View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Monday, April 9, 2007

Food Shopping in the United Arab Emirates

Comparing Apples with Oranges
I have been asked many times in letters questions about the availability and prices of different food products in the UAE. I decided when I went shopping yesterday (7 April 2007) that I would take my pen, note down the prices and post these for readers to make their comparisons. The exercise may look tedious but I thought it was about time I developed a decent shopping list. The list is not exhaustive but I have tried to indicate something of the range of products that are available.

The prices are taken from the largest supermarket in Fujairah, the Lulu Hypermarket. Their web site has an online site which is presently under construction. When this is completed this site might be a good source of up-to-the-minute prices.

Some products such as fish are usually cheaper at the fish markets and bread is usually cheaper at a bakery.

I have recorded the prices in UAE dirhams. On 8 April 2007 one dirham is worth:
0.27 US dollars
0.20 Euros
0.31 Canadian dollars
0.37 NZ dollars
1.94 Sth African Rand
0.33 Aussie dollars
18.7 Bangladesh Taka
11.6 Indian rupees
13.1 Philippine pesos
0.41 Singapore dollars
29.4 Sri Lankan rupees
0.13 UK Pounds

You might like to check your currency on the Universal Currency Converter.

Toiletries
Soap Imperial Leather (6 bars) 125 grams 08.25
Palmolive Natural Soap (6) 175 grams 11.40
Dove Shampoo 400mls 12.70
Shaving Blades (4) 12.75
Adidas Aftershave Lotion 100mls 18.95
Shaving Foam 200mls 07.20
Men’s Roll on deodorant 50mls 06.50
Women’s roll on deodorant 50mls 07.90
Olay Beauty Fluid 200mls 18.25
Talcum Powder 250grams 11.75
Strepcils Throat Lozenges (24) 06.95
Durex Sheaths (6) 22.00
Listerine 2 X 250mls 19.95
Toothbrush (1) 08.50
Colgate Toothpaste Adv. Whitener 125mls 06.90

Cleaners, Powders etc.
Lulu 5 boxes of tissues (200 sheets each) 14.90
Dish Washing Liquid Detergent X 3 20.00
Fabric Softener 2 lts 11.25
Gladwrap 200 sq.ft 08.45
Omo Washing Powder 4kg 25.50
Clorox Bleach 1 gal 10.25
Jif White or Cream 500mls 07.15
Dettol 500mls 11.85

Beans
Masoor Dal 500gms 02.95
Chana Dal 1kg 04.75
Moong Beans whole 500gms 02.95
Chick Peas whole 500gms 02.95
Red Beans 1kg 07.80

Sauce & Mayonnaise
Maggi Tomato Ketchup 475 gms 03.75
Heinz Mayo 440gms 06.50

Spices
Turmeric Powder 200gms 01.35
Black pepper whole 200gms 06.25
Nutmeg powder 200gms 06.00
Paprika 200gms 03.50
Cinnamon 200gms 02.75
Ginger powder 200gms 04.25

Rice
Lulu Basmati rice 5kg 17.90
Sunwhite Calrose rice 10kg 29.50
Thai white rice 2 kg 07.60
Egypt White Rice 5kg 11.50
Uncle Ben’s white rice (long) 5kg 30.95
Idly rice 2kg 04.75
Lulu White rice 5kg 09.00
Brown basmati rice 1kg 07.25

Pasta and Pasta Sauces
Dolmio Bolognese 500gms 07.25
2 Minute Noodles X5 80gms 04.35
Kolson vermicelli 450gms 01.75
Lulu Macaroni corni 400gms 01.95
(Same price for shells, spaghetti etc.)
Arrighi tortiglioni pasta 500gms 02.50
(Same for spaghetti and other shapes)
Light Figaro olive oil 750mls 22.30
Rafima Extra virgin olive oil 750mls 16.50
Nacrar Sunflower Oil 5lts 20.95
Iodised Salt 750gms 01.25
Spanish Cordoba Olives 275gms 09.40

Eggs, Dairy, Juices
Bustan Large Eggs 12 07.10
Assiman Quail eggs 18 07.00
Al Ain Mango juice and other flavors 2lt 07.00
Marmum Low fat fresh yoghurt 2kg 09.00
Fresh Laban (liquid yoghurt) 2lt 09.00
Almarai Fresh (full and low fat) 2lt 09.00
Flora Sunflower spread 250gms 10.50

Sugars
Raw sugar 1kg 07.75
Demerara sugar 500gms 05.95
Brown sugar 1 kg 07.25
White sugar 2kg 06.95
Caster sugar 1kg 05.15

Flours etc.
Lulu Flour 2kg 03.25
Lulu Rice powder 1kg 01.90
Whitworth Self-raising flour 1.5kg 06.60
Corn flour 400gms 01.75
Couscous 500gms 05.90
Instant yeast 500gms 07.45

