'We are in an important geographical location. and it is now time to gain benefits from that,' the official Kuwait news agency (Kuna) in late August quoted Sheikh Sabah Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah, chairman of Kuwait Ports Authority, as saying.

Bubiyan is a 530-square-kilometre island on the Gulf, located close to the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

The local Executive Authority for the Development of Kuwaiti Islands, Divided Zones & Major Projects plans to develop the 530-square-kilometre development into a tourism resort. The project will include the construction of hotels, chalets and recreational facilities on the island and a causeway to the main island. The scheme is to be carried out on a build-operate (BO) basis.

A joint venture of Toronto-based HOK Planning Group and the local Gulf Consultis acting as consultant. The team is carrying out a masterplan for the island development and an environmental impact study.

The US' Hill International is understood to be in pole position to be appointed project manager for the island development. Two other companies - the UK's Bovis and DMJMof the US - submitted bids in early June for the contract (MEED 13:6:03).