The government is building three central markets in different areas of the country — Al Wakra, Umm Salal and Al Sailiyah — to cater to a rising population.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has signed a contract with state-owned Manateq (Economic Zones Company) to build these markets.

The markets are expected to be ready for operation by the middle of 2016. Each of the three market complexes will have a main market (selling fresh vegetables and fruits), a slaughter house, and markets selling meat, fish, chicken and other poultry products.

The three markets will have a bank branch each, a florist shop, a grocery store and a warehouse, besides boasting a cold storage and administrative blocks and labour camps each.

Al Wakra Market will be the largest, nearly three times bigger than the other two, with an area covering 59,393 sqm.The present central markets are separately for meat and livestock (which has slaughter houses), fresh vegetables and fruits, for wholesale trade of consumer items like foodstuff, among other things, and for fish.

The ministry statement suggests that the existing central markets will not be disbanded and continue to operate after the new central market complexes are built and commissioned.

All the three markets will have sufficient car parking space, a mosque and an electricity substation. [The Peninsula]