New Souq Haraj to be built in Al-Wakrah

A new Souq Haraj that will replace the existing one located in a congested place in Najma area of the city, is expected to be ready for operation in the second half of 2017.

The shopping complex is coming up on a huge space that measures 35,000 square metres. The area is strategically located and is bang opposite Barwa Village in Al Wakrah.

The area is known as Umm Bashar and is close to Hamad International Airport, off Doha-Al Wakrah Road.

The new complex will have 324 outlets available for rent with huge parking lots. The carpet area of a one-door shop will be 60 square meters and monthly rent will be fixed at the rate of QR54 per square metre. The monthly rent of a one-door shop will thus work out to QR3,500. 

The complex is being developed with partnership of the government and private sector. The Logistics Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce had floated tenders early in March 2015 to award the project to a private company.

A company had won the bid for a little over QR206m and it in turn awarded the construction work.

A contracting company is working on the project and currently some 95 percent of excavation work is complete.

Souq Haraj in Arabic means a market for used or second-hand goods but in practice it is a place where all household appliances (most of them new are available).

These include furniture and furnishing, home décor items, electrical appliances, air-conditioners, fans, and carpets, among other things.

A multi-lane access road will link the upcoming Souq Haraj to F-Ring Road in such a way that vehicles coming from and going to Al Thumama, Abu Hamour and Al Wakrah would not lead to congestion near Barwa Village.

The need for a new Souq Haraj was felt as the country’s population has been increasing and there was pressure on the current market in Najma. It is located in a congested area so trucks moving in and out cause traffic snarls especially on Thursdays and Fridays.

Once the excavation work is complete, construction will begin. Construction is expected to start off sooner rather than later.

Information available suggests that work on the project is progressing as planned and the construction work would end in time with the market starting operations sometime in the latter half of next year. [The Peninsula]

(Cover image courtesy: Penny Yi Wang)