Traders and sellers at Dubai's waterfront (fish market) have complained about what they see as an "overstatement" from Ithraa Dubai, which it manages to rent shops and shops, increasing their financial burdens.

They stressed the deterioration of the market situation, after leaving the Dubai Municipality to oversee it, considering that the company runs as a «mall», which put profit making at the forefront of its objectives, without regard to the interest of the other parties: the merchant and the consumer, which led to high prices of fish.

The company said it has not increased rents since the market opened, more than two and a half years ago, despite spending heavily on marketing and other events, noting that it is keen to improve trading conditions.

For its part, confirmed the Dubai Fishermen's Association that the way of regulation in the market «waterfront» did not take into account the interests of fishermen, which led to the emergence of parallel markets in the opposite direction.

In detail, Emirates Today visited the waterfront in Dubai after receiving complaints from dealers and vendors regarding its management, and monitored tightening from the company it manages about the filming of shops and shops.

The newspaper monitored the suffering of traders and sellers within the market, who stressed the difficulty of continuing in the current situation.

The fish trader (citizen) said that «the rent of a deck does not exceed two meters in two meters, amounting to 45 thousand dirhams annually, while the rent during the supervision of Dubai Municipality on the market 7000 dirhams. The trader can not buy fish from the auction only after paying 12,600 dirhams, other than the tax prescribed ».

He continued: «The company requires traders exaggerated fees. For example, the entry fee for a large car loaded with fish is AED 300, a medium-sized car is AED 200 and a small car is AED 100. If the car exits the market and returns to it within a very short period of time, the same fee will be paid again. Renting car parks used to export fish abroad costs AED 30,000 per year.

He added that the list of fees also includes a fee on each indication, amounting to 6000 dirhams annually, stressing that the Dubai market remained for more than 20 years the first Arab, but in recent years fell to fourth place, after the markets of Jeddah and Qatif in Saudi Arabia, And Kuwait market in Kuwait.

Another trader pointed out that «the company obliges traders to buy ice from them, at the price you specify, although it is of the poor type, and causes damage to the fish». The third trader criticized the «requirement of the company that runs the market to empty the entire load of fish, despite knowing that it is ice It is difficult to sell a ton of 10,000 tons, for example, within three days, pointing out that «this procedure causes the destruction of large quantities of fish. Fish on the second and third days are less fresh. As a result, the inspectors of the municipality are writing records and fining the merchant between 4,000 and 12,000 dirhams. ”

“Most of the traders in the market are no longer able to pay shop rents, utility bills, parking fees, house rent and school fees for children,” said one trader.

Meat traders in the market also complained about rising rents, pointing to the vacancy of many places for sale. They said that the old market had 42 shops, and the value of rents ranged between 28 and 36 thousand dirhams annually, while the new market stores, currently, the value of rents 80 thousand dirhams.

Ithraa Dubai, which operates the fish market, said that since the opening of the waterfront market in June 2017, it has been improving trade conditions compared to the old market through modern facilities suitable for different seasons and equipped with cold and air-conditioned rooms. The number of visitors exceeded 50,000 during the weekend and 20,000 during the normal weekdays.

“We have also improved security, recruited a larger cleaning team, and upgraded all facilities, which has increased turnout and increased business opportunities. As a result, almost 95% of the traders have renewed their leases. ”

She confirmed that she discussed the rents and agreed with the dealers, before the launch of the waterfront market.

In response to the complaints, the company explained: “We are not a shopping center, but we are also not just a fish market as the waterfront market is evolving into a food, beverage and entertainment destination. "It could be the first of its kind in the world."

“We have not increased rents since the market opened more than two and a half years ago, despite spending huge sums on marketing, events and other initiatives. In fact, we have reduced the value of rents in order to encourage tenants and promote their businesses, because the aim of the market is to meet the needs of society, it is a modern destination where people meet for shopping, dining, talking, relaxation and communication ».

"Based on our annual surveys with our customers, we have noticed that they are asking for increased food and beverage facilities, entertainment and entertainment options," the company said.

"We had several meetings with the Fishermen's Association in Dubai, which included various dialogues during which they expressed their desire to take over the operations of truck parking and auction in the fish market. Unfortunately, we have not been able to conclude a mutually beneficial business model with the association, but our talks are continuing, and our doors remain open to those with positive suggestions on how to improve our operations. ”

“We look forward to preserving the core of the market, while ensuring that Dubai's fish market remains competitive with global markets. We do not want to disrupt the current market operations, which have grown stronger since moving to more modern facilities at the waterfront market. We are always looking for ways to renovate fish market facilities like other markets, while preserving Emirati culture and traditions. ”

The market management team takes a proactive approach to meet the demands of customers and vendors alike, always striving to improve offers and preserve the environment, she said, pointing out that the current initiatives under consideration include increasing the areas allocated for parking, expanding the auction facilities and adding more options. In food and beverage experiences, convenience stores and entertainment programs, as well as expanding the space for customers' parking.

For his part, Chairman of the Dubai Fishermen's Association, Amir Al-Rumaithi, told «Emirates Today», «the method of regulation used in the waterfront market, did not take into account the interests of fishermen, and led to abandonment of the market, and the establishment of a parallel market in the opposite side», He stressed that «the Assembly submitted a set of proposals over the whole year, to come up with solutions that benefit the interest of all parties, but that their proposals have not resonated».

Al-Rumaithi said that he is still waiting for a response from the market management about the solutions offered by him, and that he hopes that everyone will work to improve the services provided to tenants, traders and fishermen, for the public interest, pointing out that the fishermen who abandoned the market set up a parallel market opposite The Navy, having faced many difficulties. The most important of these is the lack of suitable locations for fish storage.

Protecting the interests of fishermen

Omair Al Rumaithi confirmed that the Dubai Fishermen's Association has met with the waterfront market management more than four times, and presented a memorandum of solutions and suggestions two months ago, suggesting measures that could be implemented to fill the gaps that hinder the work of the market. This is within the framework of the Society, whose main task is to protect the interests of fishermen and to provide support to solve the problems facing them.

Regarding the type of suggestions presented by the association, Al-Rumaithi said that it relates to the method of discharging fish coming from other markets, scheduling the dates of displaying fishermen's products, and distributing sites and services to ensure that UAE fishermen get their rights.

He said that the problem of fishermen registered in the association is not rents. The association pays the rent for its fishermen, but in the way of regulation in the market.

He said that the highest percentage of those who sell in the parallel market outside the market were selling inside, but they were forced to get out of it because they were affected by the sale, because they do not have access to basic facilities, such as the lack of fish stores, and forced to buy ice from the company.

Al-Rumaithi stressed that the association is not a competitor to manage the market, but a strategic partner keen to flourish, pointing out that its members provide benefit to the market, their presence, which contributes to stimulate and stimulate the sales movement.

Hunters:

«The sale of the deck rose from 7000 to 45 thousand dirhams».

Ithraa Dubai: Over 50,000 people visited the market during the weekend. Hanadi Abu Naama

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AED 1,600, merchant participation fees in fish market auctions.