New market has shopkeepers, customers smiling

Traders and shoppers have welcomed the new-look Karama Market which opened to the public three months ago. Most of the shops have moved from the old market and workers say sales have increased by 25 per cent with larger and cleaner premises helping to attract customers.

Shaju Navas, a 32-year-old assistant at the Rich and Fresh fruit and vegetable shop, said, "In the previous market, the premises were old, so no matter how much you cleaned, it tended to look a little shabby.

"The new market is bright and clean and there is more room which means you can stock more. We get customers of all nationalities including Arab, Asian and Western with many coming from Satwa and Jumeirah, as well as those from Karama. "Consequently, sales have gone up by nearly 25 per cent, which is excellent for such a short period of time."

Salim Palliyayil, the 40-year-old manager of Jumaiah Mubarak Trading Establishment, said, "In the old market there was an uneven distribution of fish, meat and vegetable shops. "Most of the fish and meat shops were to one side and the vegetable outlets on the other side. Customers mostly came for the fish, so after buying they would look around and see only the few vegetable shops located nearby.

These shops, therefore, got most of the business and other vegetable outlets further only got spillover customers. "Now the shops are arranged so customers walk in and see all the stores around which gives everybody an equal chance."