Spinneys Supermarket
Introduction
Dubai offers plenty of options when it comes to buying groceries, from large hypermarkets to small neighbourhood grocery stores. Expats and locals alike can find everything they need from fresh produce to speciality ingredients. The supermarket in Dubai ranges from huge hypermarkets down to little corner shops, that will cater for all your needs.
This article will guide you through the major supermarket chains, mall grocery stores, local markets, and organic speciality shops in Dubai. Whether you are looking to do a big weekly shop or just pick up a few essentials, there is a supermarket to suit your needs.
Overview of Supermarkets in Dubai
Traditional Supermarkets
Traditional supermarkets in Dubai include chains like Spinneys, Choithrams, and Union Co-op. They offer a wide selection of imported international foods as well as local produce and ingredients. The stores are generally smaller in size than the large hypermarkets. They are conveniently located in neighbourhoods across Dubai.
International Supermarkets
Larger hypermarket chains like Carrefour and Lulu cater to the diverse population of Dubai by offering international foods. You can find imported products from Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East. Great for when you are missing tastes from home.
Organic & Specialty Stores
Health-conscious shoppers have options like Organic Foods and Café that specialize in organic, gluten-free, and free-from products. You can also find vegan, vegetarian, and other specialty stores dotted around Dubai.
Popular Supermarket Chains
Carrefour
This French hypermarket chain has over 30 locations in Dubai ranging from large hypermarkets to local express stores. It offers competitive prices and a huge selection of international foods as well as local Middle Eastern products. Many locations have in-store cafes and banks.
A list of Carrefour Supermarkets can be found here. Or just google “Carrefour Near Me” to get the nearest to where you are.
Lulu Hypermarket
Lulu is one of the most popular hypermarket chains with almost 20 large-format stores across Dubai. It offers a vast selection of fresh produce, meat, seafood, spices, packaged goods, and household items. You can find many Indian, Asian, and Arabic speciality products. A great example of supermarket in Dubai.
A list of Lulu Supermarkets can be found here. Or just google “Lulus Near Me” to get the nearest to where you are.
Spinneys
Operating for over 60 years, Spinneys has a reputation for quality and service. It offers premium imported products, speciality departments like butcher, fishmonger, and bakery, along with popular loyalty programs.
There are around 20 Spinney’s supermarkets in Dubai. This branch carries a lot of British brands in particular, but also many other around the world. It is regarded as an expensive supermarket in Dubai.
A list of Spinneys supermarkets can be found here or you can just Google “Spinneys near me”.
Choithrams
With over 60 supermarkets across the UAE, this local chain offers great value on international and local brands. Its mid-sized neighbourhood stores provide convenience for day-to-day shopping. Many locations have cigarette shops, money exchanges, and ATMs.
A list of Choitrams supermarkets can be found here or you can just Google “Choitrams near me”.
Union Co-op
The first consumer cooperative in the UAE, Union Co-op has a network of over 40 branches across Dubai. It focuses on providing local and imported products at reasonable prices. You can shop in-store or order online. Regarded as a cheap supermarket in Dubai.
You can find a list of Union Coop markets here or you can or you can Google “Union Coop Near Me”.
Shopping at Mall Supermarkets
Mall of the Emirates
This huge mall contains the flagship Carrefour hypermarket which stocks 23,000 products. It’s perfect for your weekly grocery shop.
Dubai Mall
The extra-large Waitrose in Dubai Mall offers imported British products and specialty departments. There is also a medium-sized Choithrams for everyday essentials.
Ibn Battuta Mall
This mall is connected to an enormous Carrefour Hypermarket. Shop for specialty Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern ingredients. Pick up gifts at the dates kiosk.
Neighborhood Supermarkets
Choithrams
With branches all over Dubai, Choithrams neighbourhood supermarkets are convenient for picking up daily essentials. They have a good range of produce, dry goods, dairy, and packaged foods.
Zoom
For value shopping, Zoom minimarkets are found within local communities across Dubai. They meet daily grocery needs and have basic imported products.
West Zone
West Zone is a homegrown supermarket chain providing international branded products. Good for basic grocery shopping near your home. They have 10+ locations across Dubai.
Viva
A recent addition to Dubai, Viva is a new chain of supermarkets across Dubai which are one of the cheapest, but with good quality goods. I have checked them out and they are good.
