There were good reasons two years ago to move the capital’s used-car retailers and related industries out of the city and into the purpose-built Motor World complex in Al Shamkha, close to Abu Dhabi International Airport. The obvious intention was to help boost the market for used cars. With the growing demand for vehicles, the industry needed a modern, one-stop facility that met the standards expected by consumers.
At the time, the Al Ittihad area where used-car dealers were formerly clustered had become congested, creating difficulties and safety concerns for customers and residents alike.
However, as The National reported on Friday, since they moved to the new purpose built location in 2012 by mandate of the Department of Economic Development, many car dealers have complained about poor business, high rents and a lack of publicity for the project.
In initially explaining the idea behind the project, the developer Aldar said that it would be a “fully fledged community”. Two years on, that vision has not been translated into reality. The 3 million square-metre facility was meant to be equipped with vehicle inspection and registration centres, a currency exchange house, a permanent mosque, a test-driving track, a hypermarket, residential areas, hotels, restaurants, family entertainment facilities and other amenities that have not eventuated.
The problem confronting Motor World is that it replaced an area that had developed organically over many years, attracting more dealerships and associated businesses as it grew. It was always going to be a challenge to offer the same amenity at a new location from day one.
For Motor World to get up to speed, it needs more publicity and perhaps lower rents for those businesses that are struggling. But above all, it needs a quick injection of infrastructure to make it customers’ first port of call for all things automotive.
