The contract, worth over $100 million, was retendered to take account of the revised scope of the project, after Kuwait Finance Housebought the 50 per cent share held by Saudi Arabia's Dallah al-Baraka Groupand appointed the UK's WS Atkinsto draw up a new masterplan for the estimated $1,300 million development, located at the southern end of the main island. The Ministry of Finance & National Economy owns the remaining 50 per cent. The scope of works calls for dredging and reclamation of a 20-square-kilometre area (MEED 11:6:04).

On completion, scheduled for 2008, the resort will comprise residential islands arranged in a semicircle around the 300-600-room central hotel, with leisure facilities including an 18-hole golf course, a water park and a 400-boat marina.