Ministry’s Latest Price Listings Help Residents Compare Staple Food Prices, Pack Sizes and Retailers.
Dubai: UAE residents looking to manage their grocery budgets can compare listed prices of everyday essentials, including rice, eggs, milk and cooking oil, through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Essential Goods Prices Platform.
The online dashboard lists retailers and pack sizes, allowing households to compare prices and make more informed choices when shopping for everyday necessities. The platform’s latest price section is dated November 3, 2026, offering an updated reference for residents planning their monthly grocery purchases.
The prices below are based on the pack sizes and rates displayed on the platform. Calculated unit prices provide a useful basis for comparing different quantities, although products may vary by brand and specifications. The listed rates should also be treated as a reference rather than a guarantee of prices throughout November.
Rice, sugar and flour
Nesto’s listed 5kg pack of basmati rice costs Dh20.99, working out to approximately Dh4.20 per kg. This is the lowest calculated unit price among the rice listings reviewed.
Nesto also offers the lowest calculated unit price for sugar in the updated listings. Its 4kg pack of white sugar is priced at Dh8.99, equivalent to approximately Dh2.25 per kg.
Buying both packs would cost Dh29.98, giving shoppers 5kg of rice and 4kg of sugar. This provides a practical estimate of the total expenditure for these two grocery staples.
For flour, listings at Spinneys, Nesto, Carrefour, LuLu and Emirates Coop work out to Dh6 per kg. However, shoppers should check the pack sizes and total prices, as the upfront cost may differ even when the unit price is the same.
Eggs, chicken and bread
Choithrams lists a 15-piece pack of white eggs at Dh3.45, working out to 23 fils per egg. Carrefour’s listing for a 30-piece pack of brown eggs is priced at Dh14.55, or approximately 49 fils per egg.
These are different products, so shoppers should also consider egg size, brand and other specifications before making a choice. Comparing the per-egg cost helps assess packs of different quantities, while the displayed pack price indicates the actual amount payable.
Emirates Coop lists fresh whole chicken at Dh12.44 for a 1.1kg pack, working out to approximately Dh11.31 per kg. The actual purchase price is Dh12.44, while the unit cost allows shoppers to compare birds of different weights.
For white sliced bread, Sharjah Coop lists a 490g pack at Dh3, equivalent to approximately Dh6.12 per kg. Nesto’s 650g pack is priced at Dh3.99, or about Dh6.14 per kg.
Although the unit prices are almost identical, the loaves contain different quantities. The choice ultimately depends on household consumption and how much bread can be used before it goes stale.
Check the type of cooking oil
Emirates Coop lists sunflower oil at Dh25.50 for five litres, equivalent to Dh5.10 per litre. Its canola oil listing costs Dh26.20 for 3.6 litres, working out to approximately Dh7.28 per litre.
Carrefour’s corn oil listing is priced at Dh21.75 for three litres, equivalent to Dh7.25 per litre.
However, shoppers should check the product description and composition before comparing prices. Different types of cooking oil are not necessarily interchangeable. The best approach is to compare the same oil category first, followed by pack quantity and price per litre.
Milk and yoghurt
Emirates Coop lists fresh whole milk at Dh3.75 per litre. Sharjah Coop’s powdered milk listing costs Dh6.13 for a 400g pack, equivalent to approximately Dh15.33 per kg.
KM Trading lists yoghurt at Dh34.75 for a 10kg pack, working out to approximately Dh3.48 per kg. This is a calculated unit cost, not the price at which shoppers can buy a single kilogram.
Pack size matters: Unit prices are particularly useful when comparing bulk purchases. However, households should consider their consumption needs, storage capacity and product shelf life before opting for larger packs.
Pulses and beans
Al Maya lists beans at Dh3.99 for an 880g pack, equivalent to approximately Dh4.53 per kg. Emirates Coop’s fava beans listing costs Dh1.53 for 400g, or about Dh3.83 per kg.
Carrefour’s white chickpea listing works out to Dh3.99 per kg, while Emirates Coop’s green lentils cost Dh1.84 for 400g, equivalent to approximately Dh4.60 per kg.
Nesto lists red lentils at Dh6.99 for 1.5kg, working out to approximately Dh4.66 per kg.
These figures reflect the calculated unit prices of the respective listings. Since the categories may include products in different forms, shoppers should check whether they are comparing dry, canned or otherwise processed items before deciding which offers better value.
Compare your full grocery basket
Government price monitoring and oversight are intended to ensure competitive pricing while allowing retailers to maintain mandated price levels, UAE-based industry experts have reiterated.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s platform allows residents to compare products and estimated bills, with filters for brands, locations, retailers and individual branches. These features can help shoppers identify prices relevant to their area and household requirements.
Keep grocery receipts and compare equivalent quantities over the same period. Recording promotional purchases separately can also help distinguish genuine price changes from expired offers, differences in pack sizes or changes in brands.
