Transport
From The Report: Bahrain 2018
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Targeting improvements in domestic infrastructure as well as expanding the links between the kingdom, the rest of the Gulf region and further afield, Bahrain is investing heavily in its transport networks. Among the major ongoing developments is the Airport Modernisation Programme, launched in 2015 to cater for rising air traffic, with the aim of turning Bahrain International Airport into one of the key regional hubs for tourism and services. Plans to construct a second causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are also on the agenda, while the ambitious Gulf Railway, a network that would run through all six Gulf nations, has been pushed back and is now likely to move forward in 2021. Proposals to create a light rail system in Bahrain are also in the works, albeit slowly, while roads and bridges are under construction.

This chapter contains an interview with Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Network news: Strong investment in the sector can drive economic growth
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Targeting improvements in domestic infrastructure as well as expanding the links between the kingdom, the rest of the Gulf region and further afield, Bahrain is investing heavily in its transport networks. Among the major ongoing developments is the Airport Modernisation Programme, launched in 2016 to cater for rising air traffic and with the aim of turning Bahrain International Airport into one of the key regional hubs for tourism and services. Plans to construct a second causeway linking…

Interview

A climb in capacity: Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company, on the Bahrain International Airport expansion project
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Interview:Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah How would you assess the development of the initiatives currently taking place at the airport? MOHAMED YOUSIF AL BINFALAH: The airport expansion project began in 2014 with the appointment of the design consultant and the project manager consultant. Since then we have made significant progress, beginning with clearing the site of all interfering underground services. The airport has quite a small platform, so day-to-day operations combined with the development…

Analysis

Paving the way: The creation of a more modern network is under way
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Substantial investment in the road network is under way in Bahrain. The standout project is the upcoming King Hamad Causeway, which will provide an additional link to Saudi Arabia, and is set to be built on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. This international link is complemented by a large number of strategic domestic road projects, either planned or under development, that are aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity between different parts of Bahrain. In a country…

Analysis

Planes, trains and automobiles: A range of projects are set to boost regional connectivity
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In recent years there has been a strong push among Gulf nations to improve regional connectivity, with the proposed Gulf Railway – which will ultimately link Kuwait City with Muscat via Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE – perhaps the most ambitious of the projects under development. However, it is by no means alone, with substantial investment in far-reaching road networks also under way. In a March 2017 report, research firm BNC Networks pointed to the high number of transport projects…