New Dubai fish market due to be completed in mid 2015

Progress of the Dh250 million fish market in Al Hamriya is well under way and is approximately one-third into completion.

DUBAI // Groundwork for the construction of the new Dh250 million fish market in Al Hamriya has been completed.

Hussain Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, inspected the progress of the project yesterday.

“Work on preparing the plot, including drilling, digging, and soil preparation has been completed, and construction work is progressing according to the schedule,” said Mr Lootah.

“The project is approximately 30 per cent completed and is expected to finish in mid-2015.”

He said that the fish market was located in one of the most prominent locations on the Deira Corniche.

“This is a commercial and recreational complex, fully air conditioned so as to provide better services to visitors, where it will be a tourist attraction promoting traditional and heritage activities and professions in modern and sophisticated ways. The project is a bridge between the past and the present and directly overlooking the sea. There will be a dedicated area to host fish auctions so tourists can see the traditional way of selling fish.”

The 120,000-square-metre market is designed with sustainable solutions in mind to make it a green building. It will include a 148-stall fruit-and-vegetable market, 63 spice shops, dry goods market, butchers, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. It will also include space for commercial offices as well as facilities for storage and freezing.

Almost 9,000 tonnes of fish were caught in Dubai waters in 2010, according to the Ministry of Environment and Water. The emirate had 772 registered commercial fishing boats that year.

The UAE is thought to be the highest consumer of fish per person in the GCC, with residents on average eating 33 kilograms a year.

Mr Lootah also inspected progress on a community wedding hall being built in Al Tawar 3, which can accommodate 1,000 people.