Bahrain: GFH Exits Lost Paradise Waterpark in $60 Mn Deal

A general view of Manama, Bahrain. (AFP)
A general view of Manama, Bahrain. (AFP)
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Bahrain: GFH Exits Lost Paradise Waterpark in $60 Mn Deal

A general view of Manama, Bahrain. (AFP)
A general view of Manama, Bahrain. (AFP)

The GFH Financial Group announced Saturday its successful exit from the Lost Paradise of Dilmun waterpark in a deal valued at $60 million.

The waterpark is one of the key components of al-Areen development project, located south of Bahrain near the Formula One race track, with a township spreading over two million square meters.

It is one of the largest standalone waterparks in the Middle East and the largest in Bahrain.

It accommodates over 170,000 people annually and features 18 of the fastest and most exciting slides, fountains and pools in the Kingdom catering to all ages.

“We are pleased with achieving another exit in our real estate portfolio,” said CEO of GFH Hisham al-Rayes.

“This has and remains a key focus for GFH in which we enhance the value of our real estate assets and exit to channel proceeds into other investment classes and yielding assets.”

“Nevertheless,” he added, “due to the importance of this asset to our Areen development, we have retained the right to operate and manage the waterpark over the next five years.”

“We expect the transaction to reflect with good profitability to GFH during the remaining financial period of the year,” Rayes explained.



Pakistan Set to Receive $20 Billion Loan From World Bank

FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
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Pakistan Set to Receive $20 Billion Loan From World Bank

FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
FILE PHOTO-People wait for their turn to buy low-priced bun-kabab from a shop in Karachi, Pakistan June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Pakistan is set to receive a loan of $20 billion from the World Bank over the next 10 years, aimed at improving the country’s key sectors, sources told Geo News on Saturday.

According to sources in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the loan will be part of the World Bank's support under the Country Partnership Framework 2025-35, which focuses on sustainable economic development.

The loan is expected to be approved by the WB's Board of Directors on January 14. Once approved, Martin Raiser, the lender's Vice President, is expected to visit Islamabad to discuss the loan program and its implementation.

In addition to the $20 billion, two subsidiary entities of the World Bank will assist Pakistan in securing another $20 billion in private loans.

This would bring the total financial package to $40 billion, which will be allocated towards infrastructure development, climate resilience projects, and improving social services.

Meanwhile, The News newspaper reported that the government, in its bid to achieve an economic revival, has launched the National Economic Transformation Plan which aims to achieve ambitious economic targets, including doubling GDP growth and halving poverty over a five-year period.

The plan envisages attracting $29 billion anticipated investment under the supervision of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) including $10 billion from the UAE, $5 billion from Saudi Arabia, $2 billion from Qatar, $2 billion from Azerbaijan, and $10 billion from Kuwait.

Meanwhile, the gross domestic product (GDP) target has been set at 6% of the GDP till the Fiscal Year 2028-29 whereas the per capita income in dollar terms is projected to go up to $2,405 from $1,680.