Dubai: Think prices at one market are cheaper than another? According to a new app called Sallety, you’re probably right.

“Sallety” (My basket in Arabic), which was recently launched by the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, the average price variation of commodities across outlets in Dubai range up to 70 per cent.

That’s a good thing, according to top government officials and business people, because the variations in the price of commodities across Dubai’s outlets are the natural results of the market and legal infrastructure.

“Price variation in the market is a healthy practice which energise the market and enhance competition among retailers,” said Omar Bu Shahab, CEO of Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector at the Dubai Department of Economic Development.

Hypermarkets

Sallety provides the prices of over 270 basic commodities across eight main hypermarkets with 60 branches in the emirate to allow consumers to virtually browse through hypermarket shelves before making a purchase.

He said the DED has a special team to watch the market but “we don’t control the prices when we think they are reasonable”.|

Prices are mainly the retailer’s choice and the consumer can compare the prices through the website with the app. Shoppers will definitely be attracted to the good pricing outlets, Bu Shahab added.

Carrefour, Lulu, Maya Lals, Union Cooperative, Emirates, Choithram, Spinneys and Hyper Panda are marketing their products on this website with the app for selected food categories, including cereals, meat and poultry, fish, fruits and nuts, vegetables, sugar, milk and egg, oil and fat, tea and coffee, water and soft drinks, in addition to other foodstuffs.

Free market

Saleh Lootah, Chairman of Food and Beverage Group, said that according to the nature of a free market such as Dubai, it is very difficult to control prices, especially since the UAE imports most of its products and there is always political lobbying between the corporates and exporters.

Competition is required in any developed market. This is the case in Dubai, and price variation points to the healthy business atmosphere, he said.