Dubai: Grocery shopping isn’t cheap, especially when you have a family to feed. Retail food prices have risen and we need to start making smarter decisions.
It can be difficult to stick to a budget, especially in a place like Dubai, but some great grocery chains in our city are helping you save money by offering great promotions, deals and just generally lower prices on food, especially if you opt to buy their own store brand products.
Here is your guide on the top 9 pocket-friendly supermarkets in Dubai.
1. Union Coop
One of the longest standing and most charitable supermarkets in the UAE, is the neighbourhood Union Coop. They've basically been around for over 25 years and have some of the best prices on offer. The Union Coop has 11 branches spread over strategic areas in Dubai. From stores in Satwa and Rashidiya to Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim just to name a few, Union Coop always has really great deals and focuses a lot on helping the community. Their groceries are fresh and definitely more affordable than most other supermarkets in Dubai. The Union Coop is one of our top recommendations for affordable shopping.
2. Shaklan
With supermarkets, hypermarkets and markets all across the city, Shaklan stocks very affordable brands and is a great place to buy fresh and low-priced fruit and vegetables. Shaklan is also home to a large selection of nuts and have them at a much higher quality than many of its competitors. You can also buy organic produce at Shaklan for a lot less. Lastly, their deals and promotions are great and add good value to your shopping trip.
3. Carrefour
We all know Carrefour is one of the most cost-effective spots to get groceries from. The French superstore has great deals, variety and lower cost on products. That makes it one of the best places to shop and save. Carrefour is not only great for groceries, but also because it stocks many other lower-budget items including clothes, accessories, electronics, appliances and so much more.
Located all over the city, from the smaller Carrefour Markets and Carrefour Express's to the larger superstores in the city's malls. Make sure you pay attention to the Carrefour generic store brand products, which are actually amazing and quite a bit cheaper than the higher end items.
4. Baqer Mohebi
This affordable supermarket located in Bur Dubai is known for its cheap chocolate and sweets among other things. Big discounts apply when you buy in bulk at Baqer Mohebi. There's also a special section in the shop - the "Dh1 per item" section, where soon to be expired goods are sold at a very low price. Great for when you want something cheap and are planning to consume it straight away.
5. Organic Foods and Cafe (cheapest organic)
Organic Foods and Cafe is the food store with the lowest prices on organic products. We all know how expensive organic food can get, so if you choose to live a healthier lifestyle, then Organic Foods and Cafe is the place to go to if you want to spend less on organic items. It’s known to have a great variety of things and really high quality of produce, since everything is sourced from local UAE farmers. This one is our go to spot for anything organic in the city.
6. Lulu Hypermarket
Lulu Hypermarket is a no brainer to add on this list as one of the best pocket-friendly supermarkets in Dubai. It’s got a wide selection of items and a really great section for electronics. The prices are definitely great at Lulu, with tons of promotions and great deals.
7. Emirates Cooperative Society
One of the longest standing supermarkets in the UAE. Affectionately known as the Co-op, this supermarket is well regarded for its affordable goods. The fruits and vegetables are always fresh and the staff are super friendly and always happy to help. They have cool promotions, such as the ‘products of the day’ and special weekend promotions. With a variety of locations all over the UAE, it’s a great spot for budget shopping.
8. Viva
Viva is one of the first UAE food discount stores in the region offering quality products to its customers at a very low price. Every day the discounts change, so make sure you follow their social media to know what is on sale when.
9. Westzone
Great place to buy Pinoy ingredients. The hypermarket is a one-stop-shop for essential items and specialty products. They have weekly promotions as well as special offers during special times of the year, like Christmas, Onam, New Year, Eid and more.
