Demolition progress at Fujairah’s old industrial area

Eighty per cent of the buildings in the old Fujairah industrial area have been demolished as they make way for what the emirate hopes is new investment.

Constructing Mohammad bin Zayed City in Fujairah will cost Dh1.7 billion. Satish Kumar / The National

FUJAIRAH // Eighty per cent of the buildings in the old Fujairah industrial area have been demolished as they make way for what the emirate hopes is more investment.

The area, between Hamad bin Abdullah Road and Fujairah Airport Road, made up 16 per cent of Fujairah city’s size but was earmarked for development as part of the emirate’s 2040 plan.

Fujairah Municipality director Mohammed Al Afkham said the 670,000 square metre industrial area will be razed and ready by June for investors hoping to build on it.

“It’s one of the major steps in developing and modernising the area in line with our 2040 plan and we will soon start reviewing the proposals submitted by many investors, which include residential and commercial projects,” he said.

The municipality started demolishing buildings in March last year, decontaminating with pesticides to control insects and rodents.

“Ninety-three per cent of the industrial companies, showrooms and workshops were relocated to the new site at Al Hayl,” said Mr Al Afkham.

Al Hayl is a 1,350,000 square metre site with 150 warehouses, 50 building materials factories, 120 freight companies and 200 car repair garages.

“The new area is fully equipped and can accommodate more than 2,000 industrial companies,” said the director.

Ajeesh Vijawan, a 26-year-old Indian owner of a car repair shop, Airport Garage, said that Al Hayl has everything but that customers consider it a little inconvenient compared to the old industrial area.

“I moved here in 2014,” said Mr Vijawan.

“The area is well-organised and the shops are bigger in size but many customers say that it’s far and they prefer to go to Kalba instead of coming here.”

Ahmad Al Hayari, 39, an Emirati from Sakamkam, said: “The place is organised and divided in an easy way – all the car garages are beside each other.

“The old area was closer, as it was 10 minutes away, and now I should drive 20 minutes to get to Al Hayl but, for me, it’s not considered that far.”

Manal Abdulsalam, 37, an Egyptian living near the old industrial area, said that her area had been deserted for many months, aside from the tonnes of industrial waste.

“The area was like a waste dump and it’s good to know that they are working on improving it and transferring it into useful projects,” she said.

“It’s located near the entrance of the city and having modern buildings will add to the city and its image.”