Buying Fruits & Vegetables
Local Markets
Outdoor vegetable and fruit markets offer the freshest local produce at cheap prices. Head to tourist spots like Al Khaleej Road Fruit and Vegetable Market in Bur Dubai for variety.
Supermarket Produce Sections
All major supermarkets like Carrefour, Lulu, and Choithrams have fresh produce sections with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Larger stores offer more exotic and imported options.
Buying Meat & Seafood
Butcher Shops & Fish Markets
For the highest quality cuts of meat and fresh catches of seafood, shop at traditional butcher and fishmonger stores. They offer knowledgeable service.
Some of the best freah food markets include:
Fishing Harbour
Waterfront Market
The Waterfront Market is a large facility in Deira which offers seafood, poultry and meat. An excellent place to visit for the day and I highly recommend it. You can find more information about it.
Supermarket Meat & Seafood Counters
One-stop grocery shopping means picking up meat and fish alongside other essentials. Spinneys, Waitrose, Lulus and Carrefour have impressive service counters and international options.
Organic & Health Food Stores
Organic Foods & Café
With three locations in Dubai, this speciality store offers certified organic, gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan products, and supplements. There’s an on-site vegetarian cafe. Many of the major supermarket chains also have organic sections.
Healthy Life
Find natural, preservative-free foods and products free of soy, sugar, and wheat at Healthy Life. Shop organic produce, groceries, skincare and more.
Best Apps To Order Groceries in Dubai
The following is a list of some of the best apps to order food in Dubai.
- Instashop – Instashop allows you to order groceries online from major supermarkets like Carrefour, Spinneys, Waitrose, and more. You can schedule delivery within 1 hour or book future time slots. Great for quick essentials or bulk shopping.
- elGrocer – elGrocer has partnered with over 40 supermarkets including Union Coop, Kibsons, Westzone, and Choithrams. Shop by brand or product. Get next day delivery or pick a time slot. Pay cash or credit card upon delivery.
- Careem Now – The Careem super app offers grocery delivery from major chains through Careem Now. You can get 2 hour delivery windows. Careem also lets you order from pharmacies, restaurants, and other services.
- Noon Daily – Noon has its own dark stores for ultrafast grocery delivery in select areas. The Noon Daily app offers 10,000 products with 30 minute delivery windows.
- Amazon Fresh – Amazon Fresh provides 2 hour delivery windows for online grocery orders. It has a good selection of international brands and local produce. Available with Amazon Prime membership.
- Nana Direct – Focusing on fresh groceries, Nana Direct partners with farmers and sources local produce. Get fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, and pantry items delivered next day.
- BulkWhiz – BulkWhiz allows you to shop wholesale directly from brands. Order bulk sizes of grocery essentials and get free next day delivery. Great for big families or food service businesses.
- Kibsons – Specializing in organic, gluten-free, and healthy products, Kibsons offers scheduled delivery in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Al Ain. Minimum order of AED 150.
This list can change at any point so use Google to get the latest options. The major chains such as Lulus, Carrefour etc also have their own apps that you can order their groceries. You can check the Apple and Google App stores for these apps as well.
Supermarket in Dubai: Tips for Saving Money
Loyalty Cards & Sales
Sign up for free loyalty cards at chains like Spinneys, Lulus, Carrefour, and Choithrams to receive points, vouchers, and targeted offers. Check online and in-store for sales.
Bulk Buying & Generic Brands
Take advantage of lower prices on large packaged sizes at warehouse clubs like Costco. Compare generic or private label brands for big savings over name brands.
Delivery Options
Instashop
The Instashop app lets you order groceries online from Carrefour and Spinneys for quick delivery to your doorstep in 1 hour.
El Grocer
This supermarket delivery app provides next-day or scheduled delivery from brands like Union Coop, Kibsons, and Waitrose. Pay cash or credit card.
Supermarket Websites
Major chains like Lulu, Carrefour, and Choithrams allow you to shop online and schedule home delivery. Useful for when you can’t get to the store.
Video Tour
Conclusion
From massive hypermarkets to cosy corner shops, Dubai has no shortage of diverse supermarkets to meet every grocery need and preference. Take your pick from budget-friendly local chains to high-end gourmet markets. Shop for speciality ingredients from around the world alongside fresh Emirati produce. With so many convenient options, you’re sure to find your go-to spots to get groceries in Dubai.
