Dubai Municipality has finalised the construction of a new central wholesale vegetable, fruit Market in Al Awir at a cost of Dh 152.57 million.

The new market in Al Awir will replace the existing one at Al Hamriya, said Khalifa Hareb, Head of the civic body's Markets Section.

Hareb said the new market will start functioning from 2002 and will feature retail and wholesale facilities.

There will also be a 100-room motel for truck drivers, a cafeteria, residential quarters for those working in the market, a mosque, car services and fuelling stations, garbage collection areas, a police station, a civil defence unit, a post office, a bank, a supermarket, a pharmacy and restaurants.

The project is now in its second phase, under which traders are receiving their allocated areas. The rent will remain the same as that being charged currently at the market in Al Hamriya, he said.

Hareb said the new market will include an administrative section as well. The wholesale market will comprise seven blocks consisting of 284 outlets. Meat and fish will be sold too.

Hareb said the new market will suit many, being ideally located on the Emirates Road which links Dubai with Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.