Cake Mix
Cake mix chocolate 524gms 05.25
(Also strawberry, Pound, Banana)

Tins
Pineapple slices 850gms 04.95
Rambuttan in syrup 505gms 04.90
Diamond Tuna 185gms in water 03.75
Peas 400gms 00.95
Baked beans 400gms 03.40
Red beans 440gms 02.65
Corn whole kernel 425gms 03.20
Corn cream 425gms 03.30
Mixed garden veges 425gms 03.75

Jams and Spreads
Al Alali jams 465gms 05.00
(cherry, orange, apricot, marmalade)
Langnese liquid honey 500gms 16.90
Kafe Pure Oz Honey 500gms 13.75
Capiliano Liquid honey 400gms 11.50
Lulu Peanut Butter creamy 510gms 06.75
Egyptian White honey 750gms 13.50
Yemeni Honey in comb 1kg 75.00
Nutella Choc Spread 350gms 11.00
Diabetic Jam 430gms 10.50
(Apricot, raspberry, blackcurrant)
Diabetic Marmalade Jam 10oz 11.75

Powders, Coffee, tea
Milk full cream UHT 1lt 03.25
Anchor Full Cream Milk Powder 1.25kg 19.25
Nestle Milo 500gms 17.50
Jacob’s Coffee Esp. 500gms 22.75
Ovaltine 400gms 13.45
Cadbury’s Bournvita 200gms 06.55
Coffee Mate light 400gms 13.25
Nescafe Coffee (regular) 200gms 22.75
Nescafe Gold 200gms 35.25
Nescafe Decaf 100gms 19.20
Maxwell House Coffee 326gms 12.75
Twinings English Breakfast tea 200gms 18.70
Twinings Jasmine tea 200gms 24.60
Twinings Darjeeling tea 200gms 26.40
Twinings Earl Grey tea 200gms 21.60
Peppermint tea bags (25) 10.30
Twinings Eng. Bfast tea bags (100) 24.35

Biscuits
Oreo Chocolate Sand. Biscuits 176gms 02.75
McVities Digestives 400gms 07.85
Family Choice wafers 175gms 02.75
Crème Noisette Choc Biscuits 100gms 07.50
Choc chips cookies 200gms 03.40
Tasty Crackers 170gms 02.00
Coconut cookies 200gms 03.85

Cereals
Quaker Oats 1kg 09.90
Dorset Muesli 1 kg 12.00
Weetabix (24) 430gms 11.15
Special K 375gms 13.75
Special K 500gms 18.50
Heritage Bran Flakes 500gms 11.75
Kelloggs Corn Flakes 500gms 10.50

Frozen Foods
London Dairy Ice cream Tiramisu 1lit 19.75
London Dairy Ice cream Mocha almond 1lit 16.45
London Dairy Ice cream Butter Pecan 1lit 16.45
Garden peas (Denmark) 450gms 03.50
Watti Mixed veges 450gms 04.75
Watti Mixed garden peas 450gms 04.75
Watti corn 450gms 05.85
Watti corn 900gms 11.45
Watti beans 900gms 07.50
Rose chicken franks 400gms X3 09.25

Fruit Juices, Soft Drinks and Water
Al Rabie orange 330mls 01.75
Cocktail drink 1lt 03.95
Guava Nectar 1lt 03.95
Grapefruit 1lt 03.95
Coca cola cans 330mls (6) 05.25
(Same price for Cola light, Fanta, Pepsi)
Coca cola reg. or light bottles 1.5lt 02.65
Sprite bottle 1.5lt 02.75
Lulu Spring Water 1.5lt X6 05.00

Nuts
Pine nuts (Turkey) 1kg 135.00
Pine nuts (Pakistan) 1kg 79.50
Raisins (Iran) 1kg 06.95
Raisins (black) 1kg 09.50
Raisins (USA) 1kg 15.00
Raisins (Greece) 1kg 15.00
Cashews 1kg 26.00
Cloves 1kg 25.00
Cinnamon sticks 1kg 09.00
Golden Almonds 1kg 34.75
Figs dry 1kg 28.00
Cardamom large 1kg 65.00
Pistachio 1kg 40.00
Black Pepper 1kg 15.00
Hazel Nuts 1kg 38.50
Walnuts 1kg 32.00
Apricot dried soft 1kg 20.00
Coconut powder 1kg 07.50
Karkadi (Iran) 1kg 18.00
Sagi dates (Saudi) 1kg 30.50

Ready to Eat
Mutton samosa (1) 01.00
Cheese samosa (1) 01.00
Vegetable samosa (1) 01.00
Spring chicken roll (1) 02.00
Broasted chicken 06.50

