Lagoon Residential And RecreationalDevelopments Case Study 2:Al Khiran Pearl City, Kuwait

Feasibility studies for sea city development on fifteen potential sites along the Kuwait coastline were carried out from 1987 to 1989. The conclusion of these studies was that six sites were suitable for major development of waterside cities, involving large scale excavation, dredging and reclamation works. A paper by Ealey, Holmes and Clark, which described the feasibility studies, was presented to the International Conference on Marinas at Southampton in 1989. Work commenced on planning and environmental impact assessment for one of the six sites, at Shuwaikh in Kuwait City. This work was halted by the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. After the liberation of Kuwait, the authorities in Kuwait were reluctant to sanction the development at Shuwaikh, but Council of Ministers approval was obtained for four of the sites, one being at Al Khiran. Work was commenced on a Master Plan for the Al Khiran site in 1994, but this was stopped later that year, due to lack of favourable support from the Authorities. Work commenced again on planning in 1997, and a new Master Plan was prepared. This new Master Plan has been presented to the Municipal Authorities for approval.