UAE supermarkets to have month-long 50% sale

The UAE is to decrease the prices of most goods and food items by 50 per cent this month to coincide with the International Day of Happiness.

The Ministry of Economy’s director of consumer protection told The National that prices will decrease “between 10 and 50 per cent on all food and household items”.

“We reduced the price of around 7,500 commodities, especially food that is consumed in large quantities,” Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi was quoted as saying.

“The reduction will specifically benefit families. Bread, sugar, rice are some of the items with prices that will be decreased.”

Supermarket chains in the country have agreed to the reductions and the ministry will be monitoring for violations during the offer period starting on the International Day of Happiness, March 20, and ending the following month on April 20.

“Inspections will be carried out to ensure that no supermarkets or stallholders fail to abide by the price caps,” Al Nuaimi added.

The sale period comes following a difficult few months for UAE consumers, who have had to absorb price increases following the introduction of a 5 per cent value added tax on most essentials.

Read: Revealed: Goods and services subject to VAT in the UAE

Consumer price inflation almost doubled in January, the month the tax was introduced, from 2.7 per cent to 4.8 per cent.

Even starker increases were seen in some areas with food and soft drink prices up 7.2 per cent and transport costs up 12.8 per cent.

Read: UAE inflation jumps with VAT but restrained by housing