11 Best Supermarkets in Dubai; Fresh produce to gourmet

Dubai is a shopper’s paradise and is a great place to find fresh produce, gourmet food items, and more.

With its many supermarkets offering many options for shoppers, it’s no surprise that one thing expats love about Dubai is its grocery shops but it can be hard to know which are the best supermarkets in Dubai!

Whether you’re looking for a special treat or need to get weekly groceries, as someone who first moved to Dubai over 10 years ago, I can tell you which are the best for what in this vibrant city. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular supermarkets in Dubai and discuss tips on how to make the most out of your shopping experience here.

10 Best Supermarkets in Dubai & Hypermarkets

Supermarkets are typically smaller than Hypermarkets but can still be very large. However, they focus more on selling fresh produce, grocery items, and general merchandise.

Hypermarkets, on the other hand, are larger stores that sell various items, including food, clothing, furniture and electronics. They are more like department stores than traditional supermarkets as they offer a wider range of products and services.

Here is a quick summary of the top 10 supermarkets in Dubai:

1. Spinneys – A popular but premium chain of supermarkets with an extensive selection of international products
2. Waitrose – A high end originally British supermarket that stocks a lot of international products
3. Union Co-op – Offers shoppers competitive prices on everyday essentials
4. Geant – Features a diverse range of products at great value prices
5. Viva – A new supermarket chain which is focused on bringing consumers own brand cheaper groceries
6. Carrefour – One of the largest supermarkets in Dubai, offering a wide range of fresh produce and food items
7. Lulu Hypermarket – An affordable option for grocery shopping with many discounts available
8. Al Maya Supermarkets – Smaller supermarkets focused on Middle Eastern goods
9. Choithrams – A more premium supermarket with a large amount of imported goods
10. West Zone – Popular in South Asian areas with produce that is more focused on imports from including Indian and Filipino foods.
11. Park n Shop – Known for it’s speciality imported goods from the UK, USA & Europe

Carrefour, Lulu & Union Co-op are the largest operators of Hypermarkets in Dubai. Carrefour’s largest store is at the Mall of the Emirates and offers almost every good you can think of! Lulu also has a large hypermarket at the back Mall of Emirates.

Information about the top 10 supermarkets in Dubai

Spinneys

Spinneys has an unusual history, as it was founded by Albert Spinney, a British ex-military personnel selling British goods to Mandate Palestine and later opening stores in Egypt plus other British territories. Their first store in the UAE was opened in 1942, but their first supermarket was in Deira in 1962.

Without a doubt, Spinneys has some of the best quality fresh produce in Dubai. Their fruits taste amazing, there’s lots of variety and they have some rare items you won’t find anywhere else.

The only downside of Spinneys is that this amazing quality does come at a higher cost. It is known as one of the most expensive supermarkets in Dubai. So, if you have the money, Spinneys is definitely worth spending extra on.

It is also one of the few supermarkets that sells pork in the UAE.

There are many branches across Dubai and even a branch inside Dubai Airport Terminal, so you can easily grab something when you land.

Locations

Waitrose

Waitrose is a historical British supermarket, founded in 1904. Their first Dubai branch was in 2008 in Dubai Marina, shortly followed by Dubai Mall.

Waitrose is owned by the same group as Spinneys in Dubai, so you will see similar products to Spinneys, and you can expect the same high quality.

Waitrose has fewer locations and tends to be smaller than Spinney, which is more focused on the higher-end gourmet market. If you’re a fan of Waitrose’s brand products, you’ll find the largest selection of Waitrose products here.

Locations

Union Co-op

Union Co-op was founded in 1982 in the UAE, so it’s a real homegrown brand. Their very first branch was in Satwa in 1984.

Mostly found in Emirati areas, this is a decent-sized supermarket and offers a very good range of produce. Offering a mix of local produce at affordable prices along with more expensive imported items.

They have a large selection of gourmet Italian and French items you may not find elsewhere.

Due to being in Emirati areas, you’ll also find a selection that caters to local tastes. This includes rare and expensive kinds of honey along with a wide range of dates.

If you’re looking for good value and quality or want produce from UAE farms, this is the best for a balance of value and quality.

Locations

Geant

Geant is part of a Casino Group from France. Their first store opened in 1898 after the founder had run another successful grocery store. They opened their first supermarket in Dubai in 2005.

Geant’s presence in the UAE has gotten smaller over the years, but they still have some supermarkets and hypermarkets along with expanding into petrol station express shops.

Their hypermarkets offer large home goods, electronics, furniture and groceries. The produce is of good quality and reasonable prices.

Locations

Viva

Viva is newer concept and supermarket to the UAE, since 2018. Already popular in Europe where they create their own branded products to be sold at a cheaper price with the same high quality compared to branded goods.

Its popularity in the UAE has really grown since its opening, offering affordability compared to other supermarket chains. The stores are typically smaller and you’ll find many items from 5 to 15 AED mark.

However, check item sizes as some items seem to be a good price but are smaller than what you’d get in a traditional supermarket for the same or cheaper price.

