Bread is cheap, but not the meat

Bakeries in the UAE will have to sell their products at prices fixed last year,” the Ministry of Economy was quoted as saying in the Arabic newspapers on Thursday morning.

However, the cost of meat is likely to go up as suppliers of meat have refused to sign long-term contracts (annual or semi-annual) with wholesale and retail traders in the UAE, according to Sharjah-based Arabic newspaper Al Khaleej.

Regarding bread, the ministry confirmed, “It had not received any requests for price increases,” according to Dr Hachim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Department of Consumer Protection. Dr Nuaimi warned that the ministry is going to fine bakeries which had raised prices without formal approval.

A number of wholesale and retail meat traders confirmed: “The suppliers confined their contracts for a period not exceeding two weeks because of price fluctuations due to of supply.”

They added, “The prices of many types of meat witnessed a hike of between Dh2-3. Although this increase is not that great, it comes as part of a series of prior hikes in the prices of meat, especially in Australian meat, where if we compare prices today with 3 months ago, we will find that they have risen by 30-40 per cent.”

Bread is to be sold by weight with a 15 grams leeway. The price of each 100 grams is fixed at 25 fils, and each kilogramme at Dh2.5.

He added that the price of 300 grams of Al Samun bread is 75 fils and small Lebanese bread (500 grams) is Dh1.25. Afghani bread weighing 300 grams is sold for 75 fils, Indian bread weighing 300 grams is sold at 75 fils.

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