Which ever community that you live in there will be a corner shop nearby that you can use. Almost all shops will deliver to you and so you can grab their telephone number and call them for anything. The larger chains have their own Apps and they will deliver as well.
There is a wide choice of foods from all over the world in Dubai so there is always the right supermarket in Dubai for you.
FAQ
Where can I find American or British foods and imports in Dubai?
Chains like Spinneys, Waitrose, and Choithrams stock popular American and British brands, especially in their large and flagship stores. Some Carrefour and Lulu locations also have imported sections.
What are the best supermarkets in Dubai for buying fresh meat and seafood?
Spinneys, Waitrose, and Choithrams have excellent butcher, fish, and seafood service counters. Many traditional fish and meat markets also provide top quality fresh options.
Where can I find organic food stores in Dubai?
The main specialty chains are Organic Foods and Café with 3 locations and Healthy Life with 2 stores. Some Waitrose and Spinneys also have dedicated organic sections.
Which grocery stores offer online ordering and delivery in Dubai?
Carrefour, Lulu, Spinneys, and Choithrams allow online grocery ordering on their websites. Instashop and elGrocer deliver for multiple supermarkets via mobile apps.
Are grocery stores in Dubai cheaper than other countries?
Prices are very competitive, especially at chains like Lulu and Carrefour. Choithrams and Union Co-op also offer good value. With loyalty programs and sales, savvy shoppers can save substantially.
Can I buy alcohol in Dubai supermarkets?
No, only licensed liquor stores can sell alcohol in Dubai. Some hotels, bars and restaurants with licenses also sell it. Note that a license is required to purchase and consume alcohol.
What are some good hypermarkets for buying Asian foods and spices?
Lulu and Carrefour stock large international sections with a great range of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Filipino and other Asian foods and spices.
Are grocery stores open 24 hours a day in Dubai?
Many are open late into the night, but not 24 hours. Lulu and Carrefour are typically open past midnight. Zoom and some petrol station mini-marts are open 24/7.
Where can I find Middle Eastern foods like dates, camel milk, baklava, etc.?
Lulu and Carrefour have sections dedicated to Middle Eastern specialties. Also try Arabic stores like Al Maya Supermarket and Tamraat Arabian Food Store.
What are the best supermarket in Dubai in terms of price?
Lulu, Carrefour, and Choithrams are very competitively priced. For real bargains, shops like Zoom and Union Co-op offer great value on the basics.
Useful Links
- Check out the Carrefour supermarket chain.
- More information about Lulus can be found here.
- There is more information about Spinneys supermarket here.
- Choitrams supermarket information can be found here.
- Union Coop details are also here.
- Coming to visit Dubai? Check out the entry requirements.
- Check out Dubai Mall for lots of other shopping.
- The Mall of the Emirates is also a great location.
Key Takeaways
- Hypermarkets like Carrefour and Lulu provide one-stop shopping with international and local brands at low prices. Great for big shops.
- Mall stores like Waitrose and Spinneys offer premium imported products and specialty departments like butchers and fishmongers.
- Local chains like Choithrams and Union Co-op have smaller neighborhood stores across Dubai, convenient for daily essentials.
- Shop outdoor markets like Al Khaleej Road Fruit and Vegetable Market for the freshest produce at the cheapest rates.
- Check meat, fish, and seafood markets for excellent quality cuts and catches. Many also clean and prepare your items.
- Organic Foods and Cafe, Healthy Life, and some Waitrose/Spinneys stores cater to health-conscious shoppers.
- Take advantage of loyalty programs, sales, bulk sizes, and generic brands to save money.
- Order delivery from apps like Instashop, elGrocer, Careem, and supermarket websites for convenience.
- Major chains like Lulu, Carrefour, Spinneys, and Choithrams allow online grocery ordering for home delivery.
- Opening hours are usually late into the night or 24/7 for some stores like Lulu, Carrefour, and Zoom.
- Alcohol can only be purchased from licensed liquor stores, hotels, bars, and restaurants, not supermarkets.
- There are many types of supermarket iin Dubai for all tastes and budgets.
