New offer to Abu Shagara traders

Used car dealers of Abu Shagara in Sharjah have been offered an option to shift their business to a new location in Sharjah Auto Park, claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, that will house 700 automobile showrooms, garages, spare parts outlets, heavy equipment area and many other auto-related businesses and services. The Sharjah government has already invested $300 million to develop the infrastructure for the proposed auto park coming up on a 13 million square feet area. “All the 600 car showrooms in Sharjah can be shifted to the new park.  While another project by the Sharjah municipality  to relocate the used car dealers of Abu Shagara is yet to be finished, traders are have been advised to take up plots in the auto park and build their own showrooms. Amir Pardesi, chairman, Giga Investments, said that this project will provide plenty of business opportunities to all automobile related businesses. “Sharjah Auto Park is the first of its kind in the world. The automobile industry in Sharjah is one of its fastest growing segments and Sharjah Auto Park is designed to meet the growing needs of this segment,” he added. Residents of Abu Shagara are always complaining about the congested car market that occupies their parking slots and traders lose money through heavy fines imposed by the government for parking rule violations. The new location is only 8 km away near the Emirates Industrial City and its connected by highways to the airport and sea port.  According to Pardesi, “We are happy to state that the Sharjah government has been a leading facilitator in providing this opportunity to the auto trade. This is a joint venture project between the Saudi developer Al Hanoo and Giga Investment.” “Abu Shagara used to be the hub of the automobile industry in Sharjah. There were around 600 dealers as well as service providers operating from this area. Since the location was causing much hardship for residents of the area, Sharjah Municipality brought strict rules to regulate the industry. This caused hardship for the traders and made them unhappy. Sharjah Auto Park will meet the long-felt need for a single hub for all activities related to the automobile industry. The project will serve entrepreneurs across all segments of the auto industry sectors. Sharjah Auto Park is the solution for a long-felt need,” he added. owever, the traders and residents of Abu Shagara area are sceptical and said they have been hearing about such a project since 2006. “All the traders would shift to the new market, if there are government incentives and all the showrooms are shifted together,” said one trader. Giga Investments officials are taking car dealers on a visit to the project’s location to clear their doubts. Pardesi said the Sharjah Auto Park would be self-sufficient in all respects. “By paying as low as Dh212, 400 one can get a 99-year lease of the showroom plot. The place is complete in all respects. There would be electricity, water, communications, government office, auction house, restaurants, supermarkets, residential and commercial accommodation, road network, various types of land (industrial and commercial), easy payment plan up to three years, escrow account to safeguard customer investment, gated community with surveillance cameras and 24-hours security. Sharjah Auto Park is very close to the port and airport and is on a highway connecting it to other emirates.” The Sharjah Auto Park is designed to cover over 50 active segments related to the automobile industry like heavy machinery, scrap, spare parts, car show rooms, classic cars, government auction house and performance upgrade workshops.