SHARJAH // Traders whose businesses were destroyed in a huge fire at a Ramadan trade exhibition were still waiting yesterday to hear how much compensation they will receive.
Many fear they will not be able to re-open after last Thursday's fire, which swept through the vast tent at Al Sha'ab stadium in Hazana and gutted all 220 stalls.
Police say the cause of the blaze remains a mystery although an investigation is under way. It will take another week to compile the fire report, and insurance claims cannot be processed until the cause and scale of the fire has been investigated, they added.
Abdullah Sultan, the director of the exhibition, said he had been told the fire report would be completed next week. "Until now we have not had any progress with the insurance or mode of compensation," he said.
But he assured traders that all the shops, as well as the tent, were insured and that everyone qualifying for compensation would receive it. Thick black smoke billowed in the skies over the Hazana and Ghaefiya area as the flames spread and it took firemen five hours to bring the blaze under control. No one was killed or injured.
Several blasts which police believe may have been caused by gas cylinders in restaurants and market stalls added to the dangers firemen faced as they fought the blaze.
Traders watched in silent horror as their goods were reduced to ashes before their eyes.
"We're looking up for what next. We don't know what is the cause and who is responsible. We also don't know if we could be compensated," said Zaheed, one of the traders.
The Ramadan exhibition is one of the oldest and most popular in the emirate, attracting large numbers of families. It was due to run from Sep 1 to Oct 4, opening during the evening. The fire started when the market was closed.
Ali al Amri, the director of Al Sha'ab stadium, said he was anxious to find out what caused the blaze, especially as the tent was fully equipped with fire fighting equipment.
"It was a massive fire that we could not expect. All fire safety measures were in place," he said.
"We also do not expect any foul play from anyone. A police report will really answer many of questions."
Mr Amri said there were more than 60 fire extinguishers in the tent that could have helped put out the fire immediately but there were also many highly flammable materials that would have been a factor in the flames spreading quickly.
Irene Zalamea, who worked in a women's clothes shop, said she had already begun looking for a new job.
"My sponsor has already told the three of us that it's unlikely she will continue with the business but said she would not cancel our visas until we get new jobs," she said.
Ms Zalamea's employer had been operating for two years and was said to be devastated at losing all her capital. "The exhibition was just in its first days and we had not made enough money, yet she had invested so much capital."
Murshid, a Pakistani trader also selling women's clothes, estimated his losses at more than Dh100,000 (US$33,000).
"I had so many new clothes and expensive ones but lost all of it without the receipts as evidence," he said. "I don't believe they will compensate all that is due to our losses. They would only say we're exaggerating."
ykkakande@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.
Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Tuesday, April 23: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Wednesday, April 24: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Thursday, April 25: 11am-5pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Friday, April 26: 3pm to 6pm Finals of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
BlacKkKlansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver
Five stars
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Results
Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3
Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer
Catchweight 73kg: Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision
Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury
Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission
Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1
Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2
Catchweight 63kg: Rany Saadeh (PAL) beat Abdel Ali Hariri (MAR); Unanimous decision
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
