7 Days

Dubai, Jun 29: Shopkeepers who lost everything when their stores went up in flames in the devastating Naif Souq fire are set to start trading in new accommodation next week. The new market, which has 200 shops, is situated just a few metres away from the scene of April’s blaze which saw more 1,000 men lose their livelihoods.

It is a temporary measure while a permanent souq, which will house 350 shops, is built on the original site.  “Keys have been handed over to us and we are waiting for the furnishing of the shops to be finished. The new market is much better than the old one,” said Raouf K, an Indian businessman whose shop was gutted in the fire.

Raouf, like many other shopkeepers, was devastated after the inferno ripped through the market, and said he never thought he would be able to restart his business so soon. “It’s good. We are thankful to the government for building the market and promising us compensation. Our lives would have been ruined if the government had not helped us,” added Raouf, who has run his business from the souq for the past 13 years.

Juma Khalifa Al Fuqaei, Director of General Maintenance Department at Dubai Municiplity, said that the materials used in constructing the new souq were fireproof and could be easily reused in constructing similar facilities when they are eventually dismantled.  “The shop owners need not pay any additional rent until the new Naif Souq is ready in around eight months’ time,” Al Fuqaei said. Mahmood PK, another shopkeeper, said he believed publicity was needed to make the temporary market popular.

“Earlier people used to easily know the location of the market because of its popularity. Now people have to be told where we are based so that they can come for shopping,” he said. Dubai Municipality has already announced compensation for those affected by the fire and money was recently donated to the workers by the Red Crescent in association with the Indian Consulate.