How to Save Money on Groceries in Dubai: 14 Tried & True Tips
Living in Dubai is expensive, but what many people don’t realize is that there are plenty of ways to cut costs and save money. Like most things in Dubai, grocery shopping can be pricey – but it honestly doesn’t have to be! If you’re looking to save money on groceries in Dubai, I’ve got you covered with my 14 tried and true tips!
And if you’re new to Dubai, be sure to check out my guide on the best supermarkets in Dubai and the best food and grocery delivery apps that will give you major discounts.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (which I’m so thankful for!) at no extra cost to you.
How to Save Money on Groceries in Dubai: An Expat’s Tried & True Tips
1. Avoid expensive supermarkets
The most expensive grocery stores in Dubai are Waitrose (pictured above) and Spinneys, followed by Grandiose and Choithrams. These chains tend to carry a lot of imported goods and produce that many expats can’t find in other Dubai grocery stores.
As an American, I’ll often visit Waitrose and Spinneys when I want to pick up American standards like Mexican food supplies, Kraft Mac & Cheese, American-brand salad dressings, or obscure health food products – you get the idea.
While it’s nice that I can find some of the creature comforts of home in Dubai, I will say that these things come with a high price tag. So I only shop at these grocery stores when I’m really craving something specific from home.
So, instead of overspending at Dubai’s most expensive grocery stores…
2. Get deals at the many cheap supermarkets in Dubai
My go-to grocery stores for affordable groceries are Carrefour and Al Maya. Between these two chains, I can get everything I could possibly need – from fresh produce and international products to pantry essentials and everything in between.
Carrefour is great, too, because they carry a bunch of Carrefour-brand goods that are far cheaper than you’ll find in other Dubai supermarkets. Think soups, cereals, frozen goods, and more. They also both have discount sections (seek those out!), where you can get seriously good deals on a rotating selection of products.
Union Coop is another popular wallet-friendly supermarket chain in Dubai.
3. Stock up at LuLu Hypermarket
If you have a car and you want to stock up on both groceries and home goods, LuLu Hypermarket is the place to do it. These stores are absolutely massive, and you should be able to find absolutely everything you need here. This is a popular place to go on monthly runs to pick up all the essentials for your home, and the prices are very fair.
4. Get whatever you can at VIVA
VIVA is everyone’s go-to Dubai grocery store for bargains. This place touts itself as being the “cheapest supermarket in Dubai,” and it absolutely is. The prices here are way cheaper than what you’ll find anywhere else, but do note that VIVA probably isn’t going to be your one-stop shop.
For me, VIVA carries super cheap things like cheese and dairy products, spices and canned goods, olive and other oils, rice and lentils, and pasta and pasta sauces. So I basically go there when I want to stock up on these goods and take a look around to see what else I can find.
VIVA also has super cheap produce. It can be hit or miss, but when you can snag super cheap fruits and veggies, you’ll save loads compared to other Dubai grocery stores.
5. Always check the prices of produce
When it comes to budget grocery shopping in Dubai, purchasing produce at random can be a dangerous game. Because so much is imported to the UAE, the prices of the same fruit or vegetable may vary wildly depending on where it was sourced. For example, you might be looking at avocados, thinking, “How much could a single avocado be?”
Well, buy one that’s sourced from Mexico, and that baby might cost you AED 53 per kg, but get an equally as good one from Kenya, and you’ll pay AED 13 per kg. It’s entirely possible to get fresh and cheap produce in Dubai, but you’ll want to always check the prices so you don’t accidentally pay an absurd amount for a piece of imported fruit!
6. Buy local or regional
The UAE actually produces more products than you might realize, and the Middle East and Africa, in general, have tons of products in Dubai’s grocery stores – from dairy and nuts to cooking oils and spices to fresh produce and herbs. These products are going to cost way less than other imported goods from more far-flung destinations. So again, keep an eye out for what the price is and where the product was sourced from.
7. Shop around
If you’re like me and love a good deal, then you’re probably going to want to shop around at the many different supermarket chains in Dubai to see which one has the best products at the best price. You’ll also find that certain grocery stores in your neighborhood often have heavy discounts on certain products.
I personally regularly shop at VIVA, Carrefour, Al Maya, and Choithrams. Not only do I have all four within walking distance of my apartment, but each one has great deals on certain items I buy on the regular.
8. Get loyalty cards
I lived in Dubai for way too long before signing up for loyalty cards at all of my go-to grocery stores. What a mistake! Sign up right away and you’ll see the savings start adding up.
Places like Choithrams, Carrefour, and Grandiose all have great loyalty programs, and they’re super easy to sign up for.
9. Don’t shop at convenience stores
While convenience stores are, well, convenient, the prices are not only going to be marked up, but they often won’t have their prices marked. I’ve picked up random, unmarked goods at convenience stores many times just to realize right after that I paid an obscenely high amount for an item. Had I just walked a few minutes down the street to a supermarket, I would have paid way less!
10. Find your supermarket’s discount section
Dubai loves its sales and special offers, and it seems like every supermarket in Dubai has a small discount section. I always make an effort to take a quick look to see what’s on offer. You never know what you’ll find!
11. Always check Amazon
Amazon may not be your go-to when it comes to groceries, but in some cases, you can find great deals on Amazon. For example, I like to have a solid supply of almond milk, which is AED 19 when it’s on sale in grocery stores in Dubai. But on Amazon, I can get it in bulk for half that price.
Amazon.ae is also my go-to to stock up on things like toilet paper, laundry detergent, Ziploc baggies, etc. For some reason, these things are cheaper through Amazon than at the store, and most of the time, they arrive at my front door the next day.
12. Check grocery delivery apps for deals
I personally use Careem for food delivery all the time, and they always have coupons and deals. So it’s well worth checking if you can put together an order for less through the app. This is especially true if you’re new to town and have just signed up for Careem. You’ll get some great deals on not only grocery delivery but food delivery as well.
This goes for Talabat and Deliveroo too.
13. Haggle at Waterfront Market
If you’re willing to make the journey to Waterfront Market in Deira, this is the place to go to stock up on everything you could possibly need for way less than you’ll find in Dubai’s supermarkets. From fresh fish and seafood to meat and poultry to fruits and veggies galore, there are deals to be had on absolutely everything.
14. Get discounted alcohol
If you haven’t noticed, getting drinks out at a bar or restaurant in Dubai is expensive. So, if you’re looking to imbibe while pinching a few dirhams, you’ll want to go to your local MMI or African + Eastern to see what sorts of specials and discounts on booze you can find.
Better yet, check their websites for the current deals and get your order brought right to your door. Now that Dubai has gotten rid of the 30% alcohol tax, you can actually find some great deals on beer, wine, liquor, and more at Dubai’s designated alcohol stores!
If you’re new here and don’t know the ins and outs of buying alcohol in Dubai, here’s my full guide. One tip, though: you can’t buy alcohol in grocery stores!
