Merchants and sellers in the Dubai Waterfront (Fish Market) complained about what they considered “exaggeration” by the “Ithra Dubai” company, which it manages, in renting shops and stores, which increased their financial burdens.
They confirmed the deterioration of the market situation, after Dubai Municipality left the task of supervising it, considering that the company is running it as if it were a “commercial mall,” as it puts making profit at the forefront of its goals, without considering the interests of the other two parties: the merchant and the consumer, which led to an increase in fish prices.
In turn, the company reported that it has not increased rents since the market opened, that is, more than two and a half years ago, despite spending huge sums of money on marketing and other events, indicating its keenness to improve trade conditions in it.
For its part, the Dubai Fishermen’s Association confirmed that the method of organization used in the “waterfront” market did not take into account the interests of fishermen, which led to the emergence of parallel markets on the other side.
In detail, Emirates Today visited the waterfront in Dubai, after receiving complaints from merchants and sellers related to its management, and observed a tightening by the company that manages it regarding photographing shops and shops.
The newspaper monitored the suffering of traders and sellers inside the market, who stressed the difficulty of continuing in light of the current conditions.
A fish trader (citizen) said, “The rent for a bench that does not exceed two meters by two meters is 45,000 dirhams annually, while the rent during Dubai Municipality’s supervision of the market was 7,000 dirhams.” Also, the merchant cannot buy fish from the auction unless he pays 12,600 dirhams, in addition to the prescribed tax.
He continued: “The company is asking merchants for exaggerated fees. For example, the entry fee for a large car loaded with fish is 300 dirhams, a medium-sized car is 200 dirhams, and a small car is 100 dirhams. If the car leaves the market and returns to it within a very short period, the same fees will be paid again. Renting parking lots used to export fish abroad costs 30,000 dirhams annually.”
The merchant continued, “The list of fees also includes a fee for each broker, amounting to 6,000 dirhams annually,” stressing that the Dubai market has been the first in the Arab world for more than 20 years, but in recent years it has declined to fourth place, after the Jeddah and Qatif markets in Saudi Arabia. And the Kuwait market in Kuwait.
Another trader pointed out that “the company obliges traders to buy ice from it, at the price it specifies, even though it is of a poor quality and causes damage to the fish.” A third trader criticized “the company that runs the market requiring that the entire incoming load of fish be unloaded, despite its knowledge that it is frozen.” “It is difficult to sell a load of 10,000 tons, for example, within three days,” noting that “this procedure causes damage to large quantities of fish. Also, the fish on the second and third days is less fresh. As a result, municipal inspectors issue reports and fine the merchant between 4,000 and 12,000 dirhams.”
One of the merchants stated that “the majority of merchants in the market are no longer able to pay shop rents, water and electricity bills, parking fees, housing rent, and school fees for children.”
Meat traders in the market also complained about the high rents, pointing out that many of the places designated for sale were vacant. They said that the old market included 42 shops, and their rents ranged between 28 and 36 thousand dirhams annually, while the new market’s shops currently have a rent value of 80 thousand dirhams.
For its part, Ithra Dubai, which manages the fish market, said that since the opening of the waterfront market in June 2017, it has continued to improve trade conditions in it, compared to the old market, through modern facilities suitable for different seasons and equipped with cold and air-conditioned rooms. It also worked to increase demand, with the number of visitors exceeding 50,000 people during the weekend, and 20,000 people during regular weekdays.
She added: “We also took the initiative to improve security conditions, employ a larger cleaning team, and modernize all facilities, which contributed to increasing demand and increasing the proportion of business opportunities. As a result, approximately 95% of the market’s merchants renewed their lease contracts.”
She confirmed that she discussed and agreed on rents with merchants before launching the Waterfront Market.
In its response to the complaints, the company explained: “We are not a shopping center, but we are not just a fish market either, as (Waterfront Market) is developing into a destination for food, beverages, and entertainment. “It may be the first of its kind in the world.”
