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What is it about? Food products in Dubai, like all other goods, are imported, as the UAE produces nothing except oil. On the one hand, this makes the food expenditure more noticeable; on the other hand, the variety of the food basket is impressive.
How much do they cost? Dubai is a city with above-average prices for everything. Nevertheless, it is possible to eat inexpensively in this luxury capital, not only at home but also in cafés. There are excellent budget supermarkets, food markets and areas with lovely restaurants.
The United Arab Emirates is a country where oil production occupies the central place in the economy. At the same time, most goods, from water to clothing, are imported. And despite the fact that prices are fixed in dirhams, the cost of goods in 2025 is unofficially pegged to the dollar.
This creates quite a peculiar microclimate in the UAE. The country combines strict religious rules, behavioural norms and a modern lifestyle.
If you plan a holiday in Dubai and want to save money, we recommend you to rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook for yourself. Finding convenient accommodation will not be difficult and will likely cost less than a hotel room, as there will be plenty of such options.
In this case, the cost of weekly meals for one person in Dubai in 2025, if calculated for a minimal set of products, will be about $75.
Where is it better to buy food products in Dubai? The most advantageous places to buy cheap groceries in Dubai are supermarkets. In small shops around the city, food product prices may be higher, especially if they are located near the centre or the coast.
Those who love exotic goods will find it interesting to visit the local market and bargain with local vendors. However, remember that instead of buying vegetables and herbs, you might leave with a carpet or a gold bracelet, spending more than planned.
Below are the supermarket prices for products in the local currency, as well as in dollars per 1 L or 1 kg.
| Item | Price in AED | Price in USD |
|---|---|---|
| apples | 9 | 2.5 |
| lemons | 9 | 2.5 |
| avocados | 10 | 3 |
| cucumbers | 12 | 3.5 |
| tomatoes | 5 | 1.5 |
| peppers | 15 | 4 |
| cabbages | 5 | 1.5 |
| potatoes | 2 | 0.5 |
| whole chicken | 20 | 5.5 |
| chicken fillet | 30 | 8 |
| fish | 25–40 | 7–11 |
| pork | 40 | 11 |
| eggs | 5 | 1.5 |
| hard cheese | 80–100 | 22–30 |
| milk | 5 | 1.5 |
| water | 1 | 0.2 |
| juice | 5 | 1.5 |
Want to save a bit of money during your holiday? Cook the dinner yourself using local products or buy ready-made dishes. Let's name the best budget grocery shops in Dubai.
VIVA is a chain of discount supermarkets known for its corner stores (grocery shops near homes) that opened in Dubai's residential areas in February 2018. VIVA offers a wide range of food products at reduced prices while maintaining high quality of goods.
An important advantage of VIVA is the possibility of returning goods. If you are not satisfied with the product quality, the supermarket will provide a replacement or full refund, making shopping safer.
Every two weeks, the chain organises sales of non-food items. To stay informed about new special offers and promotions, subscribe to Viva's email newsletter. This is an excellent way to shop with maximum benefit!
Since the first Choithrams supermarket opened in the UAE thirty years ago, numerous shops of this chain have been launched in various Dubai districts. In 2005, the brand won the region's first RetailME award in the Grocery of the Year category.
What food products can you find in Dubai in this supermarket chain? Choithrams offers a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat products, as well as pastries and sweets. The shops also have culinary departments offering ready-made dishes at optimal prices to Dubai residents and guests.
Besides their own brands, the chain also offers many foreign brands, including Rainbow, Kimball, Fruittella and Weetabix.
The country's largest consumer cooperative and a pioneer in Dubai retail trade that sells products from various farms.
It always pleases with a wide assortment of fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and fish, and prices there are significantly lower than in other supermarkets.
Image source: Oleksandr But / shutterstock.com
Recently, Union Coop launched a chain called Coop — these are 4 trading platforms with individual style.
In the LULU chain, you will find a wide range of products from both regional and international brands, but mainly food products from India and Pakistan.
