Santhosh Chandran
Doha
THE mushroom growth of warehouses in the East Industrial Area in the recent past has come as a big relief to traders, bringing down warehouse rents by 20 to 30 percent in last one year, according to industry sources.
The state-of-the-art warehouses, with well-connected new road networks, have also provided significant boost to the logistics and shipping businesses.
The newly-built warehouses of different sizes have also boosted investment and employment opportunities.
According to traders and representatives of logistics firms, the number of small and medium-size warehouses in the area has increased threefold in the last two years.
Better road connectivity between Hamad Port in Mesaieed, Hamad International Airport and Al Majd Road (Orbital Highway), Ras Laffan Industrial City and Al Khor with spacious parking areas have made new Industrial area warehouses ideal for logistic firms and wholesalers.
"The completion of Al Majd Road and its connection to major construction sites and agricultural farms has reduced the travel time to any of these areas by up to 50 percent. Now we can deliver goods to customers quickly”, a senior official of a warehouse told Qatar Tribune.
The initiatives of local investors in warehouse rental business after the blockade and opening new roads has benefited both the food and the construction industry.
The demand for small and medium warehouses with an area of 10,000 square metres to 25,000 square metres has steadily increased after the blockade. Even though the demand for residential and commercial properties has seen decline in the last few months, the demand for huge warehouses has grown considerably during this period. Subsequently, a large number of middle-class business groups have switched to renting or constructing new warehouses in the Industrial Area.
"We are always in search of warehouses that offer better connectivity to airport, seaport, Industrial Area and retail markets in Doha. The increase in the supply of warehouses is benefiting all traders in Qatar”, an official of a hypermarket chain in Doha said.
Low construction and maintenance cost coupled with easy documentation is the other temptation for a section of business groups to turn to warehouse business.
Doha
THE mushroom growth of warehouses in the East Industrial Area in the recent past has come as a big relief to traders, bringing down warehouse rents by 20 to 30 percent in last one year, according to industry sources.
The state-of-the-art warehouses, with well-connected new road networks, have also provided significant boost to the logistics and shipping businesses.
The newly-built warehouses of different sizes have also boosted investment and employment opportunities.
According to traders and representatives of logistics firms, the number of small and medium-size warehouses in the area has increased threefold in the last two years.
Better road connectivity between Hamad Port in Mesaieed, Hamad International Airport and Al Majd Road (Orbital Highway), Ras Laffan Industrial City and Al Khor with spacious parking areas have made new Industrial area warehouses ideal for logistic firms and wholesalers.
"The completion of Al Majd Road and its connection to major construction sites and agricultural farms has reduced the travel time to any of these areas by up to 50 percent. Now we can deliver goods to customers quickly”, a senior official of a warehouse told Qatar Tribune.
The initiatives of local investors in warehouse rental business after the blockade and opening new roads has benefited both the food and the construction industry.
The demand for small and medium warehouses with an area of 10,000 square metres to 25,000 square metres has steadily increased after the blockade. Even though the demand for residential and commercial properties has seen decline in the last few months, the demand for huge warehouses has grown considerably during this period. Subsequently, a large number of middle-class business groups have switched to renting or constructing new warehouses in the Industrial Area.
"We are always in search of warehouses that offer better connectivity to airport, seaport, Industrial Area and retail markets in Doha. The increase in the supply of warehouses is benefiting all traders in Qatar”, an official of a hypermarket chain in Doha said.
Low construction and maintenance cost coupled with easy documentation is the other temptation for a section of business groups to turn to warehouse business.