Construction work on two parking areas in Batha has begun, making it a less attractive leisure location for visitors as they struggle to find free parking space as the two older parking lots have now been walled off to make way for the new parking developments.

“With no place to park, my family and I go somewhere else to relax instead —it's just not convenient anymore,” said Mohamed Haider Bakhst, a Pakistani resident who works in the area.

Eric Asi, a local engineer, said of the construction work, “My family and I used to go to Batha to pass the time and spend the weekends with the children. We still go but not as often like before. We'd rather go to the fast-food chains or to the malls.”

In fact, many believe that it's only a matter of time before the commercial district will look like a deserted place at sundown due to the construction work, particularly as building work in the parking areas has been at a standstill recently for reasons unknown to the public at this stage.

Expatriates selling various products told Arab News that since work started, their sales had gone down because there are less city residents visiting the area. Sales in big establishments including the supermarket in the area have also been affected because the walls of the projects block customers.

“Although we complain, we cannot do anything about it. The parking areas for customers are owned by private individuals who are looking for a return on their investments,” said a salesman for an IT company.