Reclamation work for the artificial islands, being carried out by a team of Royal Boskalis Westminsterof the Netherlands and Saudi Archirodon, has been on hold since the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in the project by Kuwait Finance Housefrom Saudi Arabia's Dallah Albaraka Group(MEED 29:8:03). The project company, Durrat al-Khaleej al-Bahrain, recently appointed a new board led by managing director Mahmoud Abdul Rehman.

Atkins will examine the possibility of changing the shape of the resort. Under the original plan, Durrat al-Bahrain was to include a water park, golf course, marina, shopping mall, international exhibition centre, hotels and residential units. Only the water park is in place. The resort is due for completion in 2008.