(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Abu Dhabi Municipality and police have cleared the infamous Friday slum market of Al Musaffah, where vendors sold everything ranging from clothes to fish. The makeshift market in Al Musaffah industrial city number 11 was like a bustling city within a city.
The week-long operation was carried out following a comprehensive report about the market that Khaleej Times published on May 24.
A number of people involved in gambling and selling alcoholic beverages were arrested. The illegal market, which was set up many years ago by workers living in nearby labour accommodations, sold everything from meat, fish, vegetables, old blankets, clothes and shoes, and offered services like hair cutting, shaving and tailoring.
KT visited the area on Friday afternoon and found the once bustling illegal market empty. "The operation began a few days ago and concluded on Friday, with the two streets that used to be the market completely clean. Sweepers from cleaning companies were brought in to clean the streets," said Abdul Rasheed, a Pakistani truck driver.
During the operation, pick-up vehicles bringing goods for vendors at the market were stopped and its drivers were fined Dh500 each.
According to residents of the area, when the operation began, vendors fled the market to evade arrests, leaving their goods behind.
The market used to be dominated by Bangladeshi vendors and used to be called 'Bengali market'. Pakistanis, Indians and Nepalis also used to frequent the market.
Most of the vendors at the market earn monthly wages ranging from Dh500 to Dh800 and used to work at the market during the weekends to make some extra money.
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