First Bahrain reappoints BWS as consultants

Bahrain, January 10, 2011

First Bahrain, a regional real estate developer, has reappointed Baker Wilkins and Smith (BWS) Middle East as cost consultants for the second phase for the second phase of its flagship warehousing and logistics project, Majaal.


The signing follows First Bahrain’s significant progress in the leasing of Phase I of Bahrain’s first small to medium enterprises (SME) focused industrial development, said a company statement.


The move to reappoint BWS Middle East comes as part of First Bahrain’s proactive approach to cost management and quality control, measures that have resulted in the company maintaining its strong financial position despite the global economic downturn.


As cost consultants for Majaal Phase II, BWS Middle East will provide cost management services including preliminary cost advice, life cycle costing, ‘value for money’ advice on designs and construction approaches through strict cost control and cost planning.


Amin Al Arrayed, general manager of First Bahrain and MD of Majaal Warehousing Company, commented: First Bahrain and BWS Middle East share a strong and long-standing relationship. They have provided high standards of cost management services and we appreciate the value they have brought to the success of Majaal’s Phase I.'


'Since its commencement, Majaal has made qualitative and quantitative strides in both its business and size and has positioned itself as a leading logistics provider for the Kingdom’s industrial SME sector,' he explained.


'As we move into Phase II we will continue to build on our strong business model which takes us one more step closer to being the leading provider of value added logistics solutions in the region,' he added.


BWS Middle East, the Bahrain branch of the UK-headquartered BWS Group, has been operating in the Gulf region for over 30 years providing cost and project management services and advice on planning and control of expenditure in the construction industry.


Peter Makepeace, general manager of BWS Middle East, said the company was delighted to be retained as cost consultants for the second phase of Majaal.


'As one of the key projects of its kind in Bahrain, we see this as a core opportunity for BWS to harness its expertise in this sector. Since our establishment in Bahrain in 1972, we have provided professional quantity surveying, cost consultancy and project management services to our many clients throughout the Gulf region,' he added.


Opened in 2009 at the Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW) within the Salman Industrial City, First Bahrain’s Majaal warehouse development presently offers 130,000 sq ft of secure, flexible and cost effective industrial work space.


Majaal’s Phase II will more than double the leasable space on offer, increasing the size of the development to over 280,000 sq ft of built up area.

The new facilities will offer higher ceilings for increased storage capacity and raised flooring for easy on and off load of large trucks.