Market shifting 'will not spark vegetable price rise'

Shifting of shops from Hamriya to the new market in Al Aweer will not spark sharp rise in prices of fruits and vegetables.

So said traders who will relocate their shops to the new one-million square metre Central Fruit and Vegetable Market on Emirates Road on July 3.

The market, deemed to be the biggest in the Gulf, is expected to be the hub of fruit and vegetable business in the region, offering the most advanced facilities to both wholesale traders and retail customers.

A. Redha Mansouri, general manager of Fresh Fruit Co. and representative of the Traders Committee at the Fruit and Vegetable Market, said: "There would be minimal impact on the prices of fruits and vegetables. With the bigger new facility, business will improve further. We not only cater to the needs of residents in Dubai and the other emirates but also meet demand from neighbouring countries. Some 40 per cent of the fruit and vegetables imported into Dubai is re-exported to neighbouring countries."

Traders in Hamriya are set to vacate the existing market in Hamriya on July 2 and shift to the new location the same day.

He recommended that the municipality build sports facilities, a theatre and conference facilities at the new location for traders and workers.

However, traders said it will take a few months for business to pick up at the new location.

Residents, meanwhile, have complained that the place is too far away from the city and that it will be difficult to get there for daily purchases.

A Dubai Municipality official said public transport has already been introduced from various parts of the city to the market. In addition, there will also be an internal public transport facility to cover the 11-kilometre road network within the market.

Mohammed Abdul Karim Julfar, assistant director-general for financial affairs and properties, said that the new market, four times bigger than the Hamriya market, has enough facilities to accommodate an increased number of traders and customers.

"Shifting of the fruit and vegetable market will help reduce traffic congestion in Hamriya area," he noted.

Residents of Deira area will, however, benefit from another small fruit and vegetable market adjacent to the fish market on the Deira side of the Shindagha tunnel. "It will be upgraded with a budget of Dh 3 million to facilitate customers," he said. Julfar said the location of the new market is most suitable for inter-state transportation and re-export of fruit and vegetables.

"The idea of shifting the market from Hamriya is almost 30 years old.

"The location at Hamriya beach was not suitable anymore for the vegetable market as the area was placed under replanning for a new tourism and commercial district spanning from the Hyatt Regency to Hamriya Port."

He said they had discussed many options for the new location, the Al Warsan area was finalised after the Emirates Road opened on November 5, 2000.

Engineer Abdul Rahman Al Sharid, head of the panel for market shifting, said: "Traders will not be allowed to do business in the old area as it will be shut down completely. They have been given ample time for moving their shops to the new place. We waited until all the facilities were ready before asking them to shift."

FACILITIES

One-stop centre

• The new fruit and vegetable market at Al Aweer area on Emirates Road will open on July 3.

• The existing Hamriya market, built in 1977, will be closed for business on July 2.

• Public transport introduced from various parts of the city to the market.

• Internal public transport facility will cover the 11-kilometre road network within the market.

• The market is designed to meet the requirements of the emirate's vegetable and fruit trade until the year 2012.