Massive Ramadan Discounts in UAE Supermarkets
Ramadan Discounts in UAE: 10,000 Products at 50% Off in Supermarkets
The holy month of Ramadan is not only a period of spiritual renewal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but also an excellent opportunity for shoppers to enjoy discounts. This year, various offers have been announced by the country's supermarkets, with discounts of up to 65% available. According to the Ministry of Economy, more than 644 major supermarkets have joined these promotions, and over 10,000 products have been discounted by 50% or more. Some cooperatives are offering discounts worth up to 35 million dirhams throughout the month.
Lulu Hypermarket and Other Major Retailers' Promotions
Lulu Hypermarket, which has more than 600 stores in the Emirates, is offering a 65% discount on 5,500 products. Another cooperative has reduced prices on over 5,000 products by 60%. The Director of Consumer Protection and Commercial Control highlighted that a significant amount of food has been imported to UAE markets in recent months. For instance, the Al Aweer Fruit and Vegetable Market in Dubai receives 15,000 tons daily, while traders in Abu Dhabi are provided with 6,000 tons of goods.
"This demonstrates serious efforts to ensure sufficient availability of food stock in local markets, especially during peak periods like Ramadan," he said.
Price Control and Inspections
The ministry places great emphasis on ensuring that supermarkets do not raise prices on the recently announced nine essential products. During Ramadan, 420 inspection visits are planned. According to regulations effective since December, retailers cannot increase these products' prices without prior approval. These products include cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat.
The inspections are not limited to physical visits. The ministry also continuously monitors the market through online platforms and a WhatsApp group. It was noted that they are in electronic contact with the UAE's 14 largest retailers, including Spinneys, Carrefour, Lulu, Al Safeer, KM, and Maya Supermarket. These stores sell more than 80% of the products purchased in the country. If any price change occurs on these essential products, the system immediately raises a red flag, alerting the ministry and local economic authorities.
Consumer Complaints and Rapid Responses
The ministry encourages consumers to report any price tag changes or product quality issues that do not meet expectations. This can be done via the toll-free number 8001222 or the ministry's social media platforms. In the past year, they received 1,891 complaints electronically, 93% of which were resolved on time.
"You would be surprised at how fast we communicate at local and federal levels between monitoring and consumer protection officials. Any information we receive is immediately forwarded to the concerned parties over WhatsApp. We do not wait for emails," he added.
Further Inspections and Market Monitoring
The ministry collaborates with local consumer protection authorities to conduct further inspections. In the first two months of this year, 768 inspections were carried out, whereas in 2024, they conducted 80,249 surprise inspections in various stores, recording 8,388 violations. These included counterfeit parts found in car dealerships.
Summary
Ramadan is not only a time for fasting and prayer but also provides a great opportunity for shoppers to take advantage of discounts. UAE supermarkets and retailers are welcoming shoppers with huge discounts, while the ministry ensures through strict inspections that consumers are not faced with unjustified price hikes or quality issues. With active consumer participation and quick response from authorities, UAE markets remain stable and reliable even during Ramadan.