For customers' convenience, almost all LULU hypermarkets have children's playgrounds, food courts, currency exchange points and bank counters.
Prices, which are lower by 15–30% than other retailers, will pleasantly surprise you.
The French supermarket chain Carrefour is one of the most popular in the city. Most of its shops are located in well-known shopping centres: Mall of the Emirates, Festival City Mall, Cityland Mall and others.
On the shelves, you can find many food products popular among Dubai residents and its guests, such as French delicacies — cheeses, pâtés, seafood. The grocery category features numerous French brands. The supermarkets have culinary departments and delis, and the local bakery offers baguettes — some of the best in the city.
Numerous promotions, as well as the Share smartphone app with a system of cash bonuses for purchases, make the chain even more attractive to customers.
Each supermarket has a ready-made food department, and product prices in Dubai in 2025 are quite reasonable: a bun — 1.4 AED, mini pizza — 2 AED, samosa — 2.4 AED, lamb kebab — starting from 2.6 AED, soups — starting from 4.2 AED, and boiled rice — 20 AED per kilogram. Just heat the dishes in the microwave and enjoy a hearty lunch!
The Arabian bazaar deserves to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It embodies the very essence of Arab culture! There you can find everything your heart desires — from exotic aromas to bright-colored fabrics. You can taste, try on, bargain. Let's talk about the most amazing markets in Dubai that will give you an unforgettable experience.
Address: 26 34 street, Deira
There you can buy cereals, rice, spices, vegetables, fresh and dried fruits at the most affordable prices. A pleasant addition will be the amazing, unique atmosphere.
Image source: Look Studio / shutterstock.com
You can reach the market, which is located in the Deira district, by taxi or metro (the nearest station is Al Fahidi). Around the market, there are many shops, supermarkets, snack bars, as well as cafés and restaurants, including very affordable ones.
Address: King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Al Sufouh 1
This market can be called the most accessible, as it is located in a popular city district — the coastal Jumeirah. At Souk Madinat, you will find groceries, spices, jewellery, clothes and carpets — basically everything that is available at any Arab market.
You can enjoy delicious food, and in the evening take a ride on a traditional Arab abra boat along the Persian Gulf. Sea trips are best combined with dinner on a traditional-style ship, which is especially popular in Dubai's Jumeirah and Dubai Marina districts.
While the ship gently rocks on the waves, and skyscrapers sparkle in the distance and stars twinkle, you can admire the Burj Al Arab hotel. Don't forget to book a comfortable room there to fully experience the magical atmosphere of the Arab East. You can reach the market and its surroundings by taxi or metro (the nearest station is Sharaf DG).
This place is not at all like a traditional market, as it is located in the heart of Dubai — in the Dubai Mall shopping centre. It offers a wide range of goods: spices, fruits and vegetables, jewellery and textiles, incense and oils.
You can try delightful sweets and wash them down with aromatic strong coffee. You can reach the market by taxi or metro (the nearest stations are Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall). If you are already in the city centre, it will be easier to walk.
This delivery service in Dubai offers a subscription that can be cancelled or postponed at the customer's request. A box worth 125 dirhams ($34) usually contains 15 to 20 different types of fruits, approximately 25 portions. These include pre-cut mangoes, pineapples and melons, as well as washed and ready-to-eat blueberries and cherries.
A mandatory condition: they must be fresh and seasonal. A trial box is also available for 100 dirhams ($27.2). Before delivery, customers receive an email notification, and the order will be delivered within 24 hours.
The Fruit Box was founded in 2014 by Linda Lu and her husband as a fruit delivery service to offices, but soon the business expanded, and home delivery became one of the main directions.
Image source: azerbaijan_stockers / freepik.com
A fruit box costing 95 dirhams ($25.9) weighs six kilograms and includes 40 portions of 15 popular seasonal and, of course, fresh fruits. Their selection depends on customers' wishes. The order is delivered to your door within less than 24 hours after placement. Free delivery is available in Dubai, while in other emirates it costs 20 dirhams ($5.4).
