New locations get ready for central markets

The facilities at the Doha central market in Abu Hamour will completely move to three new locations once the ongoing works on Al Wakrah and Sailiya central markets are completed, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has said.

The new fish market at Umm Salal will open its doors to the customers today evening. It replaces the year-old fish market in Abu Hamour.

The central markets project in Umm Salal, Sailiya and Al Wakra were undertaken from a strategic development perspective in line with rapid demographic changes in the country. The markets are strategically located to cater to the current and future population expansion in the north, west and south of the country, the Ministry said in a statement.

The project will also serve citizens and residents and provide new business areas to increase commercial activity, and facilitate marketing of local products in these markets, which will contribute to the spread of economic activities over a wider geographical area.

The Ministry said the facilities and services at fish market at Umm Salal are designed according to international standards of health and food safety regulations. There are separate places for unloading, display and sale of fish.

The storage and transport comply with the best specifications and food safety measures, the auction area is air conditioned, while the area is designed in such a way that the external weather conditions do not affect the quality of products.

The facility also has its own ice factory.

The choice locating the central market at Umm Salal came following several studies and consultations with retailers and wholesalers, fishermen and dealers, which showed that 70% of the fish at the central market in Abu Hamour was sourced from the northern part of the country while the rest is sourced from Al Wakrah.

The fish market in Umm Salal will receive customers from 6am to 10pm, Saturday to Thursday.

On Fridays, it will function from 6am to 10.30am and from 3 pm to 10 pm.