The method the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has adopted to offer shops at the newly launched Al-Furjan (neighbourhood) markets has come under attack from the Central Municipal Council (CMC) members.

Speaking at a CMC session yesterday, Hamad Lahadan al-Muhannadi said: “The aim of Al-Furjan markets has digressed from originally a social developmental one into a purely profit-oriented one. The rent rates are very high, given their location and the nature of businesses. The process of allocating shops should be reviewed by the ministry as there are some people who have multiple commercial registries, which give them ease access to the application process, while those who really need a shop may not have registry and have to get a new one by paying a fee of QR1,000, besides the guarantee deposit of QR50,000. Then, when they are not included in the draw, they pay another fee to cancel the registry.”

He asked why there was no percentage of shops allocated to the needy and the disabled.

Some members said that one or two shops in each area should be given to the needy at a reduced rental rate.

Mohamed bin Zafir al-Hajiri said that the MEC should have considered the geographical location of the applicants when giving out these shops so priority would be given to the inhabitant of the area where the shop is located.

The CMC chairman, with the approval of the house, made recommendations which include: reduction of rental rate for a shop to a maximum of QR3,000 per month, waiving the condition of having a commercial registration at the time of application, and giving priority to the area inhabitant and ensuring shops for needy families.

The council also recommended that shops respect the local traditions.