Stricken Al Quoz businesses offered lifeline

HELPING HAND: Dubai Industrial City is offering businesses hit by the fire a deal to lease warehouses at reduced rates. (Amy Glass)

Dubai Industrial City is offering stricken businesses hit by Wednesday’s devastating fire in the Al Quoz industrial estate a deal to lease warehouses at reduced rates.

Dozens of buildings in the area have been destroyed by the fire, which was sparked by a massive explosion at a nearby illegal fireworks warehouse.

The blaze has caused around 600 million dirhams ($163 million) worth of losses, insurers have estimated.

Rashed Al Ansari, CEO of Dubai Industrial City, said on Saturday the city had made 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space available to affected businesses as part of the its mandated obligation to support the industrial sector in Dubai.

“Those who suffered losses by the latest fires have the priority to lease our warehouses at reduced rates, considering the challenges they are currently facing," Al Ansari said, without giving further details about the discount.

Business owners would need to obtain official documentation from Dubai authorities to confirm they had been affected by the incident to be eligible for the initiative, he added.

Eight people have so far died in the explosion and there are fears of yet more fatalities with two people still reported missing.

Dubai Municipality is currently working to remove debris from the area, after which police will begin examining the scene.

Police have already arrested the owner of the illegal fireworks warehouse, according to state news agency Wam, adding that he was to be referred to the public prosecution on Thursday.

Police have promised a major crackdown on the illegal storage of fireworks following the incident.

Massive explosion rocks Dubai
UPDATE 5: Explosion at illegal fireworks factory, up to 20 buildings ablaze, at least two dead.

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