Rice, meat and popular items costlier, say residents

Dubai: The festive season is here, bringing with it cheer and rising prices.

Residents say retailers are taking advantage of Christmas and Eid Al Adha and hiking prices of food commodities used in celebrations. A survey by Gulf News revealed the price of lamb at hypermarkets has increased from Dh35 a kg to Dh44 a kg in two months, or a 20 per cent rise.

Residents who are busy preparing for their Christmas dinner told Gulf News the price of turkey has also risen.

Hypermarkets hike prices

Sinead Morcoss, from Ireland, who has lived in Dubai for the past nine years, said her Christmas bill has increased by Dh50-Dh100 this year and the main reason is the rise in meat prices.

"I had to buy the same piece of meat today for around Dh50 more than usual and this is because retailers are taking advantage of the festive season."

Joan Dale, from the UK, who has lived in the country for 18 years, said: "There is bound to be an increase. We are used to price hikes during any occasion." Ala'a from Palestine, who has lived in Dubai for two years, said that products such as vegetables and cream, popular during festive season, are costlier.

The price of rice has also risen sharply. The survey revealed the price of Basmati rice has increased by 16.7 per cent in hypermarkets and 4.7 per cent at Union Cooperatives.

Sultan Al Merri, branch manager of an Union Cooperative outlet, said an increase of lamb prices will continue especially since Eid Al Adha is less than a week away.

"There has been an increase in lamb prices recently, but during Eid the prices will increase even more, especially since suppliers always try to take advantage of a high season to increase their profits. But I promise that we at Union Cooperative will try to combat the increase."