Like many other countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain is leveraging its economic might to modernize its infrastructure and develop world-class venues and attractions in hopes of boosting tourism. Buoyed by a strong oil and gas sector, Bahrain ranks among the top 25 countries in the world in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. However, it has several major ongoing and planned projects aimed at alleviating its reliance on oil and attracting foreign investment.
These projects include the $2 billion Bahrain Metro Project, which includes the construction of a four-line, 109-kilometer light rail system with the capacity to move 43,000 travelers per hour, and the $1.1 billion Bahrain International Airport Modernization Program. Bahrain is also constructing a rail and road causeway the calls the King Hamad Causeway that will connect to Saudi Arabia and include a rail line linking to the main Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway.
These and other transportation projects will make it easier for international travelers to attend marquee events at the new Bahrain International Sports City (BISC), a mega project first announced in 2021 and expected to be completed by 2025.
A World-Class Sports Destination
Located in Sakhir, the BISC was one of more than 50 mega projects included in the draft of Bahrain’s 2023-24 national budget. While the total cost of the project has yet to be determined, the government allocated more than $265 million for its development over the next two years. According to the Economic Development Board (EDB), Bahrain’s leading investment promotion agency, the BISC will include a world-class sports stadium with a capacity of 50,000 people. There will also be a multi-use hall, international standard football fields, athletics tracks, a commercial complex, and hotels.
In the same area, the Bahrain Swimming Federation is working with the GFH Financial Group to build a new aquatics facility at The University of Technology Bahrain campus. The Aquatic Sports Centre will feature a pair of Olympic-sized swimming pools, both of which will be able to host international events in swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. It will also have 150 rooms for athletes.
“The importance of sports infrastructure projects in the development of Bahrain’s youth cannot be overstated,” noted a spokesperson with the Bahrain Olympic Committee. “These projects provide a multitude of benefits for young people, including the opportunity to participate in sports activities that promote physical fitness, teamwork, and leadership skills. Moreover, these infrastructure projects serve as a catalyst for positioning Bahrain as a hub for regional and international sports events and tournaments.”
Access Roads Upgrades
Bahrain has already begun work on upgrading roads to improve access to the BISC and complement the existing road system in the Zallaq area. This is a major component of the project, particularly with additional planned projects in the area, including the Bahrain Conference Centre and Bahrain Amphitheatre. The country’s Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning is working with the engineering consultancy firm Ayesa to prepare the area for road upgrades. Ayesa is leading the Environmental Management Plan, which includes an air quality baseline survey and creation of best practice monitoring and mitigation measures.
One of More than 50 Proposed Mega Projects
The more than 50 proposed mega projects outlined in the 2023-24 national budget cover various sectors, including housing and community facilities, educational, health and social services, and sport and culture. These projects, which include the Bahrain Metro, Salman Industrial City, and Salmaniya Medical Complex, will cost more than $2.6 billion over the next two years, although more than half of that will come from the GCC Development Programme.
Expected to Boost Tourism and Drive Economic Growth
In addition to providing world-class sporting facilities to young people in Bahrain, the BISC is expected to drive tourism, create jobs, and boost the country’s economy. Ali Faqeeh, an analyst at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, believes the BISC can also help drive housing demand and generate momentum for other mega projects in the country.
Bahrain’s Tourism Sector Strategy 2022-2026 is a critical component of its Economic Recovery Plan, and early efforts in that regard seem to be paying dividends. For Q1 2023, total arrivals increased by nearly 72 percent year-over-year. Occupancy rates in 4- and 5-star properties increased by 8.4 percent.
Major Sporting Events in the Middle East
There’s plenty of reasons to believe that the BISC could host major international sporting events soon. There’s already a precedent in the country with the Bahrain Grand Prix, which attracted a record 99,500 fans in 2023. The Bahrain International Circuit, located near the BISC, was the first track in the Middle East to host a Formula-1 (F1) race. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have since hosted F1 races. Qatar, meanwhile, became the first Middle East country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and other gulf countries have recently hosted international golf and cricket events.