The US $3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH), a unique realty development concept, is a financial services complex featuring commercial, retail, leisure and residential features. Covering an area of 370,000 square metres of prime seafront property on the Manama Corniche, its business model and product mix have evoked considerable interest world-wide, with developers referring to it as the Canary Wharf of the Middle East. It is, indeed, reinforcing the reputation of the Kingdom of Bahrain as the financial hub of the region, catering to the financial world in the true spirit of globalisation.
BFH has successfully addressed the crucial issue of congestion in the existing financial district of Manama, Bahrain’s capital. Its streamlined facilities and comfortable work environment (based on an integrated cluster model and cutting-edge systems) make it one of the most secure, reliable and business-friendly facilities in Bahrain and an extremely attractive destination for financial organisations keen on launching their operations within the GCC as well as the wider Middle East region.  
BFH’s emphasis on quality and its reasonable price valuation make it a value-added investment proposition; with the option to lease space or purchase land (both commercial and residential plots are available), it provides an edge against its competitors and ensures that its tenants are completely satisfied with their choice of location.  
BFH’s technology blueprint also ensures that it will play a significant role in determining future developments in Bahrain. It incorporates four key infrastructural elements: security systems, communication systems, building management systems and air-conditioning systems. The buildings are designed to cater to the needs of local, regional and international businesses, featuring technologically advanced systems designed in compliance with international standards to minimise energy consumption, ensure optimum security and meet all the requirements of transnational financial institutions, BFH incorporates office, residential, retail, leisure and dining facilities, with major projects in the development including the Financial Centre, Commercial West, Commercial East, Harbour Row, Harbour House, Hotel, Residential South, Diamond Tower, Residential North and Dhow Harbour. These projects encompass 28 plots of land that cover over 1.635 million sq m of built area.
The fully functional Financial Centre, which is Phase I of the project and central to the development, features two iconic, 53-storey twin Harbour Towers and the Harbour Mall. The development of Phase II of the project, Villamar @ the Harbour, which is a key residential component, is also well under way.
The Harbour Towers are Bahrain’s tallest office towers and many renowned institutions have already commenced operations from within its premises, while others have committed to take up occupancy in the near future. The Bahrain Stock Exchange is currently relocating to the development.
The Harbour Mall accommodates a range of retailers, brokerage and trading firms, banking units, exclusive members clubs and leisure outlets, including cafes and restaurants. It is already being described as Bahrain’s premier waterfront and luxury shopping destination.
BFH is truly a visionary development that reflects the new face of Bahrain, a young and vibrant Bahrain that is stepping into the forefront of the global stage. This is a Bahrain that is proud of its heritage and culture, its tradition as a seafaring nation with a long history of trade and finance, the crossroads of commerce. It is a Bahrain that is thrusting into modernity in the true spirit of globalisation. BFH reflects this mix of the contemporary and the traditional, its world-class, fully integrated master-planned environment retaining the Bahraini ethos and celebrating its spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. BFH reflects the typical Bahraini milieu, yet has the level of sophistication and class to attract global financial and business giants to its precincts.
This young nation of young people has embarked on an exciting journey and BFH is in the vanguard, increasing employment opportunities in the Kingdom and creating jobs in specialised fields like finance, banking, insurance, trading, retail, leisure and entertainment. It is catalysing growth in the finance, tourism and real estate sectors, setting new benchmarks of excellence and contributing both directly and indirectly to GDP growth by encouraging economic activity and investment.
In a clear validation of its dynamism and rapid emergence as a premier financial district, BFH has been conferred several awards and honours, including “Best Commercial Development” in the MENA region at the Arabian Property Awards 2008 and ‘Best Commercial Development in Bahrain’ for 2006 at the IREF-ME 2006 Excellence in Real Estate Awards. Such honours recognise its role in creating a world class financial city and self-contained community, thereby reinforcing Bahrain’s standing as the financial capital of the Middle East.