Dubai: When you are new to the UAE it can be a bit overwhelming sorting out your everyday shopping needs. Where do you get the best vegetables and meat from? Is there a shop near your house that you are unaware of?
The UAE is known as a shopping destination and while groceries aren’t the most glamorous of purchases, customers are spoilt for choice. Because there are several players in the market, you can visit different stores during the first few months of your stay in the UAE. Not only will this give you a better idea of the options available to you as a consumer, you can also calculate price differences and make the best shopping decisions.
In the UAE, you will find big hypermarkets, smaller supermarkets and even smaller grocery stores, referred to as ‘baqala’ in Arabic.
Hypermarkets offer customers an all-you-need solution, with most selling electronic items, fresh fruits and vegetables and toileteries along with having a roastery, food-to-Go, delicatessen, imported and local fresh meats, Arabic snacks and sweets, and healthy organic products.
So, here is your list of all the major supermarkets in the UAE.
Hypermarkets
Carrefour
Carrefour is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world and in the UAE it is managed by the Majid Al Futtaim group. It has 28 hypermarkets and 43 supermarkets along with some ‘city’ convenience stores as well. These stores are hard to miss as they are often part of popular malls, and have a sprawling space.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can. You can order online through https://www.carrefouruae.com/ or through their apps, which are available on Apple and Android phones.
The store offers free delivery on orders above Dh50.
Contact: 800-732-32
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Lulu
Lulu is a UAE-based business that has grown internationally. It is operated by Emke Group and, with hypermarkets across the UAE as well as the Gulf region. In the UAE alone, the group runs 177 stores. Quite often Lulu hypermarkets can be found as stand-alone structures, with many smaller restaurants and eateries as part of the shopping complex.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can. You can order online through https://www.luluhypermarket.com or through their apps, which are available on Apple and Android phones.
The store offers free delivery on orders above Dh50.
Contact: 600 540048
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Union Cooperative
The UAE has several ‘cooperative societies’ which offer UAE nationals and residents with discounted products. Union Coop, which operates in Dubai, claims to be the largest among these, with 17 branches and two malls - Al Barsha Mall in Al Barsha and Etihad Mall in Al Khawaneej. You can find good deals on bulk purchases on the offers that are regularly promoted at the cooperative.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can. You can order online through this link or through their apps, which are available on Apple and Android phones.
The store offers free delivery on orders above Dh50.
Contact: 8008889
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Emirates Cooperative
With eight branches in Dubai, this is a smaller cooperative society but comes up with attractive offers, especially their mid-week deals, which can help you shop on a budget, if you plan in advance.
Can I order in?
No.
Contact: 800-327
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Sharjah Cooperative
This was the first cooperative society to be set up in the UAE, through a ministerial decree in 1977. Today, it has around 30 branches all across the emirate of Sharjah.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can. You can order online through https://www.sharjahcoop.ae/ with free delivery across Sharjah.
Contact: 8008889
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Grand hypermarket
Grand Hypermarkets are often part of bigger malls also run by the same Regency Group. The company has seven outlets in Dubai and Sharjah.
Can I order in?
No.
Contact: 04 3411193
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
United hypermarket
This is a 24-hour hypermarket catering to the busy area of Deira, situated on Abu Baker Al Siddique Road in Dubai.
Can I order in?
No.
Contact: 04 266 7444
Safeer Hypermarket
The Al Safeer Group in the UAE operates Safeer Hypermarket, Safeer Market, Safeer Centre, Macro Emirates and Buy ‘n’ Save. The markets are known for their low prices and offers, and the group also operates a mall each in Dubai and Sharjah – Century Mall in Dubai and Safeer Mall in Sharjah.
Can I order in?
No.
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Géant
One of the biggest supermarket chains in the world, the French grocer also has a presence in the UAE with around 14 branches.
Can I order in?
No.
Nesto
The Nesto group runs a network of supermarkets and hypermarkets across the UAE, but in particular dominates the Sharjah and Ajman market.
Can I order in?
No.
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Supermarkets
Spinneys
One of the more popular community supermarket chains in the UAE, Spinney’s started in the country back in 1961. Today, it has over 58 stores across the UAE.
Can I order in?
No
Contact: You will need to call individual branches for details.
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Al Maya Group
Al Maya Group started operating supermarkets in the UAE in 1982 and since has grown to be one of the biggest supermarket chains in the UAE. They operate the Al Maya Supermaret, Citi Mart, Jesco, Shop ‘n’ Save and Al Ain City Centre.
