Sharjah fish buyers flock to Ajman

One kilogram of King fish costs Dh40 in Sharjah, while 2kgs of King Fish costs Dh50 in Ajman.

Fish traders in Ajman have been busy as the number of customers reaching the northern Emirates from Sharjah to purchase fish has been increasing.

A number of fish vendors operating in the Ajman Fish market said they are witnessing an increasing number of customers from Sharjah, especially bulk purchasers for restaurants, hotels, because there is a considerable difference in the price for most of the fish products.

Normally, the Ajman Fish Market has less customers during the last two weeks of the month, but this month, the market has been thronged by visitors from Sharjah.

“We are nowadays witnessing an increasing number of customers from Sharjah. The new Sharjah customers are attracted by the huge price difference between both the markets. While a kilogram of King Fish cost around Dh40 in the newly opened Sharjah Fish market, a big king fish weighing more than 2 kgs is sold for Dh50 in Ajman. Same trend is visible for all the fish varieties, especially for commercial customers,” said Kamarudheen, an Indian fish trader in the Ajman Fish market.

He said the number of customers from Sharjah is on the increase, because smaller fish consumed by the Asian community, are substantially cheaper in Ajman.

“While we sell 4kg of Sardine for Dh10, in Sharjah 1kg is sold for Dh6.50. In addition to buying sardine at Dh 6.5 per kilogram, customers have to pay for cleaning too. Now, we have more customers in the market,” said Sharief, another fish trader in Ajman.

“We are getting fish directly from fish traders in our restaurant, which is cheaper than the rate in the Ajman fish market. Now restaurants from Sharjah are coming to Ajman because they get fish cheaper here. I don’t know whether they will deliver in the Sharjah restaurants. In addition, they don’t have to wait for coupon or stand in the queue for getting the fish cleaned,” said Jaleel, owner Zulfiqar Restaurant in Ajman.

“For restaurants and hotels buying in bulk quantity, the Ajman fish market is the ideal choice because they can get enough margin now.”

Ajman opened its new and expanded fish market in 2007, after closing its congested fish market with just 26 traders.

The new expanded fish market close to the Corniche and has more than 100 fish traders and in addition to fresh catch from the sea, customers have an option to buy fish bought from other countries in the region, especially Oman.

The fish market in Ajman is popular among customers from all other Emirates including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, because they get fresh and cheap fish.

Sharjah has recently opened one the biggest fish markets in the Middle East, offering world class and hygienic fish market.

Though the posh fish market equipped with high tech cleaning and odour control mechanisms, is spacious but customers are not happy with the fixed rate in the market. “I have started going to Ajman once a week to purchase fish for my family. It is not only cheaper and convenient, I can avoid the heavy traffic in the Rolla Square.

"Sometimes it takes half an hour to get out of the parking lot due to the traffic congestion in the area,” said Manohar.

“Going to the new Sharjah fish market is like going to buy fish from a supermarket or shopping mall. Everything is clean and good, but the price is not acceptable,” he added.

“Normally I go to Ajman to purchase bulk drinking water, which is also cheaper there. In one trip, I can manage both fish shopping and  water procurement. Many families in other emirates drive all the way to Ajman to purchase cheaper drinking water. Now they will add fish to their shopping basket in Ajman,”  he added.

Officials at the new Sharjah fish market say there is bargaining in the fruits and vegetables market but not in the fish market because it is centrally-controlled by one company.

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