Man Made Luxury Islands - Reef Island in Bahrain (GALLERY)

The Reef Island is a man-made paradise in Bahrain which will include more than 1,300 luxury homes.

The 6.23 million square foot (579 thousand square meters) island, which is currently being built, is estimated to cost US$1.2 billion. The first phase is expected to be complete by 2009, the second by 2010.

The island previously in its place was Lulu Island, but the relaunched version will be far more opulent and have amenities like a shopping mall, exhibition center, marina, yacht club and a ton of green space which will compliment a beautiful lagoon. There will be only one high rise in the Lulu Tourism Company’s project, the other towers no taller than 13 floors.

“Lying off the shores of Manama, Reef Island will include a total of 1,217 apartments among 39 residential buildings, 65 villas, 49 chalets and a 250-room 5-star hotel & spa,” the Reef Island site details.

“We have renamed the project Reef Island in order to differentiate it from several other projects which also go by the name Lulu,” said Robert Mouawad, Chairman of Lulu Tourism Company. “We believe that the new brand emphasizes both the development’s uniqueness and beauty,” he continued. “Reef Island will have a central location, 15 minutes from the airport, 5 minutes from the business district, and just a few minutes from Financial Harbor and central Manama. Yet due to its unique spacious designs it provides an environment as if you are living outside the city. We plan to provide a financing scheme shortly to facilitate the purchase of apartments.”