Can I order in?
Yes, in fact Al Maya has been one of the first supermarkets to offer free home delivery and today is the only store that provides the service 24-hours a day.
While the supermarket chain does not offer online shopping, you can call them on 800 ALMAYA (256292) to place an order to receive quick delivery or on their Facebook page @almayasupermarkets for next day delivery.
Contact: 800ALMAYA
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Also read
Al Madina supermarkets
While the Al Madina group also runs quite a few hypermarkets, it is probably known most for its supermarkets that seem to cater to almost every area of the UAE. With reasonable prices and a huge network of 72 outlets.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can call visit a local Madina supermarket to get their telephone number and their home delivery service is available during operating hours.
Choithrams
One of the oldest supermarket chains in the UAE, Choithrams has around 39 outlets in the country, with five stores open 24x7.
Can I order in?
Yes, you can order online at https://www.choithrams.com/en/.
Contact: 04 368 4026 (8am — 10pm)
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Shaklan
The Shaklan group operates 13 hypermarkets and supermarkets across Dubai.
Can I order in?
No.
Contact: 04 321 7278
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here: http://www.shaklangroup.com/findstore.html
Baqer Mohebi
Old residents of Dubai fondly remember the Baqer Mohebi in the heart of Deira market. The reason why it was popular back in the day was because of the great discounts residents could avail. Even today, the five supermarkets that the group operates offer items at big discounts, largely because its main operation is marketing and distribution of products. However, if you do find a great deal, make sure you check the expiry dates to be able to use the products for as long as you think you’ll need them.
Can I order in?
No.
Contact: 04 396 9777
Westzone
Westzone operates 46 supermarkets across the UAE, with a special focus on the neighbourhoods they operate in. So, if in a particular community the population of Filipino expatriates is higher than average, you can find a specialty store by Westzone providing more Filipino food items. The group also operates three malls in Dubai.
Can I order in?
No.
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
https://www.westzone.com/hypermarkets/
Aswaaq
A relatively new supermarket chain, Aswaaq has focused its operations in Dubai, with 23 outlets.
Can I order in?
Yes. You can shop online here.
Contact: 800 ASWAAQ (279227)
Where are the branches?
You can find a branch closest to you by clicking here.
Groceries
There are groceries all across communities in UAE. While the neighbourhood ‘baqala’ might be a great convenience when you are in a pinch and need fresh milk or bread, shopping there regularly can add up the costs as the products are marked up marginally. However, you will rarely be disappointed if you wander in looking for the day’s fresh bread or a quick drink in the summer heat.
https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/dubai-groceries-to-get-a-makeover-1.1836334
Apps
There are also several third party applications that cater to UAE customers. Here is a list of a few apps you could give a try, apart from the ones offered by bigger hypermarkets like Carrefour and Lulu.
https://gulfnews.com/business/retail/for-online-grocery-retailers-in-the-gulf-convenience-is-paramount-1.2238503
However, these apps do have a specific network of coverage so you would first need to check if the app delivers to your area of residence. While there are several apps that you should check out in your app store, here are a few that can get you started:
Instashop – with an average delivery time of 45 minutes, this app taps into your nearby supermarket and hypermarket network to bring the groceries to you. The app is available on AppStore and Playstore. Check out their website here: https://instashop.ae/ Check if the area you live in has a minimum order requirement.
Fresh to home – Looking for fresh fish delivered to your doorstep? There’s an app for that! This app offers fish that has no ammonia or formaline and also has a no Antibiotics or hormone guarantee for meats. Delivery charges are typically Dh5 per order, but this can be discounted for ‘a purchase above a particular threshold or during promotions’. Minimum charge on first time order is Dh20. If you want to know more, visit their website: https://ae.freshtohome.com/ The app is available on AppStore and Playstore. Check out their website here: https://instashop.ae/ Check if the area you live in is catered to.
el Grocer – Launched in 2015, el Grocer is one of the earliest grocery e-commerce apps launched in the MENA region, which now also has a web store. The prices are supposed to be the same as the grocery store, with a delivery time of 60 minutes. The app is available on AppStore and Playstore. Check out their website here: https://www.elgrocer.com/
Farm box – this is an organic and healthy food store, where you can select fresh produce as individual items or get tailored boxes from the company. You can order online on https://farmbox.ae/ or download their app, available on AppStore and Playstore.
So, whether you are lookin for your daily grocery items, home improvement solutions or even a new mobile phone, head over to your nearest hypermarket and you will be surprised by the options available.
