Small-scale traders affected by the early morning fire that gutted 14 shops at the busy Al Ghuwair Market in Rolla, Sharjah, are keeping their fingers crossed, as only three or four shops burnt in the fire had obtained insurance coverage.

One of the unfortunate trader at the market said some of his colleagues suffered losses worth up to Dh100,000 in the blaze.

While majority of the traders preferred not to insure their shops located in an old building, more than 30 years old, others chose to ignore insurance protection as it is against their religious faith.

Says Shafi Sultan, Indian owner of Beauty World, a fashion and fancy shop located just near the burnt shops: “The Al Ghuwair market has been doing good business recently, especially in bed sheets, curtains, leather and the UAE National Day monuments and flags. The fire just before the UAE’s 40th National Day, reminds us of a similar fire during the 1992 National Day celebrations.” He said, "more than 25 shops were fully gutted in the fire of 1992 and some of the shops that went up in flames on November 30 were rebuilt from the earlier fire.”

As they are not covered by insurance, traders are keeping their fingers crossed, expecting help from Indian community associations or some other source. In the absence of insurance, the loss is to be absorbed by the traders. Out of 200 odd shops in the market, only  14 are fully burnt and other shops have started normal business.

“Many shops in the Al Ghuwair market were burnt during December 1992 and the latest fire reminded all traders about the danger from fire safety and insurance coverage. Many of the fourteen shops burnt in the fire do not have insurance coverage because they are located in a very old building and the insurance companies are not keen to cover such shops,” said another trader.”

Eight shops owned by Indians, mainly Keralties from Malappuram, Kasargodu, Vadakara and other parts of Kerala and six shops owned by a group of Pakistani brothers have been totally burnt in the fire.

“Some of the traders did not take insurance coverage because it is against their religious belief. Two bedsheet and curtain shops were recently opened and the traders had brought in new stock worth Dh1.2 million,” said another trader.

“The loss incurred by various traders range from Dh70,000 to Dh100,000. The new shops are the worst affected because they had a huge stock of new arrivals for the National Day and Eid season,” he added.

The shops affected in the fire included three ready made garments outlets,five fancy shops, one-leather shops and three shops selling bedsheet, curtains and furniture. Small-scale traders who were doing business in the open areas on tabletops have also lost their toys, fancy and fashion items in the fire. 

The fire broke out at a time when the Al Ghuwair market was busy with the National Day and Eid season business. “We had very good business and most of the traders had stocked items in the price range of Dh1.5 to Dh150.  Many of the readymade shops had UAE National Day dresses and flags. Due to the fire, everything is disturbed now.”

The market has been popular among the UAE nationals, Arab expatriates and Pakistani expatriates.

Meanwhile residents of several flats located on top of the burnt shops have returned home as electricity supply has been restored, but gas connection are yet to be resumed. “Many families residing on top floors of the markets have been evicted during the fire fighting excursive and nobody was injured.

As the fire was spreading, traders and civil defence team alerted people to get out through the backside doors and only yesterday, families are allowed to return to their flats. The flats are not affected by the fire, but people had their dresses and other essential items  in their rooms. Between five to ten people worked in each of the burnt shops and these workers re now remaining idles, cleaning the fire backlog.

“Traders are selling the remaining stock from the fire at throw away prices. Bed sheets, clothes, leather items etc are available at  very cheap rates. An item costing Dh 50 are now sold for Dh 5 as traders are trying desperately to sell these products. Repairing and renovation work is also started in one or two shops,” said a trader.