Photo: Courtesy Al Hamad Construction and Development Company

COWI goes High-Rise in Bahrain 

COWI Almoayed Gulf have been appointed for a number of prestigious high-rise projects in Bahrain. The projects include two 53-storey twin towers, a 12-storey Harbour House, and a seven-storey Financial Mall complex.

The skyline of Bahrain is changing. COWI Almoayed Gulf have been appointed for a number of prestigious high-rise projects in Bahrain.

In addition to structural design review and structural supervision of Phase I of the Bahrain Financial Harbour, the work includes the structural design and supervision of Abraj Al Lulu (Pearl of the Gulf), as well as the structural design of the BIIC building.

The centre of Bahrain  

The financial Mall and the BIIC building form part of the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

At the centre of Bahrain Financial Harbour, the Bahrain Financial Centre when completed will comprise of two 53-storey towers, a 12-storey Harbour House and a seven-storey Financial Mall complex.

The complex will house the Bahrain stock exchange within the Mall and will be complemented by extensive car parking facilities.

Gateway to Bahrain

The historic landmark of Bab Al Bahrain - or Gateway to Bahrain - links the traditional trading history of Bahrain’s Souq with the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

From the gateway of Bab Al Bahrain an avenue connects the “old” Bahrain to the “new”, welcoming modern traders into the financial heart of Bahrain to take part in the region's prosperity.
Photo: Courtesy AL Hamad Construction and Development Company


The Bahrain Financial Harbour Development project was designed by Ahmed Janahi Architects whose vision has largely spurred Bahrain to open the floodgate for the development of Bahrain to face the challenges of the 21st century.

The Financial Centre is the first phase of the Bahrain Financial Harbour Development project.

Two high-rise towers

The first phase of the project comprising of the two high-rise towers, the financial mall complex and the harbour house was procured on a design and build basis.

Al-Hamad Construction, a Sharjah based construction company won the contract with a contract value of approximately USD 193 million, out of the total USD 1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour project. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by March 2007.

Craig Oldfield, COWI Almoayed Gulf, senior project manager for the structural works, says:

"There is a strong likelihood that this may finish earlier with the structure for the 53-storey, 223 m high towers expected to be topped out by the middle of January 2006."

Abraj Al Lulu residential project


As a result of the their work on the Bahrain Financial Harbour project, COWI Almoayed Gulf were requested to prepare the structural design and the structural supervision of the prestigious Abraj Al Lulu residential project, developed by the Dadabai Corporation.

Completed by the end of 2007

The residential project, located in the heart of Manama near the landmark Pearl Roundabout, will comprise of three multi-storey residential towers, i.e. two 47-storey towers and one 38-storey tower.

The towers will house car parking facilities as well as leisure facilities. The total value of the development is approximately USD 220 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com
Published: 29.11.2005

A number of firsts for Bahrain  
Construction is currently at around level 38, with a cycle time of approximately five-six floors being completed per month.

COWI Almoayed Gulf’s project work commenced in March 2004, with scope of work including structural design review of the contractor’s design and on site supervision of the structural works.

The works have introduced a number of firsts for Bahrain, with the introduction of post-tensioned concrete, both using conventional high strength steel wire strands and large - 76 mm diameter - high strength post-tensioned rods providing the tension resistance for transfer beams transferring column loads from 50 floors, multiple slip forming on a single site, large diameter, deep piles - 1500 mm diameter, up to 32 m deep - and the dynamic testing of these large diameter piles.