Deli
English Red cheddar 1kg 48.25
French Emental 1kg 31.00
Swiss Emental 1kg 38.90
Parmesan cheese 1kg 62.50
French Brie 1kg 56.50
English Cheddar 1kg 33.75
Red Leicester 1kg 48.25
Bega Cheddar 1kg 22.50
Old Amsterdam 1kg 57.75
Ricotta Cheese 1kg 41.50
Dutch Gouda Mild cheese 1kg 23.50
Dutch Gouda Natured cheese 1kg 49.50
Danish Mozzarella 1kg 28.70
Blue Stilton 1kg 76.45
Anchor Butter Block 1kg 12.50
Danish Feta Cheese 1kg 11.75
Hungarian Cream 1kg 15.45
Egyptian Feta 1kg 09.50
Fresh Bulgari Cheese 1kg 22.90

Meat
Chicken Breast fillets 500gms 13.75
Chicken legs 525gms 15.25
Chicken breasts 1kg 24.00
NZ Minced Beef 1kg 21.90
NZ Rib eye Steak 1kg 47.90
NZ Topside Steak 1kg 26.90
NZ Sirloin Steak 1kg 43.90
NZ Rump Steak 1kg 28.90
NZ Lamb Mince 1kg 22.50

Fresh Fish
Hammour fillets 1kg 19.90
Squid large 1kg 18.90
Dover sole 1kg 11.90
Sultan 1kg 18.90
Prawns defrosted 1kg 39.00
Prawns large 1kg 56.90
Prawns small 1kg 19.90
Red snapper 1kg 19.90
Tuna 1kg 05.90
Barracuda 1kg 06.90
Shark 1kg 06.35
Black Pomfrey 1kg 19.90
White Hammour 1kg 27.90
Sheri (Local) 1kg 07.90

Bread
Large French Stick (1) 01.75
Lebanese White or Brown Bread (6) 02.00
Arabic Brown flat bread (6) 02.25
Chapatti (6) 00.75
White Jumbo Bread 01.75
Brown sandwich Bread 05.75
Wholemeal brown bread (small) 02.25
Wholemeal sandwich bread 03.00
Burger buns (6) 01.50
Mega Vital loaf 06.50
Multigrain loaf 04.50

Fresh Fruit (per kg unless otherwise stated)
Water melon (1) 01.95
Sweet melon 04.90
Sweet melon (Egypt) 05.75
Papaya (Philippine) 05.75
Papaya (India) 05.45
Pineapple (Philippine) 05.95
Banana (Philippine) 03.75
Banana big (India) 05.95
Banana small (India) 05.95
Mango (India) 09.90
Navel orange (Spain) 04.45
Mandarin (Spain) 07.90
Mandarin (Pakistan) 04.25
Lemon (Sth Africa) 03.90
Lemon (seedless) 02.90
Grapefruit 04.90
Limes (India) 04.75
Fresh dates 02.90
Royal Gala Apple (Chile) 06.25
Royal Gala Apple (Italy) 06.45
Royal Gala Apple (NZ) 06.45
Royal Gala Apple (Brazil) 04.65
Golden Apple/Golden Delicious (France) 06.65
Green Apple (Granny Smith) 07.90
Red Apple (USA) 05.90
Pears Anjori 07.25
Pears Packham 04.25
Pears Fuji (China) 04.95
Pears Golden (China) 02.90
Red pears (USA) 06.75
Guava (Egypt) 06.45
Guava (India) 06.25
Red Plums 07.90
Black Plums (Chile) 07.90
Yellow Plums (Sth Africa) 07.90
Kiwifruit (Italy) 08.45
Chestnuts 04.45
Rambuttan (packet of 12?) 09.75
Grapes white 06.90
Grapes red (India) 06.95
Grapes black (Oz) 06.90
Grapes red globe (Sth Africa) 06.90
White nectarine (Oz) 28.00
Red nectarine (Oz) 08.90

Vegetables (per kilo)
Tomato 01.95
Cucumber 02.95
Carrot (Australian) 04.25
Carrot (USA) 03.95
Sweet Potato (local) 04.90
Yam (Egyptian) 04.90
Red pumpkin 01.75
Bread fruit 07.25
Tapioca 04.65
Cauliflower 04.95
Cabbage (green) 01.75
Cabbage (red) 02.25
Egg Plant (small) 03.25
Egg Plant (big) 02.25
Beetroot 02.75
Turnips (local) 03.25
Potato (loose) 02.95
White radish 04.90
Avocado 07.95
Brown onions 06.25
White onions 05.90
Onions loose 01.65
Garlic loose 03.95
Celery 12.90
Mushroom (local) 04.65
Mushroom (Holland) 06.25
Cucumber (Holland) 15.75
Parsley 00.95
Spring onions 00.95
Lettuce Romane 04.95
Lettuce iceberg 03.95
Long chili red 10.90
Long chili green 03.28
Green chili 04.65
White chili 04.25
Beans 05.90
Beans string 06.45

Miscellaneous
Hookah Sheesha Pipe 1pc 115.00

Prices might be different in other towns and cities so it would be good to receive any comments of comparison or comments about any topic.

Geoff Pound

Image: Fruit and veges.