Dubai: Dubai Marina promenade retailers are up in arms over hefty leases on outdoor areas by Emaar.
A Jordanian restaurant owner on the western side of the promenade was shocked when asked to pay Dh675,000 per annum for a 3,000 square foot outdoor space in front. “The annual rent for my restaurant is only Dh250,000 per annum. It is insane to charge me such a huge amount just to use the outdoor space.
“Moreover, the lease I signed with the landlord clearly includes rent for the outdoor area. It is unfair Emaar is charging me this hefty amount in the last moment. If Emaar wants to reach a settlement they have to be reasonable,” the frustrated tenant said.
Another seafood restaurant was slapped with an extra Dh196,000 charge per annum for using the outdoor space in front of his restaurant. “I’m already paying Dh700,000 per annum for my restaurant. Moreover, I have been renting on the promenade for the last four years. Why is Emaar asking us now to pay this extra amount?” he said.
The owner of a Lebanese–Italian restaurant said he will not pay the additional charge. “It is sheer greediness on the part of Emaar. I have been a tenant on the promenade for over four years. We have never been asked to pay anything other than the annual rent to our landlord. Why is this happening now?”
‘Incident report’
Some restaurateurs told XPRESS that in January, Dubai Municipality handed them an “incident report” asking them to move all chairs and tables away from their outdoor areas. “The municipality official told us we have to get a no-objection certificate from Emaar before putting anything outside.”
Retailers along the promenade also complained of losing customers due to construction work on the walkway. An Emaar notice instructs pedestrians not to walk on the walkway. “How are we supposed to get customers? My business has been dropping and I had to lay off six of my staff in the last four months,” the Jordanian restaurant owner said.
No comment was immediately available from Emaar.
