Skip to content

Cheapest groceries in the UAE with weekly flyers

SupermarketUAELast checked

The short answer

The UAE has many chains that publish flyers, including Carrefour, LuLu, Spinneys, Choithrams and Union Coop. The cheapest basket comes from comparing the price per kilo or litre, checking the dates and splitting the shop only when it saves more than the trip costs.

Quick facts

Chains with offers or apps
Carrefour, LuLu, Spinneys, Choithrams, Union Coop (source: MyBayut: best grocery apps in Dubai)
Flyer example
LuLu Happiness Week for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 1 to 15 October, 48 branches (source: WowDeals: LuLu Happiness Week, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain)
Quick delivery example
Spinneys app: 60-minute delivery in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and some of Sharjah (source: MyBayut: best grocery apps in Dubai)
Currency
AED (source: MyBayut: best grocery apps in Dubai)

Chains to compare in the UAE

MyBayut lists Carrefour, Spinneys, Choithrams and Union Coop as chains that take orders through their own apps, and notes that LuLu has its own app too. Waitrose also has a UAE grocery delivery app. These are the chains we confirmed.

Carrefour is run by Majid Al Futtaim and continues in the UAE. LuLu sells a full catalogue on its app. Spinneys has an app with 60-minute delivery in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and some locations in Sharjah, according to MyBayut. Union Coop has an app with online delivery that matches the brands and prices offered in-store.

How UAE flyers work

Flyers can run for a week or for longer. A WowDeals listing shows a LuLu Happiness Week catalogue for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from 1 to 15 October across 48 branches, and a separate one for Dubai and the Northern Emirates. So the same chain can show a different flyer depending on your emirate.

Always read the date range and the branch list at the top. A price may apply to some branches only.

How to compare unit prices

The headline price on a flyer is for the pack, and packs come in different sizes. The fair way to compare is the price per kilo, per litre or per 100 grams. Many shelf labels print the unit price in small type. If not, work it out yourself.

For example, a 5 kg bag of rice at AED 40 is AED 8 per kg. A 2 kg bag at AED 18 is AED 9 per kg. The small bag looks cheaper on the flyer and costs more per kilo. These numbers are an illustration, not current prices.

  1. Find the pack price and the pack size on the flyer.
  2. Convert the size to one unit: kilos, litres, or 100 g for small items.
  3. Divide the price by the size.
  4. Do the same for the other chain, or the other brand.
  5. Check the dates and whether the price needs a membership card.
  6. Pick the lowest unit price that you will actually finish before it expires.

Loyalty and cards in the UAE

LuLu runs the free Happiness programme with points and member prices. Carrefour runs SHARE, where you scan your SHARE ID at the till. Check the terms at each branch.

Bank card offers often come with a minimum spend and a monthly cap. Read your bank's terms before you plan the shop around them.

Practical tips

  • Check the emirate on the flyer, because Dubai and Abu Dhabi catalogues can differ.
  • Keep a list of your ten most-bought items and their usual prices.
  • Buy staples such as rice, oil and flour during the longer offer weeks.
  • Treat quick delivery as a convenience, and compare it with the shelf price.
  • Read substitution settings on delivery apps for fresh items.
  • Look at the total at the till against the flyer price.

How to find the cheapest basket in the UAE

  1. Collect the flyersOpen the current flyer from two or three chains that are close to you, and check the dates.
  2. Write your listList the items you buy every week, with the size you normally buy.
  3. Work out the unit priceDivide each pack price by its size in kilos or litres.
  4. Check conditionsLook for membership requirements, limits per customer and branch lists.
  5. Split the shop if it paysBuy the cheapest staples at one chain and fresh items at another, if the trip is worth it.

How Fawz helps

Fawz is not released yet, and you can join the waiting list. When it is out, it compares supermarket flyer prices, so you see where an item is cheapest without opening six flyers.

At the till, Fawz suggests which of your cards or memberships to use. It also tracks minimum monthly spend and caps, so your grocery shop helps you reach the higher cashback rate. It never stores card numbers or bank logins and never reads SMS.

Join the waiting list

Questions people ask

Which supermarket is cheapest in the UAE?

It changes by week and by basket. Compare the unit price of your usual items across the flyers of Carrefour, LuLu, Spinneys, Choithrams and Union Coop.

Where do I find weekly supermarket flyers in the UAE?

On each chain's website or app, in the shop, and on flyer aggregator sites. Read the dates, because some catalogues run for two weeks.

How do I compare prices between supermarkets?

Convert every price to a price per kilo, per litre or per 100 g. Then check dates and membership conditions.

Do supermarkets in the UAE deliver?

Yes. Carrefour, LuLu, Spinneys, Choithrams and Union Coop all have apps with delivery, according to MyBayut and the app listings. Fees and slots vary.

Are flyer prices the same in every emirate?

Not always. LuLu has separate catalogues for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and for Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Do loyalty programmes help at the supermarket?

They can. LuLu Happiness and Carrefour SHARE both give points. We could not confirm point values, so check the app.

Sources

  1. MyBayut: best grocery apps in Dubaibayut.com
  2. WowDeals: LuLu Happiness Week, Abu Dhabi and Al Ainwowdeals.me
  3. LuLu Hypermarket app (App Store)apps.apple.com
  4. SHARE: earn and redeem pointssharerewards.com

Last checked . Terms change, so check the current terms before you rely on an offer.

Fawz is not affiliated with the companies named here. Names and trademarks belong to their owners.