Bahrain is set to start work on the new King Abdullah Medical City development in June of next year, reported Arabian Business on Sunday.

The $1 bn project will span 1 million square meters on Bahrain’s east coast, aiming to include  internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology – with sub-specialty.

The new Medical City is set to employ over 700 medical staff upon completion. The first phase includes a 288-bed hospital, operated by the Arabian Gulf University and up for completion at the end of 2019. While phase one will also include an outpatient clinic, a morgue and educational areas, phase two is set to add another 500 beds and more clinic facilities.