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Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH)

Manama, Bahrain

2004 - Ongoing

Free Economic ZoneInfrastructureLarge Urban ProjectMixed Use

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Project Description

Approach Words: Attractive City, Competitive City, Urban Livability

Public Policy Instruments: Organization, Physical Intervention, Planning

The Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) is a large-scale, mixed-use waterfront development located in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.¹ It aims to attract regional and international financial institutions by offering advanced infrastructure and a world-class environment.² ³
The vision of Bahrain Financial Harbour is to position Bahrain as the financial capital of the Middle East⁴ ⁵ by creating a state-of-the-art environment.⁶

Title: Bahrain Financial Harbour Master Plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: Aerial Night view of Bahrain Financial Harbour; a waterfront hub blending finance, living, and leisure, lighting up Manama’s skyline.

Source: Click Here

Title: A visual representation of the finalized Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH).

Source: Click Here

Title: Zone B plot guidelines from stage 2 final report of BFH.

Source: Click Here

Title: Bahrain Financial Harbour Master Plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: Aerial Night view of Bahrain Financial Harbour; a waterfront hub blending finance, living, and leisure, lighting up Manama’s skyline.

Source: Click Here

Title: A visual representation of the finalized Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH).

Source: Click Here

Title: Zone B plot guidelines from stage 2 final report of BFH.

Source: Click Here

Spanning 380,000 square meters of seafront property, BFH master plan includes 30 development parcels,⁸ featuring high-rise office towers, the Financial Centre, Bahrain International Insurance Centre (BIIC),⁹ luxury residential units, retail and leisure outlets, a marina, and a luxury hotel,¹⁰ all connected by waterfront promenades. This broad plan ensures the integration of finance, residential, and leisure spaces, leveraging modern urban planning and large-scale construction, supported by policies that prioritize financial sector development.¹¹
BFH is located in Bahrain Harbour, along the coastline, between Bahrain Bay and Reef Island, offering unparalleled connectivity to Bahrain International Airport (10 minutes away) and the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia (15 minutes away). It is also close to key business districts like Seef District (3 km west) and the Diplomatic Area (1.5 km east), supporting its role as a gateway to regional and global markets.¹² The development is integrated with well-connected roads, pedestrian walkways, water taxis, and open public spaces.¹³
The beneficiaries of BFH are local residents, especially those in Harbour Row, financial institutions in Bahrain and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), international visitors such as tourists and business professionals, and workers involved in the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Harbour’s components.¹⁴

Owner/Developer

Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C.²⁴

Consultant/Designer

Halcrow ²⁵

Funder

Gulf Finance House (GFH)²⁶

Contractor/Implementer

Al Hamad Construction & Development ²⁷

Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co.²⁸

Owner/Developer

Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C.²⁴

Contractor/Implementer

Al Hamad Construction & Development ²⁷

Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co.²⁸

Funder

Gulf Finance House (GFH)²⁶

Consultant/Designer

Halcrow ²⁵

BFH is led by the Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company, supported by partnerships with global contractors and consultants.¹⁵ The Gulf Finance House (GFH) Group leads residential and commercial development aspects of the project.¹⁶ ¹⁷ Al Hamad Construction & Development Company and Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. manage construction and reclamation, with regulatory oversight provided by the Bahrain Monetary Agency and other government institutions.¹⁸
The BFH was implemented in several key phases:

Phase I (2004–2007): The construction of the Financial Centre, including the Dual Towers, Financial Mall, and Harbour House, began in March 2004 with a $270 million budget. Led by Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, it was completed in 2007.¹⁹
Phase II (2004–2006): Infrastructure development involved reclaiming approximately 240,000 square meters of land to expand the waterfront area. The construction, awarded to Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. in June 2004, was completed in March 2006.²⁰
Phase III (2006–2009): BIIC and additional development involved constructing the 22-story, dedicated to Bahrain’s conventional and Islamic insurance sectors, completed in mid-2006, with the remaining in early 2009.²¹
(2011-Ongoing): Operational Expansion saw BFH’s development begin with Harbour Towers, Harbour Gate, and Harbour Row residents, hotels, and other facilities. Some areas are still being developed.²² ²³

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

http://www.bfharbour.com/

Endnotes

N.A.

References

Bahrain Financial Harbour – GFH Financial Group. (2022, October 6). GFH Financial Group. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://gfh.com/portfolio/bahrain-financial-harbour/
Novak, B., & Novak, B. (2024, April 22). Bahrain Financial Harbour: Business Location in the Middle East – MarcoPolis. MarcoPolis – Your local business media with a global reach. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://marcopolis.net/bahrain-financial-harbour-business-location-in-the-middle-east.htm
The Bahrain financial harbour. (n.d.). World Finance. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.worldfinance.com/inward-investment/middle-east-and-africa/the-bahrain-financial-harbour
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
The Bahrain financial harbour. (n.d.). World Finance. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.worldfinance.com/inward-investment/middle-east-and-africa/the-bahrain-financial-harbour
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Arabian Business. (2015, March 20). Bahrain Financial Harbour appoints second CEO in months. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/banking-finance/bahrain-financial-harbour-appoints-second-ceo-in-months-586244
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Arabian Business. (2007, May 2). Bahrain Financial Harbour Opens for Business. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/interviews/interviews-banking-finance/bahrain-financial-harbour-opens-for-business-145514
Arabian Business. (2015, March 20). Bahrain Financial Harbour appoints second CEO in months. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/banking-finance/bahrain-financial-harbour-appoints-second-ceo-in-months-586244
Arabian Business. (2019, June 29). Bahrain’s GFH launches sales at Harbour Row residential project. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/interviews/property/property-news/422250-bahrains-gfh-launches-sales-at-harbour-row-residential-project
Gulf Finance House sells stake in Bahrain Financial Harbour | MEED. (n.d.). MEED. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.meed.com/gulf-finance-house-sells-stake-in-bahrain-financial-harbour/
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Arabian Business. (2007, May 2). Bahrain Financial Harbour Opens for Business. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/interviews/interviews-banking-finance/bahrain-financial-harbour-opens-for-business-145514
Arabian Business. (2019, June 29). Bahrain’s GFH launches sales at Harbour Row residential project. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/interviews/property/property-news/422250-bahrains-gfh-launches-sales-at-harbour-row-residential-project
Arabian Business. (2015, March 20). Bahrain Financial Harbour appoints second CEO in months. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/banking-finance/bahrain-financial-harbour-appoints-second-ceo-in-months-586244
Bahrain Financial Harbour Master Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2024, from http://www.halcrow-sh.com/?p=414
Bahrain Financial Harbour – GFH Financial Group. (2022, October 6). GFH Financial Group. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://gfh.com/portfolio/bahrain-financial-harbour/
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C., Janahi, A., Al Hamad Construction & Development Company, & Ahmed Mansour Al Aali Co. (2006). WATERFRONT & MARINA. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT32-04.pdf

Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH)

Manama, Bahrain

2004 - Ongoing

Project Description

Project Link, Endnotes and References

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