Sharjah's new Dh200m fish market

The old Al Jubail Fish Market is to be torn down to make way for a new and bigger facility.

Fishmongers weigh hammour before putting it them in the freezer at the Sharjah Fish Market. Jeff Topping / The National

SHARJAH // The old Al Jubail Fish Market is to be torn down to make way for a new and bigger fish market, one that will serve customers in a more efficient manner, and allow fishmongers to sell more of their wares.

Sharjah Municipality said yesterday that work had already begun on the emirate's new fish emporium, which is expected to cost Dh200million and take 18 months to complete.

Shoppers at the aging Al Jubail market yesterday welcomed the news.

"A fresh fish starts with a clean market," said Tariq Mohammed, an Emirati fish buyer. "We have always complained about the untidy fish market, and I believe the new market will be much better."

The facility will have 403 stalls, including 162 fish stalls, 123 meat stalls and 118 fruit and vegetable stalls, according to Sultan Abdullah al Mualla, the director general of Sharjah Municipality.

"We have designed it with an Islamic appeal, like all other government buildings in the emirate," he said. "We have the domes and circular arches on the top."

The architects also took into consideration areas in which to display the fish on sale, and refrigeration and cleaning and waste disposal facilities, which, Mr al Mualla said, was largely lacking in the old market.

Parking, four prayer rooms, toilets, and administration offices are also in the blueprints.

The current fish market was built in 1980. It has 44 stalls, but only nine stations for the cleaning of fish.

Ahmed, a frequent buyer at the Al Jubail market who declined to give his last name, said: "There have been long queues at cleaning counters. It is still possible to see some desperate customers getting their fish cleaned by men squatting on the floor, because they couldn't wait any longer."