Work on the new Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) in Sakhir is moving at a steady pace, with 30% of the project already completed, it has been announced.

Located next to the Bahrain International Circuit, the project features exhibition halls and conference rooms fitted with the latest technology to host major shows and celebrations, as well as facilities to broker and facilitate trade deals and transactions.

The 149,000sqm facility includes 10 exhibition halls covering a total area of 95,000sqm. A 4,500sqm conference hall with attached stores and independent entrances and exits is also part of the project. It will also feature two VIP majlis to receive high-level visitors, in addition to control rooms, internal roads, services and parking for 1,600 cars, of which about 130 parking spaces will be reserved for VIPs.

The foundation stone for the $221 million megaproject was laid by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Prime Minister, in January last year.

Work on the project is in full swing, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2022, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani said, following an inspection tour of the BIECC facility and a briefing on the latest developments in implementing the project.

Al Zayani is also the Board Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA). He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning for its supervisory role supporting the implementation of the strategic project.

The minister affirmed that the project is the biggest one carried out by BTEA and will provide an exemplary venue to host international events.

The centre will further attract the organising companies of exhibitions and conferences to hold their international events in it, said Al Zayani.

This will further promote the tourism sector in the kingdom so as to diversify revenues and achieve the aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he concluded.