The new temporary site for the Naif souq is set to open for business shortly
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00:00Workmen marking up the finishing touches.
00:10For the near future, at least, this is the new Naif Souk.
00:14It's a temporary location for the 200 or so traders who lost their stalls in the blaze
00:19that destroyed the old marketplace in April.
00:23They could be selling their wares once again by as early as next week.
00:28It has been built in remarkably short time and is just 500 meters from the original one.
00:34Usually it takes four to five months to start, you know, the tender procedures, nominating
00:40a contractor, extras.
00:43However, within one week, we were on the site and we started the construction.
00:50The fire gutted the Naif Souk in April this year.
00:54It was one of Dubai's oldest traditional markets and got its name from the nearby fort.
01:00Hundreds of traders lost their livelihoods in the fire caused by an electrical short circuit.
01:24The municipality says both the temporary and new Souks will incorporate a number of new safety features.
01:31We used addressable fire detection system, which is advanced, as well as we used firefighting devices.
01:41The designs for the permanent Naif Souk have already been approved.
01:45Officials say it will have twice the capacity of the old one.
01:49And for the time being, traders don't have to pay any rent until the new one is complete.
01:55Sunita Menon, Gulf News.