The opening of the Durrat Al Bahrain Aqua Park has been delayed by construction problems.

The BD6 million ($15.9 million) park was expected to open in time for the two-month Bahrain Summer Festival, which began last month. However, it will now be September before it is ready, says park manager Sim Chookheng.

"We have more than 350 builders and labourers working around the clock," he said.

"The foundation work has been completed. We are putting the finishing touches on all 13 rides ... and have begun our landscaping project.

"Even after everything has been installed, we will conduct a series of test runs to ensure that the equipment is operating safely."

The park, which has been designed by Canadian-based White Water, is being built by Bahrain-based Fast Contracting Company.

The 100,000-sq-m facility is the first of many attractions being planned for the 20-sq-km mega resort being built on the southern tip of the island, about 35km south of the Askar Roundabout.

The BD300 million resort is being financed by Saudi-based Dallah Al Baraka Group. The park will employ more than 100 full-time people, most of whom will be Bahrainis.

The park has already received an initial Class A rating from the US-based World Water Park Association (WWPA) and can accommodate about 5,000 people.