Bahrain Prepares PPP Tender for Northern Road Project

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Manama: Bahrain’s Ministry of Works is preparing to appoint a qualified transaction advisor to support the development of the Northern Bahrain Road Project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, as part of efforts to accelerate investment and strengthen infrastructure along the Kingdom’s northern coastline.

The proposed project will extend from the Northern Manama Bridge interchange in Bahrain Bay in the east, passing through Suhailah Island in the west, and continuing to the King Fahd Causeway. The route is expected to enhance connectivity between key development and strategic projects, while supporting traffic flow and commercial movement across the Kingdom.

The Northern Bahrain Road aims to meet the needs of a comprehensive package of development and housing projects, including Nuranah, Seef Marina, North Star, and Nakheel District. The project focuses on delivering high-quality, efficient infrastructure that supports sustainable economic growth and addresses the requirements of all stakeholders, particularly developments located along the strategically important northern coast.

In this context, the Ministry of Works is set to launch a tender next week to appoint a specialist consultant to provide integrated financial, technical, and legal advisory services for the project, which will be implemented through the PPP framework.

The appointed advisor is expected to prepare a comprehensive study covering project structuring, identification of required expertise, support in preparing and issuing final tenders, and completion of related financial procedures.

According to tender documents, the consulting firm must demonstrate proven experience in providing financial, technical, and legal advisory services for at least three completed international PPP projects over the past 15 years. Each project must have a minimum value of USD 250 million, with at least one involving a toll road or bridge. The ministry also requires experience in projects that included the preparation of specialised legislation and regulatory frameworks related to road infrastructure.

The Northern Bahrain Road Project is estimated to span approximately 29.5 kilometres. Its first phase will include two lanes in each direction, with a second and final phase expanding the road to four lanes in each direction to accommodate rapid urban growth, enhance road network efficiency, and provide modern transport corridors along Bahrain’s northern perimeter.