Locations

Carrefour

The French giant has a global presence and is one of the most well known supermarket brands. Inspired by the US supermarket style, Carrefour opened their first store in France in 1963. Their first store in the UAE was in Deira in 1995.

One of it’s most well known branches is its huge hypermarket in the Mall of Emirates.

Carrefour is known for its affordability and large range of items. They stock a largee amount of own brand products coming from Europe.

Their fresh produce, however, I don’t find to be the highest quality but it is very affordable, so this is a good option if you’re a more price conscious shopper.

Locations

Lulu Hypermarket

Lulu is another homegrown UAE brand with its first store opening in Abu Dhabi in 1995. Yusuff Ali, originally from India, founded Lulu and was one of the first recepients of the UAE Golden Visa.

Lulu is known for its frequent special offers that drive the crowds to shop at Lulu, especially for electronic goods and home items. It is typically one of the busiest supermarkets you’ll go to in Dubai.

For groceries it has similar pricing to the other large supermarket chains, this is different to its prescene in Saudi where it is a more premium retailer with many imported food items.

Locations

Al Maya Supermarkets

Al Maya group is also founded in the UAE with its first store in the Emirate of Ajman in 1982. They also produce their own branded goods.

Their supermarkets tend to smaller than the hypermarkets seen in Dubai by other groups but offering a larger store and selection compared to a local grocery store.

They’re a good middle ground with good quality produce and specialist items that your wouldn’t typically find in a smaller local grocery store.

Locations

Choithrams

Choithrams is a globally established supermarket, with its first branch opening in 1943 in Sierra Leone. It’s first UAE store was in 1974 and it also has one of the only entire female run branches in the UAE.

Another one that is seen as a premium supermarket with a focus on imported goods.

They also do frequent special offers, and it’s worth keeping an eye on these, as you can get some really good bargains.

Regular goods, on the other hand, are usually higher priced than their competitors and I find the quality isn’t as good. So this is why it’s lower down on the list of the best supermarkets in Dubai.

Locations

West Zone

West Zone was founded in 20015 in the UAE, another home grown brand in the market. Their very first branch was in Mirdif.

If you’re from South Asia and in Dubai, then you’ll definitely know this supermarket brand. Focused on importing South Asian goods. If you’re a fan of Indian or Filipino food, then this is a great supermarket for getting items that you may not be able to find elsewhere.

The supermarket offers cheap prices however I’ve found the quality of especially fresh produce can be a bit hit and miss. Also in some areas, I’ve found the supermarkets aren’t as well looked after compared to other brands. In Dubai you get used to everything being spotless!

Locations

Different Types of Supermarkets in Dubai

Dubai has a wide variety of supermarkets to choose from, ranging from traditional corner stores to large hypermarkets. Depending on what you’re looking for, there is sure to be something that meets your needs. You’ll also find gourmet food markets and organic food markets in Dubai.

The leading gourmet food markets in Dubai include Jones the Grocer, which features a selection of artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and gourmet deli items. For organic produce and natural foods, The Organic Foods & Cafe on Sheikh Zayed Road is a great option along with The Farm in Souq Manzil and Ripe Organic Market with locations across Dubai

You’ll even find farmers’ markets such as Organic Farmers Souq, previously known as Farmers Market on The Terrace. This was one of my favourites to visit every weekend as you’ll find really fresh produce direct from the farms which lasts a lot longer than those from the supermarket. You’ll even find things like independent vegan ice cream sellers and pop-up coffee shops. Cause who doesn’t want a latte to drink while they wander around at 9 am?

The Spice Souk is another popular spot for unique food items, offering spices, herbs, nuts and seeds from around the world. Though it definitely is more touristy here, so you can end up paying a high premium if you don’t haggle.

• Jones the Grocer
• Marks & Spencers Food
• Park & Shop
• Organic Shop on Sheikh Zayed Road
• Biorganic Store in Times Square Mall
• Ripe Organic Market
• Organic Farmers Souq (previously known as Farmers Market on The Terrace)
• Depachika Food Hall at Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah

Product Ranges at Grocery Stores in Dubai

Grocery stores in Dubai offer shoppers a wide variety of products and services. From fresh produce to gourmet food items, shoppers can find everything they need in the many supermarkets and hypermarkets around the city. Many of these stores also feature unique products like organic foods, imported items, and more. Even items you might not expect in a Muslim country such as pork products.

One of the most popular things about Dubai is it’s large amount of product ranges and in particular its extensive selection of international items. Supermarkets like Carrefour, Spinneys and Lulu Hypermarket all stock products from around the world and offer shoppers great deals on imported goods. Many of these stores also have dedicated sections for speciality items like organic produce, gluten-free food and vegan options.

Though you won’t find alcohol in Dubai supermarkets, you can find drinks like energy drinks, juices, iced tea and none alcoholic wines. For alcohol in Dubai, you need to go to specialist shops, similar to off-licenses in the UK or liquor stores in the US. They typically only sell alcohol.

