Bahrain’s Works Ministry is still waiting for budget approval from the Saudi Fund for Development before it can invite bids for the contact to execute reclamation work for the second phase of the North Manama and Busaiteen link road project.

MEED earlier reported that at least 23 groups, mostly comprising a joint venture of international and Bahraini or Saudi contractors, have sought to prequalify for the contract.

The scope for the contract includes general filling works, reclamation and dredging works.

Groups that applied for prequalification in October last year include individual firms as well as joint ventures. They are:

• Abdul Ali Al-Ajmi (Saudi Arabia)
• Al-Hassanain (local) / Al-Mutawa (UAE) / Six Construct (UAE)
• Boskalis Westminster (Netherlands)
• China Communications (China) / Ahmed Mansoor al-Ali Group (local)
• Dogus Construction (Turkey) / Al-Mabani General Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Dredging International (Belgium)
• Eastern Trading & Sayed Kadhem Al-Durazi & Sons (local)
• Futai Arabia (Saudi Arabia)
• Great Lakes Dredge (US) / Abid al-Habashi (Saudi Arabia)
• ILK Construction (Turkey) / Ibn Omairah (Saudi Arabia)
• Jan De Nul (Netherlands)
• Kolin Insaat (Turkey)
• Moh’d al-Mohsin al-Kharafi (Kuwait)
• Nass Contracting (local) / Saudi Archirodon (Greece-Saudi Arabia)
• National Marine Dredging Company (UAE)
• Rohde Nielsen A/S (Denmark) / Azmeel (Saudi Arabia) / Down Town Construction (local)
• Saad Al-Mobty & Partners (Saudi Arabia)
• Sacyr Construction (Spain) / Al-Arrab Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Saudi Binladin Group (Saudi Arabia)
• Shade Corporation (Saudi Arabia)
• Terna Contracting (Greece) / Al-Saad General Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Van Oord (Netherlands)
• Vision Development (local)

The road project entails many components apart from the reclamation package. These include construction of major roads, a signature marine bridge for the fourth Manama-Muharraq crossing, grade-separated interchanges and installation of various services.

Saudi Fund for Development is providing the majority of funding for the entire project.