal Council.

He told MPs at the public utilities and environment affairs committee last month that 80pc of Al Jazair Beach would be turned over for private investment, under the authority of the EDB.

He said only half a kilometre of the beach remained registered as municipal land, while 1.9km was now with the EDB.

He was responding yesterday to a question by parliament foreign affairs, defence and national security committee vice-chairman Abdulla Al Dossary on the development projects planned for Al Jazair Beach.

Mr Bin Rajab told the GDN after the session that the beach was in need of development, but without the public area under the ministry's authority being affected.

"The place is in need of hotels and other developments, which in the end will serve residents in that area, who have nothing there except the desert," he said.

"The EDB is trying to make the area a comprehensive tourist destination, they are doing their work in the land under their control and we are doing our best in what we have."

Mr Al Dossary accused Mr Bin Rajab of not telling parliament about the EDB's authority over the beach, despite knowing about it since last summer.

He also accused him of not having a proper plan for the projects that covers public interest.

Mr Bin Rajab said he did not reveal the EDB involvement earlier, because he needed more information. He said everything was there in records for MPs to see.