Livestock traders in Makkah fear losses as market moves location

MAKKAH – Livestock traders in the Kaakiyah market in Makkah have identified four obstacles that prevent them from moving to the new market located at Kilo 10, which has recently been constructed by the local municipality.

According to the traders, the new market does not have a prayer area, toilets and groceries. They add that the market is in a remote location, but the rent is very high.

Traders complained that the livestock auction area in the Kaakiyah market had been removed, giving a big blow to their business. The municipal inspectors built concrete barriers around the barns of traders to prevent them from getting there, they said.

Khalid Al-Otaibi, a barn owner, said he did not understand why the new market was located at Kilo 10, far away from the city, and why there were no slaughterhouses in the market. The road to the new market is risky as well, he said.

Hussain Al-Shareef, another barn owner, said the concrete barriers were put up without notifying the traders in advance. Because of these barriers, water trucks cannot deliver drinking water to 10,000 heads of sheep and cattle, which face death as a result of thirst.

Al-Shareef believes that the shifting process to the new market is disorganized. The municipal officials removed the auction area completely at a time the new market was still being constructed and was not ready to receive the traders and buyers.

Sami Al-Qurashi, the investor who constructed the new livestock market, denied claims that rents were high. There are 400 barns in the market and the rent starts from SR15,000 and the maximum rent is SR27,000, he said, adding that the new market has restrooms and a mosque nearby.