MoET data highlights budget-friendly essential groceries, with pack sizes and quantities provided to help households compare prices and save on everyday purchases.
Dubai: UAE shoppers seeking to reduce their monthly grocery bills can explore and compare prices of essential food items, including rice, eggs, milk and cooking oil, through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Essential Goods Prices Platform.
The online platform provides information on retailers, product prices and packaging quantities, allowing consumers to compare everyday essentials based on standard units of measurement.
With prices recorded as of October 8, 2026, the platform offers households a useful reference when planning grocery purchases and managing food expenses.
The comparison below highlights the lowest unit prices among the retailer listings displayed on the ministry’s platform. The figures are calculated using officially listed pack prices and quantities rather than prices advertised on supermarket websites or grocery delivery applications.
Where UAE Shoppers Can Find Cheaper Essentials
Grocery prices may vary depending on the brand, packaging size and product specifications. While comparing unit prices can help shoppers identify more economical options, consumers are encouraged to verify product details and quantities before purchasing.
| Grocery item | Unit | Lowest listed price | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| White sliced bread | kg | Dh4.92 | Umm Al Quwain Coop |
| Fresh whole chicken | kg | Dh11.31 | Emirates Coop |
| Canola oil | litre | Dh7.28 | Emirates Coop |
| Corn oil | litre | Dh7.25 | Carrefour |
| Sunflower oil | litre | Dh5.10 | Emirates Coop |
| Fresh whole milk | litre | Dh3.75 | Emirates Coop |
| Powdered milk | kg | Dh15.33 | Sharjah Coop |
| Yoghurt | kg | Dh3.48 | KM Trading |
| Brown eggs | egg | Dh0.49 | Carrefour |
| White eggs | egg | Dh0.23 | Choithrams |
| Beans | kg | Dh4.53 | Al Maya |
| Fava beans | kg | Dh3.83 | Emirates Coop |
| White chickpeas | kg | Dh3.99 | Carrefour |
| Green lentils | kg | Dh4.38 | Umm Al Quwain Coop and Union Coop |
| Red lentils | kg | Dh3.88 | Al Maya |
| Basmati rice | kg | Dh4.38 | LuLu |
| White sugar | kg | Dh2.35 | LuLu |
| Flour | kg | Dh6.00 | Spinneys, Nesto, Carrefour, LuLu and Emirates Coop |
Note: Unit prices have been calculated using the listed package prices and quantities, with figures rounded where applicable. The platform combines dried and canned varieties under certain categories, including beans, chickpeas and lentils. Shoppers should therefore confirm the product type before comparing prices.
Rice and Sugar: Comparing Pack Prices
According to the listed figures, LuLu offers a 5kg pack of basmati rice for Dh21.90, working out to Dh4.38 per kilogram.
The retailer also lists a 5kg pack of white sugar at Dh11.75, equivalent to Dh2.35 per kilogram.
Consumers purchasing both packs would spend a combined Dh33.65, based on the ministry’s recorded prices. However, this amount covers only rice and sugar and should not be considered the cost of a complete household grocery basket.
Although larger packages can offer better value per kilogram, shoppers should consider their household consumption, available storage space and actual requirements before making purchasing decisions.
Comparing unit prices alongside pack sizes can help UAE residents make more informed choices and manage their grocery budgets more effectively.
Eggs and Chicken: Comparing Prices Across Retailers
According to the ministry’s price listings, Choithrams offers a pack of 15 white eggs for Dh3.45, bringing the cost to approximately 23 fils per egg.
Meanwhile, Carrefour lists a carton of 30 brown eggs at Dh14.55, equivalent to around 49 fils per egg.
However, consumers should consider more than just the colour of the eggshell when comparing prices. Egg size, brand, quality and packaging quantity can all influence the overall value of a purchase.
For fresh poultry, Emirates Coop lists a whole chicken weighing 1.1kg at Dh12.44. This works out to approximately Dh11.31 per kilogram, providing shoppers with a standard price reference when comparing similar products.
Cooking Oil and Dairy: Where Shoppers Can Save
Emirates Coop’s listed five-litre pack of sunflower oil is priced at Dh25.50, equivalent to Dh5.10 per litre.
The retailer also offers 3.6 litres of canola oil for Dh26.20, translating to approximately Dh7.28 per litre.
At Carrefour, a three-litre pack of corn oil is listed at Dh21.75, or Dh7.25 per litre.
Although these prices allow consumers to compare costs, shoppers should remember that sunflower, canola and corn oils are different products. Their suitability depends on individual cooking preferences and household needs.
In the dairy category, Emirates Coop lists one litre of fresh whole milk at Dh3.75.
KM Trading, meanwhile, offers a 10kg yoghurt pack for Dh34.75, equivalent to approximately Dh3.48 per kilogram.
However, the lower calculated unit price reflects a bulk purchase. It does not necessarily mean that customers can purchase a single kilogram of yoghurt at the same rate.
How Supply Chain Costs Influence Grocery Prices
Government monitoring of essential commodity prices also places pressure on suppliers and wholesalers to remain competitive, according to Dubai-based food commodities supplier Avisa General Trading.
In its March market analysis, the company explained that price monitoring encourages importers to improve efficiency in sourcing, transportation and logistics.
“This puts additional pressure on importers to optimise sourcing and logistics costs,” the company stated.
The supplier identified several approaches businesses can adopt to manage expenses, including sourcing products from multiple markets, securing forward purchasing agreements and consolidating shipments to reduce transportation costs.
These observations offer insight into the challenges faced by food importers and distributors but do not directly indicate changes in UAE grocery prices during October.
Smart Grocery Shopping: Monitor Your Monthly Expenses
UAE consumers looking to reduce grocery expenses may benefit from monitoring their overall monthly spending rather than focusing only on individual shopping trips.
UAE advertising agency Arsh Marketing highlighted changing consumer purchasing habits in its retail commentary, stating: “Smaller, more frequent baskets mean more visits but less spend per visit.”
However, spending less during each supermarket visit does not necessarily translate into lower monthly grocery expenses, particularly if shopping trips become more frequent.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Essential Goods Prices Platform allows consumers to select products, compare total shopping bills and filter results according to categories, brands, quantities, locations, stores and individual branches.
By creating shopping lists based on regularly purchased household essentials, residents can make more meaningful comparisons between retailers.
Consumers are also encouraged to compare identical products and quantities over the same period, retain shopping receipts and keep track of promotional discounts separately.
Monitoring the total monthly grocery bill, rather than individual item prices alone, can help households identify genuine savings and make better-informed purchasing decisions.
