Abu Dhabi: Residents will soon be able to buy fruit and vegetables directly from wholesalers during Ramadan at Al Mina market, the largest vegetable and fruit market in the city.
This will help residents buy cheaper products, a senior official said on Sunday.
“I have asked the municipality to make arrangements for wholesalers to sell the vegetables and fruit directly to consumers after iftar, from around 7.30pm till 1am or 2am,” Dr Hashim Al Nuiami, Head of the Consumer Protection Unit at the Ministry of Economy, said.
He was speaking to the media during an inspection campaign at Al Mina market.
He ordered retailers at the vegetable market to cut the price of bundles of leaves such as parsley, coriander and mint from Dh2 to Dh1. He said the offence did not warrant a fine but just a warning.
Retailers said they were unaware of the instructions relating to this but they immediately changed the price tags to Dh1. They said they had received a similar instruction last Ramadan.
A customer complained to Dr Al Nuaimi that a retailer was selling apples at Dh30 per kilogram, which is above the market price. After checking with the retailer, the official said it was the regular price of South African apples and other cheaper apples were available. “It was a misunderstanding on the part of the customer,” he said.
Dr Al Nuaimi said he was satisfied with the prices at the market.
“All retailers have displayed price tags with each and every item. And no one was found violating any rules related to the prices,” he said.
He said he had not yet received any serious complaints about price rises since the start of Ramadan. “But last year I received many complaints.”
Asked about the prices at hypermarkets and supermarkets, the official said he and his team inspected Lulu hypermarkets and Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society last week. All prices were under control there.
Retailers at Al Mina market told Gulf News that although the wholesale prices of a few vegetables went up on the first day of Ramadan, they were brought down immediately thanks to the supply from Iran. “During the hot season, most vegetables and fruit come from Jordan. The supply from Iran has also increased now,” Mohammad Hussain said.