She continued: “We have not increased rents since the market opened more than two and a half years ago, despite spending huge sums of money on marketing, events and other initiatives. In fact, we reduced the rent value with the aim of encouraging tenants and promoting their businesses, because the market’s goal is to meet the needs of the community, as it is a modern destination where residents meet to shop, eat, talk, relax and communicate.”
The company confirmed: “Based on the annual surveys we conduct with our customers, we have noticed that they are requesting increased food and beverage facilities, and entertainment and leisure options.”
She continued, “We held several meetings with the Fishermen’s Association in Dubai, which included various dialogues during which they expressed their desire to take over the truck parking and public auction operations at the fish market. Unfortunately, we were not able to conclude a mutually beneficial business model with the association, but our conversations continue, and our doors remain open to parties with positive suggestions on how to improve our operations.
She added: “We look forward to preserving the essence of the market, while ensuring the continued competitiveness of the Dubai Fish Market in global markets. We do not want to disrupt the current market operations, which have grown stronger since moving to the more modern facilities at (Waterfront Market). We are always looking for ways to renew the fish market facilities similar to other markets, while preserving Emirati culture and traditions.”
She stated that the market management team follows a proactive approach to meet the requests of customers and sellers alike, as it always seeks to improve offers and preserve the environment, pointing out that the current initiatives under study include increasing the spaces allocated for parking trucks, expanding public auction facilities, and adding more options. In food and beverage experiences, stores, and entertainment programs, in addition to expanding the space allocated for customers’ parking.
For his part, the head of the Dubai Fishermen’s Association, Omair Al-Rumaithi, told “Emirates Today” that “the method of organization used in the waterfront market did not take into account the interests of the fishermen, and led to them abandoning the market and establishing a parallel market on the opposite side of it.” He stressed that “the association presented a set of proposals over the course of an entire year, to come up with solutions that are in the interest of all parties, but its proposals did not resonate.”
Al-Rumaithi confirmed that he is still awaiting a response from the market administration regarding the solutions he presented, and that he hopes that everyone will work to improve the services provided to the tenants, traders and fishermen, for the public interest, noting that the fishermen who abandoned the market established a parallel market on the opposite side of the facade market. Navy, after facing many difficulties. The most important of which is the lack of suitable sites for storing fish.
Protecting the interests of fishermen
Omair Al Rumaithi confirmed that the Dubai Fishermen’s Association met with the management of the Waterfront Market more than four times, and approximately two months ago submitted a memorandum with a set of solutions and suggestions, in which it proposed measures that could be implemented to fill the gaps hindering the functioning of the market. This is within the framework of the association’s work, whose primary tasks are to protect the interests of fishermen and provide support to solve the problems they face.
Regarding the type of proposals presented by the association, Al Rumaithi said that they relate to the method of disposing of fish that comes from other markets, scheduling dates for displaying fishermen’s products, and distributing sites and services, in a way that ensures that Emirati fishermen obtain their rights.
He said that the problem of the fishermen registered with the association does not lie in the rents, as the association pays the rent for its affiliated fishermen, but in the method of organization used in the market.
He continued that the highest percentage of those who sell in the parallel market, outside the market, were selling inside it, but they were forced to leave it as a result of being harmed by the sale, because they do not receive basic facilities, such as the lack of fish stores, and they are forced to buy ice from the company.
Al-Rumaithi stressed that the association is not a competing party to manage the market, but rather a strategic partner keen on its prosperity, pointing out that its members provide a benefit to the market, with their presence that contributes to activating and stimulating the sales movement.
Hunters:
“The rent for the sales bench increased from 7,000 to 45,000 dirhams.”
Ithra Dubai: The number of visitors to the market exceeded 50,000 people over the weekend. Hanadi Abu Naama
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One thousand and 600 dirhams, merchant participation fees in fish market auctions.
