Sharjah: The recently inaugurated Souq Al Jubail has witnessed heavy footfall and consumer buying activity during the first two weeks of its inauguration, receiving over 138,000 visitors. The souq aims to provide an enhanced shopping experience for Emirati citizens and UAE residents by catering to their daily needs of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish.
The huge public turnout can be attributed to the market’s unique design and integrated modern services, as well as the high quality of fish and fresh produce as well as the reasonable and controlled prices.
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the market on Friday, December 18th. Souq Al Jubail is the emirate’s largest marketplace in terms of its area, diverse activities and numerous services.
The market consists of two floors extending over an area of more than 37,000 square metres, with three designated sections: one for selling fruits and vegetables, one for selling meat, and a third for selling fish.
The fish area includes a special section fully equipped with modern tools and gear for cleaning and cutting fish to ensure the highest standards of public health safety, in addition to an outdoor section of the market where the fish is transported directly from boats to the shops. This is in addition to an area designated for fish auction.
“The market has already proved to be very successful and received a huge public turnout of around 138,000 visitors during its first two weeks of opening. This is due to the fact that the market provides all members of the community with their daily consumer needs at encouraging prices under one roof,†Ali Hassan Al Suwaidi, Director of Al Jubail Market, said.
“The market enjoys a vital strategic location with captivating views overlooking the Creek, as well as overall integrated services,†he added.
Al Suwaidi noted that the market is also a healthy shopping environment where all products are carefully examined by the food control body to ensure their validity and compliance with health rules to help guarantee the health and safety of consumers.
“Souq Al Jubail has supplies the market in Sharjah with well over 10 tonnes of fresh fish on a daily basis, while setting fish prices daily to ensure sustainable and feasible margins are maintained by the fishing industry in the Emirate and to protect consumers against unjustified price hikes.â€
He expects that the coming weeks will see an even greater response by the public to purchase the highest quality of fresh fish, meat and vegetables. This will help increase the revenues of shops in the market, and accordingly support retail trade and stimulate economic activity in Sharjah.
Al Suwaidi indicated that the establishment of Souq Al Jubail aims to meet the rapid growth experienced by Sharjah in various economic and services fields, including the tourism sector, given that the emirate is witnessing a huge turnout by tourists from all over the world due to its tourist attractions, sophisticated infrastructure, state-of-the art service facilities and numerous tourist destinations. Sharjah is not only home to markets and shopping centres but a cultural hub on regional and international levels.
The market houses 370 shops, including 91 shops for selling fish, 67 meat shops, and 212 fruit and vegetable shops, while the upper floor includes the offices of the market administration and the Sharjah Cooperative Society for Fishermen.
The market has a parking area that can accommodate up to 750 cars, 24-hour surveillance cameras, ATMs and a place of prayer. Additionally, it has an internal walkway overlooking the market’s courtyard and the waterfront, offering an enjoyable shopping experience for shoppers and their families.
