Crystal Lagoons has been awarded a contract to create two artificial lagoons for Madaar Development’s $400m Azha resort in Ain Sokhna, Egypt.
Occupying a total area of 16.6ha – spanning 6.4ha and 10.2ha, respectively – the lagoons are scheduled to complete before the end of 2018.
Crystal Lagoons’ installations will complement the 160ha development’s line-up of five-star hotels, village residences, and serviced apartments. Azha will also boast a golf course and clubhouse, retail outlets, community centers, a beach clubs, sports facilities, and parks.
The lagoons will form the centerpiece of the resort, which is on course to become fully operational by 2020.
Commenting on the contract win, Carlos Salas, Crystal Lagoons’ regional director for the Middle East, said: “We are delighted to be working with Madaar Development to bring the idyllic lifestyle of the beach to Azha.
“We’ve witnessed incredible growth in Egypt in the last two years. The country is now our fifth largest market, with several projects in the pipeline to increase our presence further.
“We are not only adding to the aesthetic appeal of a destination, but providing practical recreational and leisure facilities – such as paddle boarding, sailing, and kayaking – at low construction and maintenance costs. [This] adds real value to the resort,” he noted.
The Azha announcement marks Crystal Lagoons’ 11th project in Egypt. The company holds Guinness World Records for the world’s two largest artificial lagoons, one of which is located in the country’s Sharm El Sheik resort.
“We have developed our patented technology and a proven business model to add significant value to a development at a very low cost, and provide substantial ROI [returns on investment] for the developer,” said Salas.
“Globally, we are providing a viable, affordable long-term solution, despite climate and geographical challenges. The proposition is particularly apt considering we can use any kind of water, including brackish from underground aquifers, eliminating the need to consume valuable freshwater resources – something particularly pertinent to our partners in the Middle East,” he concluded.
Gulf Construction
14 February