Tips for Shopping at Supermarkets in Dubai

Shopping at supermarkets in Dubai can be a great experience, but it helps to have some tips for getting the most out of your visit. Here are some top tips for shopping at supermarkets in Dubai:

1. Visit in the Morning: Most of the larger supermarkets and attached to malls such as Emirates Mall, which start to get busy from around 3 to 4 pm in the afternoon. Slowly increasing until the evening times when they are really crowded. So if you want to quickly get your groceries and easily find parking, go in the morning time. Especially on weekends!

2. Take your own bags: Since the 1st July 2022, Dubai introduced a plastic bag charge, so if you don’t want to pay the extra 25 fils per plastic bag. Make sure to take some of your own re-usable shopping bags. It’s definitely a good idea to always keep some in the car.

3. Pay by card to save money: So a weird quirk of Dubai is that often the supermarkets won’t give you the fils unless it’s a 50 fil or 25 fil, sometimes not even a 25 fil. So when shops price things at .99 or .94, they almost never give you the 1 fil or 6 fil change. Over time, this extra paying of fils can add up! So if you don’t want to lose them, pay with a card rather than cash.

4. Check the dates on items: A good way to make sure you’re getting the best value possible is to check the dates. It’s very common for supermarkets to put the shorter dates at the front and the longer dates at the back, So always do a good check before you out it in your basket.

5. Ask For Help: If you are having trouble finding something or don’t know which product to buy, be sure to ask for help from the store personnel. They will be more than happy to assist you with your shopping needs and can even point out any discounts or promotions that the store is currently offering.

How to Get the Best Deals on Groceries in Dubai

Shopping for groceries in Dubai can be a great experience due to the diverse range of products and services offered. However, shoppers should always keep an eye out for the best deals on their grocery items as it can be expensive in Dubai. I once saw a single onion being sold in Waitrose for 36 AED. Here are some tips for getting the best deals when grocery shopping in Dubai:

1. Shop around: Dubai can be expensive for certain items and different supermarkets can widely vary between prices! Even the location of the supermarket can change the prices of the items. So if you work in Downtown but live in Business Bay, you may find your grocery shops are cheaper in Business Bay for example. It can also help to compare prices online or visit several stores to get the cheapest prices.

2. Know Your Prices: Keep track of prices and check which different supermarkets are cheaper for those items. It’s also good to check for deals as some supermarkets may be better for deals but more expensive for regular priced groceries. Alternating grocery shops can help, as long as you know your prices. This way, you can ensure that you are getting the best deal possible.

3. Shop late at night for deals: Okay you’ll have to brave the crowds for this one unless you do it on a Monday or Tuesday night but many supermarkets reduce items that have a short use or sell by date on the evenings. Particualrly M&S, is known for reducing its prices on items needing to be sold usually around 9 pm. You can usually save around 50% off but sometimes even more!

4. Look For Promotions: Supermarkets often have promotions and discounts on certain items, so keep an eye out for these offers when you are shopping. Many have booklets they release on a set day or PDFs online which share the offers of the week, So it’s best to go either on the day deals are released or the lastest the day after, as really good deals can go out of stick fast.

5. Collect loyalty points: Many stores will also offer loyalty programs where shoppers can save money on their purchases over time. Carrefour offers such a problem and you can then use those points for discounts off your shopping bill. Some supermarkets such as Union Co-op offer discounts to card holder members so you’ll save right away just by signing up for one of the customer cards.

6. Buy In Bulk: Many stores in Dubai offer bulk discounts on certain items if you buy them in packs or larger items, so it pays to take advantage of these deals if they are available. Of course, make sure that you are only buying items which won’t go off before you have a chance to consume them! Also double check the price per item as sometimes the larger items don’t always work out cheaper. So don’t be afraid to get the calculator on your phone out.

7. Try Local Products: Shoppers looking for a bargain should try local products as these are often cheaper than imported goods, especially those from Western countries. Most supermarkets stock locally produced fruits, vegetables, dairy products and more. Though not all local versions may taste the same as those you are used to know back home.

8. Shop Online: Shopping online is incredibly popular in Dubai and there are many websites which offer great deals on groceries or other items such as electronics or apparel. Online retailers even deliver directly to your door, making it even easier to get your shopping done without having to leave home!

Some of my favourite online retailers for deals:

• Brands for Less (Discounted designer clothes)
• Kibsons (Fruit and vegetable delivery)

Final Thoughts on Best Supermarkets & Hypermarkets in Dubai

Shopping for groceries in Dubai can be a great experience, with the wide range of products and services available. Whether you’re looking to buy fresh produce from your local supermarket or shop online for bulk discounts on imported goods. There are plenty of ways to get the best deals on your grocery shopping in this vibrant city. Keep these tips in mind when visiting different supermarkets around Dubai, they will help ensure that you always get the most bang for your buck! With so many options available, it is easy to find something suitable no matter what type of shopper, eater or cooker you are. So go ahead and explore all that Dubai has to offer. Happy shopping!

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