Musheireb traders stay put for damages

Several businesses remain open in Musheireb as traders either wait for compensation from the authorities or are struggling to find new premises.

Electricity was cut off about three weeks ago but many shops continue to operate using small-scale generators and makeshift lighting. The 35-hectare Musheireb, Doha’s oldest business hub, is undergoing a unique urban regeneration, where demolition, being carried out in five phases, began in October 2008.

On November 1, power to a whole block, part of phase 2, was finally switched off after utilities corporation Kahramaa issued discontinuation notices on October 18, following a series of earlier announcements.

“We’ve turned it on (the generator) on November 1. Since then, we’ve been trying to sell whatever has been left in inventory,” a toy trader near the Arab Bank Roundabout said.

“We’ve been searching for a shop for a while but the astonishingly high rents are a turn off,” he added.

Another shopkeeper, running a keymaking business, yesterday said he was lucky to find a shop in Najma for his 25-year-old business for a rent of QR4,000 a month. “This was the best I could find. I am sitting here for my old customers to notify them (of my new location),” he said.

The only problem with the Najma shop is the size: its only 3sqm, while the one in Musheireb was QR5,000 a month for 16sqm. An official of a textile shop on the same row said his outlet was not moving as its owners had filed for compensation.

“There were officials here surveying our shop six months ago. But nothing happened.

Then power was cut off. We went to the relevant authority a week before Eid and filed for compensation. We were told we’d be notified after Eid,” the official said.

“There are customers still coming in. They are tempted because all of us are selling at cost price,” he added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of more shops, majority on the legendary Abdullah bin Thani and Musheireb Streets and part of phase 3, where the November 1 deadline was served, are continuing operations as electricity to their buildings has not yet been disconnected.

Many former tenants and businessmen of the once densely-populated area maintain they are the victims of an uncoordinated eviction system, causing grief, uncertainty and loss of business.