Dh30m vegetable market to open in Sharjah tomorrow

Located in the Industrial Area No 5, one kilometre away from the city centre, the new market is spread over an area of 100,000 square kilometres, said Engineer Ahmed Fikri, Director-General of Sharjah Municipality.

Addressing a Press conference at the municipality yesterday, in the presence of representatives of the Sharjah Economic Development Department, Sharjah Customs and Ports, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representative of the vegetable and fruits traders, Mr Fikri said that the new market will be one of the economic landmarks of the emirate as it would service both consumers and traders. He said that it will effectively revive the trade and commerce movement in the emirate.

The new market will not, however, replace the existing vegetable and fruits market located near the Islamic Market, which will remain open to customers.

"The old market is a retail market and will be kept as it is and might even be expanded in the future," Mr Fikri said, disclosing the government's plan to build a new fish and meat market. The location of the fish and meat market is currently under study since the construction will only start next year," he said, pointing to the growing need for more markets due to the expansion of the city and the number of residents.

A special committee was formed to run the market comprising representatives from the municipality, the economic development department, the customs among other bodies. According to Mr Fikri, the committee will not interfere in the prices of vegetable and fruits. "We believe in the open market policy and the demand and supply rules," he said.

The location of the market was selected to be close to the centre of the city and because of its accessibility from all directions, particularly by the refrigerated containers and trucks carrying vegetable and coming to Sharjah via the Emirates Road."

Mr Fikri disclosed that to further facilitate the access to the market and avoid any traffic congestions, the municipality has embarked on a new double carriageway project passing by the new wholesale market and extending from King Abdul Aziz Road via Green Belt Road to Wasit Road and from there linked to Emirates Road.

"We are in the stage of removing some constructions coming in the way of the new road such as a petrol station among others. The three-lane road on each side will be commissioned in a month's time and will be completed in four months," Mr Fikri said. The committee in charge of the market has coordinated with the Traffic Department to fix certain hours for the entry and exit of the containers and trucks carrying stuff to the market.

Opening to the public tomorrow, the market comprises five main buildings, two of them are of two-stories (ground and Mezzanine floor) with the ground floor divided into outlets each of 174 square metres, including refrigerating area, front display area and rear service area for loading and unloading. The mezzanine floor is divided into offices. Both buildings were allocated for shops only.

According to Mr Fikri, the market, which will also sell on retail basis, has 40 shops that were all leased out to traders, in addition to housing 21 unloading areas which were also taken up by traders. "We have an arrangement with a private labour supply company that will provide the market with 200 porters to help customers carrying their purchases."

The third building is constructed on an area of 3,078 square metres with special open spaces covered with shades, containing 129 display areas for retail business. The fourth building is also designed to suit retail business, built on an area of 3,078 square metres as well, assigned for wholesale and retail business for local and Iranian imported goods. The fifth building is constructed on an area of 5,800 square metres, assigned only to sell imported goods brought by refrigerated vehicles.

The market comprises water reservoirs, electricity transformers, public toilets and units for washing vegetable and fruits.