Ramadan shopping: Who has the best prices?

Price matters more than proximity when it comes to grocery shopping for Dubai residents.

Emirates 24|7 spoke to several residents across Dubai and many said they prefer to shop in the most cost-effective stores for their weekly supplies, while they depended on expensive groceries closer to their residences (that offer home delivery services), for essentials such as milk and bread.

In our survey we found that almost all small groceries located in residential buildings and localities charges 25 to 50 fils additional on most products.

“I prepare a weekly list and shop for most of the items every Thursday evening. I either go to Carrefour or to Lulu as I get more bundle offers and cheaper prices,” said Kiran R who lives in Barsha.

Similarly Deema T from Syria and living in JLT says her shopping is usually done once a week from a grocery that is more affordable. 

However, more number of women do prefer to call in essential items from neighbourhood groceries.

Teena Varghese who lives in Silicon Oasis says tomatoes that are usually delivered home cost at least 50 fils to a dirham more per kilogram when they are home delivered.
 

 *SIS and Masoor Dal was not available at Choitrams

** Union Co did not have Pillsbury

*** Choitrams only had two kgs bag of Tilda rice
 

“I usually order essential vegetables like tomatoes and bananas from local nearby groceries.

“We have about four to five groceries here and all of them charge extra on every single item. But it still makes sense to buy them from here. Most local tomatoes found in large hypermarkets are usually in a very bad state.”

According to her sudden price hikes are not just limited to Ramadan. “Most large stores do it throughout the year and mostly during the weekends. It is just that during Ramadan the ministry gets a bit more strict,” she added.

Shopping for a small dinner party at home at Lulu, Karama resident Shobna Yogeshwaran spoke about the fluctuating prices since Ramadan, saying: “Despite the supermarkets denying it, those who shop for groceries weekly will tell you that prices have shot up since Ramadan began.

“While basics such as flour and rice may not have changed much in terms of pricing, it’s the fresh vegetables and the meat that has hiked by a good 25 per cent.

“A few weeks ago, I picked up a kilo of carrots for just Dh6, while today if I go to see, the price wavers around Dh10.50. That is robbery!”

Meanwhile, Spinneys shopper Bertha Young says: “I usually shop at Spinneys and frankly have seen not much of a difference in prices since Ramadan began.

“Surely a basic fluctuation is normal on a weekly basis.”

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