Doha, November 07 (QNA) - The management of Ain Hleetan Market affirmed its keenness on the interest of all traders and entrepreneurs in small projects present in the market, adding it seeks through the market to give opportunities to owners of small projects and attract well-known shops to the area. It pointed out that the rental prices market shops are suitable and accessible to everyone.
It stated that the number of shops in the market is 74 shops whose rental value starts from QR1,068 per month and that 72 percent of them do not exceed the rental value of QR2,817, in addition to cafes and restaurants.
In a related context, the management mentioned that small shops, which constitute 31 percent of the total number of shops, have a rental value ranging between QR1,068 to QR1,995, while medium shops, which constitute 41 percent of the total number of shops, have a rental value ranging from It has between QR 2,070 to QR 2,817.
As for the large stores, which constitute 28 percent of the total number of stores, the rental value ranges from QR 3,105 to QR 5,318.
Regarding restaurants and cafes, the market management noted that the number of cafes is five, and their rental value ranges between QR 2,700 to QR 9,940, while the number of restaurants in four of different sizes and their rental value ranges between QR 9,000 to QR 32,500 for a restaurant with a large area.
It stated that it was clear that what was rumored about the rise in rental prices was not accurate at all, explaining that comparing them to the prices of Souq Waqif and the old Al Wakra market is an illogical comparison, "Souk Waqif is a heritage market and its buildings are heritage and not modern, and there are old shops, and it has activities and crafts that are not financially profitable and it is required to be preserved, besides the number of shops in it is much higher than the number of shops available in the market (Ain Hleetan), which is considered a modern market in a traditional way, and it is not an old market such as Souq Waqif and the old Al Wakra market, which is also a heritage market that extends over a large area and its buildings and divisions do not serve commercial activities sometimes, so the rental value is taken into account.
The management indicated in this regard that the Ain Hleetan market is considered a modern market in a heritage style and is limited in the number of shops, yet its rental value is the lowest in Qatar, noting that there is another heritage market close to the market of Ain Hleetan, which is the old Al Khor market, which includes 30 commercial shops for a market in the shape of heritage, and its rents are similar to the rents of Ain Hleetan market, and that all of its shops have been rented for several years, and they are doing their activities well.
The management of Ain Hleetan Market added that with regard to the failure of some of the lessors to achieve profits, there may be other reasons for this, for example, that most of the lessors have not already started their commercial activities, and this may be due to the Coronavirus pandemic or other reasons related to them or some of them are practicing commercial activity for the first time, noting that the previous stage was preliminary, in which priority was given to the people of Al Khor and Al Dhakhira area, stating that there is a plan to activate the market after the improvement of restrictions related to the Coronavirus crisis, as the second phase of leasing is scheduled to start, allowing non-residents of the cities of Al Khor and Al Thakhira to rent shops.
It stressed that this procedure aims to attract well-known shops and commercial activities from outside the city as a magnet for the market, as well as providing an opportunity for everyone, and there will be various heritage activities after the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis have completely expired.
The market management reiterated that what was mentioned shows that the rental prices for the shops of the Ain Hleetan market are appropriate and accessible to everyone, however, it provided great facilities and exemptions to the current tenants of the shops from paying the rent for seven months, including three months at the start of the contract, then an additional exemption for four months June, July, August, and September of 2021 taking into account the market conditions as a result of the closures.
Restaurants and cafes were also exempted from paying the rent for six months instead of three months at the start of the contract as support for their owners, especially since some of them have large areas, in addition to other exemptions for the subsequent periods of all market stores.