How UAE’s new price platform helps you find cheapest groceries instantly
Build your basket and find the lowest total cost
DUBAI – Residents across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) now have access to a new government-backed tool designed to make grocery shopping more affordable and transparent.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has introduced the Essential Commodities Price Platform, allowing shoppers to compare prices of staple food items in real time across major retailers. The initiative is aimed at helping households manage rising living costs by offering clear, up-to-date pricing information before heading to the supermarket.
The platform tracks the cost of 33 essential items commonly found in weekly shopping baskets. These include cooking oils, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, meat, fish, legumes, bread, wheat, bottled water, and fresh produce such as bananas, cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes. By consolidating price data in one place, the system enables consumers to identify where their everyday items are cheapest.
Price tracking
In its initial phase, the platform monitors 33 products, divided into 17 essential consumer goods and 16 other key items. Prices are updated in real time across 12 major supermarket brands operating in the UAE, including Carrefour, Choithrams, Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys and Union Coop.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has announced the launch of the “Essential Commodities Price Platform", an innovative digital solution designed to enhance market oversight and protect consumer rights by ensuring full transparency of product pricing. pic.twitter.com/Iuo8Gnbw9t
— وزارة الاقتصاد والسياحة (@Economyae) April 21, 2026
For each product, shoppers can view both minimum and maximum prices across participating outlets. This allows for quick comparisons not only between brands but also between different branches of the same retailer. The aim is to give consumers a clearer picture of price variations across the market and help them decide where to shop more efficiently.
Smart basket
One of the platform’s key features is its ability to create a customised shopping basket. Users can select the items they need, and the system will automatically calculate where the entire basket can be purchased at the lowest total cost. This removes the need for manual comparisons and helps shoppers plan their trips with greater precision.
The tool is designed to support informed purchasing decisions by highlighting cost-effective options. It also reduces the time spent searching for deals across multiple stores, offering a streamlined approach to budgeting for groceries.
Consumer tools
Authorities have integrated the platform directly with participating retailers, ensuring that prices are updated daily through electronic systems. This real-time monitoring is intended to maintain accuracy and reflect actual in-store pricing as closely as possible.
Consumers are also encouraged to report any discrepancies between listed prices and those found in stores. A dedicated helpline, 8001222, has been set up to handle such complaints, reinforcing compliance and transparency across the retail sector.
According to Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, the platform is part of a broader strategy to strengthen consumer awareness and promote fair pricing practices. The initiative is expected to encourage competition among retailers, improve price visibility and support market stability, while safeguarding consumers’ purchasing power.