This subscription service focuses on organic products. It was launched last year by three Frenchmen in Dubai. Its customers can choose both European and local products. Chilled fruits, vegetables and eggs are delivered packaged in paper bags, ensuring freshness and convenient packaging disposal.
For vegetables, customers will pay 149 dirhams ($40.5), for fruits — 119 dirhams ($32.4), for a set of vegetables and fruits — 129 dirhams ($35). The order will be delivered the next day and the delivery is free for five days a week throughout the UAE. The company also provides a convenient option to pause the subscription.
How much will food cost in Dubai in 2025? If you want to save money, head to restaurants in Bur Dubai and Deira. Breakfast will cost 15–25 AED per person. Dinner or lunch for two in local cafés will cost just 40–50 AED.
Low food prices in Dubai in 2025 can be found in Pakistani and Indian national cuisine establishments located in these same areas. You can have lunch there for 10–20 AED. For example, chicken or lamb biryani costs 12–14 AED at Shehar E Karachi restaurant.
Expats recommend Lebanese restaurants in Dubai for the optimal combination of price and quality. Main courses start at 30 AED, and drinks at 12 AED. The restaurant Allo Beirut is very popular. At Al Safeer Restaurant, you can have dinner for approximately 70 AED.
In several Asian restaurants, you can eat quite inexpensively — for example, Vietnamese Foodies Downtown has a high rating, and dishes cost on average from 30 to 60 AED. A set for two at the Japanese snack bar Teriyaki Boy will cost about 90 AED. It's also cost-effective to eat at the budget chain Golden Fork. Don't forget about business lunches and dishes of the day — an excellent way to save money!
In most restaurants, the average bill for lunch or dinner for one is about 50–150 AED. For example, at the Iranian restaurant Al Ustad Special Kebab, a kebab mix for two will cost approximately 100 AED. At the famous restaurant Old Tbilisi, khachapuri costs 50–60 AED.
In prestigious restaurants, bills start at 250 AED and can exceed 1000 AED per person.
If you want to try national cuisine and get a unique experience, go on a desert safari where Bedouins will treat you to dinner. There are also interesting group safaris. Another interesting option is to have dinner on an Arab boat while enjoying the lights of evening Dubai.
Food products in Dubai markets cost slightly less than in supermarkets. You won't achieve big savings, but visiting the market is worth it. You'll experience the unique atmosphere of an eastern bazaar, will be able to bargain and create vivid memories. By the way, we recommend enjoying the oriental flavor on a tour of the Old City.
If you want to save money on food purchases, track promotions in Dubai's large shops. Shoppers are offered discounts on daily items, and weekends feature profitable sales. Pay attention to announcements at the entrance.
The Emirates have quite strict religious norms. They cover all aspects of life, including food preparation. Nevertheless, despite some prohibitions, the local traditional cuisine is very tasty and unique. We've collected a small list of dishes you can try in Dubai:
Image source: timolina / freepik.com
An alternative way to evaluate food costs is the popular borsch index (along with the Big Mac index). The rise or fall in living standards and purchasing power is determined based on the set of ingredients needed to prepare this dish.
This approach is more reliable, as borsch allows for quite good nutrition, and markups in public catering are not taken into account (unlike in the Big Mac index). To prepare 4 litres of borsch for a family of 4 people, a special set of products is required. The cost calculation of the dish is made considering the prices of products available in Dubai shops:
The borsch index in Dubai, according to food product price data, is 18.37 AED or 385.77 rubles.
The index across Russia on average is approximately 150 rubles.
Tourists' reviews about the cost of food products in Dubai are quite contradictory. For some, buying apples for two dollars is a trifle, while for others, it's an entire day's expense. In any case, be prepared that the UAE is not Turkey.
Article header image source: Look Studio / shutterstock.com
