DUBAI, 7 April 2008 — Traders affected by the recent fire at Naif Souq will be compensated within a month by the government of Dubai, said Hussain Nasser Lootah, acting director general of Dubai Municipality.
“We have asked storeowners to submit a report about their losses. We will meet them again and within a month they will be compensated,” said Lootah, speaking to journalists yesterday after a meeting with those affected by the blaze.
Sheikh Hamdan ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE, on Saturday offered his help to those affected. “Sheikh Hamdan will help about 800 victims, mostly workers,” said Ali Abdullah Al-Kaabi, chairman of the board of directors of the UAE Red Crescent.
Al-Kaabi, however, did not mention the amount of money that will be paid out.
Earlier, Lootah directed the officials to set up a temporary market within two months. He also told civic officials to build a new Naif Souq on the same pattern of the old one and that the new market should consist of two air-conditioned floors.
The new souq will be constructed in eight months’ time with vendors moving in by the end of the year.
Naif Souq, which sold textiles, ready-made garments, perfumes and toys, was mainly operated by South Indians.
