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Home›The Journal›Bahrain Property Investment at Amwaj

The Journal · Bahrain

Bahrain Property Investment: A Meliá Hotel and Branded Residences for Amwaj, Among $3.89 Billion in Golden Licenses

Bahrain property investment has a new waterfront name to follow. At Gateway Gulf 2026 in Manama on November 1 and 2, Bahrain awarded Golden Licenses to four projects worth $3.89 billion, among them a Meliá five-star hotel and Meliá-branded residences on the Amwaj Islands.

At a glance

Bahrain Property Investment at Amwaj at a glance

Event
Gateway Gulf 2026, November 1 and 2, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
Golden Licenses
Four projects worth $3.89 billion
Amwaj
A five-star hotel and Meliá-branded residences, with Infracorp
Also licensed
DHL, Capital A and Digital City Bahrain

Bahrain property investment

Bahrain property investment at Gateway Gulf 2026

Bahrain property investment received a welcome signal this weekend. Gateway Gulf 2026, the invitation-only investment forum hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board, met on November 1 and 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay in Manama, bringing together more than 200 ministers, senior officials, chief executives and investors from around the world. Its fourth edition closed with the award of Golden Licenses to four new projects with a combined value of $3.89 billion.

The Golden License program, introduced in 2023, recognizes the investments the kingdom considers most significant. Bahrain's Finance and National Economy Minister told the forum that the event was expected to bring more than 110 investment announcements worth over $20 billion in all.

Meliá and Infracorp

Meliá and Infracorp on the Amwaj Islands

For travelers and buyers, the headline is on the water. Meliá Hotels International and Infracorp will develop a waterfront project on the Amwaj Islands, the man-made islands off Muharraq, combining a five-star hotel with Meliá-branded residences. The Golden License places the Amwaj project among the kingdom's priority investments.

No room count, residence count or opening date has been given yet, and we will report the details as they are published. What is already clear is the setting: Amwaj is a residential and leisure community of marinas, lagoons and beaches, a short drive from Bahrain International Airport, and a five-star hotel with branded homes would add a new level of hospitality to the islands. Branded residences, homes designed and serviced by a hotel brand, have become one of the most sought-after forms of Luxury Real Estate in the Gulf, and our guide to branded residences in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh explains how they work.

Four Golden License projects

The four Golden License projects

Meliá with Infracorp

A waterfront development on the Amwaj Islands with a five-star hotel and Meliá-branded residences.

DHL

Its first and only regional aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul center, at Bahrain International Airport.

Capital A

The parent of AirAsia brings three aviation ventures: new connections to the Far East and Europe, air cargo and aircraft maintenance.

Digital City Bahrain

A new hub for technology, innovation and education.

Why Bahrain is worth

Why Bahrain is worth a closer look

Bahrain is the Gulf's most compact market: a short causeway drive from Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, with freehold areas open to foreign buyers and a residency route linked to property. Our Bahrain property and golden residency guide sets out the rules and indicative prices, and our page on Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 explains the national plan behind projects like these.

The new aviation investments matter for visitors too. Capital A plans to bring AirAsia, its logistics arm Teleport and Asia Digital Engineering to Bahrain, adding passenger flights, air cargo capacity and aircraft maintenance, while DHL's new maintenance center will support its growing fleet from the kingdom. More connections to Asia and Europe make Bahrain easier to reach. If you visit to look at property, our guide to Manama's luxury hotels will help you choose where to stay, and our Bahrain travel guide covers the island's heritage, dining and the Grand Prix.

These are announced projects and reported figures, not investment advice. Speak to a licensed adviser before you buy.

Questions readers ask

What was announced for Amwaj at Gateway Gulf 2026?

A Golden License for a waterfront project by Meliá and Infracorp with a five-star hotel and Meliá-branded residences.

How much were the Golden License projects worth?

The four projects awarded Golden Licenses at Gateway Gulf 2026 have a combined value of $3.89 billion.

When will the Amwaj hotel open?

No opening date has been announced yet.

Sources

Checked on 11/02/2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.