Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi Inaugurates Livestock Market in the City of Kalba

Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi Inaugurates Livestock Market in the City of Kalba

On implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Head of the Ruler’s Office in Kalba City, opened a livestock market in Kalba city. Sharjah Asset Management Company, investment arm of the Government of Sharjah, has been tasked to manage and operate the market, after the Sharjah Public Works Department implemented it in accordance with the highest standards and integrated services to meet the needs and requirements of the area’s residents and visitors.

The inauguration was attended by Eng. Ali bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Head of  Department of Public Works in Sharjah, Ibrahim Al Houti, CEO of Osoul Services Company at Sharjah Asset Management Company, Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Kalba City, Eng. Abdul Rahman Al Naqbi, Director of Kalba Municipality, and Eng. Hamid Al Zarouni , Executive Director – Jubail Markets in Sharjah Asset Management Company. Also in attendance were Eng. Abdalla Al Shamsi, Manager of Sharjah Livestock Market, Eng. Bashayer Al Mansouri, Director of Kalba Branch in the Department, in addition to a large group of department and section managers from all parties.

Eng. Abdalla Al Shamsi, Manager of the Sharjah Livestock Market, said that the commencement of the market arose under the extensive plan and strategy of Sharjah Asset Management Company to develop revolutionary projects, services, mechanisms, and procedures in the Emirate. This will be done with the vision to elevate quality of life further in the Emirate of Sharjah, and meet the needs and requirements of residents and visitors to the Emirate, especially in light of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha festivities.

Al Shamsi added: “The market has been designed with the latest technologies, in accordance with approved international standards in terms of area, general shape, and provided facilities. We have adhered to the highest quality of standard possible to ensure hygiene and public health. We have provided an advanced slaughterhouse in the market, with equipment that operates according to the latest technologies used in slaughtering, cutting, and packing meat –  for personal use, commercial purposes, or major events. The market has been constructed in a strategic location, providing ease of access to all.”

Eng. Bashayer Al Mansoori, Director of the Kalba branch in the Department, indicated that the livestock and sheep market has a total area of ​​20,740 sq.m., with a capacity to accommodate more than 1,785 heads of livestock and sheep over an area of ​​1540 sq. m.

She added that the slaughterhouse provides camel, cow, and sheep slaughter services. The engineer further pointed out the market’s several entrances, some of which are intended for visitors, while others are gates specifically for livestock. Animals are escorted through the market according to a specified movement mechanism organised by the ticket room. Special gates for camels and sheep, as well as gates for unloading, loading, and disposal of slaughterhouse waste have also been created to keep different streams organised. Staff of the market have also been provided a private entrance to the market, as well as changing rooms to change clothes.

The Kalba butchery follows several high standard criteria, including adherence to the requirements of green buildings approved by the department, observance of regulations to preserve the environment and reduce heat emissions, and follow a central cleaning system for slaughter halls, thus reducing the use of cleaning equipment and materials.

Special mechanisms used in the slaughterhouse include solar water heating, creating a sustainable alternative to hot water required in the slaughter halls, which would otherwise burn fossil fuels. Hand sanitisation and shoe sterilising stations are also present at the entrance. These stations are equipped with automated sensors that do not allow workers to enter slaughter halls until the sterilisation process is complete, ensuring cleanliness.

The slaughterhouse contains a cold room, service rooms, rooms for administrators, meat processing and cutting rooms, and a veterinarian office. It also includes rooms for separating  skin and other organ meat, rooms designated for urgent slaughter, a spacious waiting room for visitors, guard room, handling room, and a laboratory.

Sharjah Asset Management Company boasts a global reputation in the field of wealth building, and was established exclusively by the Government of Sharjah. For the Government of Sharjah, the path to achieving economic diversification is through the expansion of multiple industries, and enhanced  development of world-class facilities for sustainable investment opportunities.

His Excellency Eng. Abdul Rahman Al Naqbi, Director of Kalba City Municipality, stated that the Kalba Livestock Market has been completed under the supreme directives of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah. Selection of the site was relegated to the middle of the city, allowing ease of access to the location. With regards to the procedures and regulation of the functioning of the market during the busy Eid Al-Adha period, the municipality began work on early preparations for slaughtering the sacrificial animals, in order to facilitate and ease the burden on dealers. Sharjah Asset Management Company, in collaboration with the municipality, has allocated phone numbers for easy communication, with an active free hotline to serve customers around-the-clock.