Dubai Municipality yesterday opened the Dh500,000 facility for cutting fish at the Deira fish market. The new hall, which is part of a Dh2 million renovation project for the market, covers 2000 square feet.

Humaid Saeed Al Marri, Director of the Markets and Abattoir Department, said: "The new area, with modern and hygienic facilities, can accommodate 88 workers and has waiting areas for the customers."

"Before, it was very crowded and they sat on the ground and cut the fish on small wooden tables in rather unhygienic conditions. They placed their feet on the fish and the refuse were left there, leaving a bad smell. Customers stood around them. There was no proper system for getting the fish cut.

"We have now installed 24 big stainless tables topped with Teflon boards. Each can accommodate four workers.

"The building also has very hygienic specifications such as special flooring and walls with marble tiles. There is also a special area to wash the fish.

"The system of cutting fish also has been revised as we have employed two supervisors for each row of tables, who will weigh the fish brought by the customers and give them cards. The customers can sit in waiting area, and there are special section for ladies."

Al Marri explained that customers will be called after the fish is cut. Previously, they used to fight to get someone to cut their fish first.

He said that the development work at the market started last year, and is being completed in phases. The old fish cutting area is being reorganised as a sale area for dried and salted fish.

"The project also includes expansion of the fish sale area by adding 52 shopkeeper's benches, a special chilled area to store meat, and an auction area.

"A fish museum is also being set up as part of this project. The museum will help educate the shoppers and tourists about the types of fish available in the Arabian Gulf, the history of the fishing profession in the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, and types of fishing boats and equipment used by the fishermen," he explained.

"Apart from the city's residents, nearly 1,000 tourists, mainly from Europe, visit the market every month.

"Booklets and posters on fish in the Arabian Gulf will be distributed to the customers, tourists, students and shopkeepers."

The parking area was also being refurbished to accommodate more vehicles.

He said the market would have 21 new stalls for chicken and meat, apart from additional space for fruit sales, a refrigerated meat storage area for transporting the meat without being exposed to heat, and sea view restaurants, in the future phases of the project.