In a strategic move to assist consumers in the UAE in making cost-effective grocery purchases, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) has unveiled the Essential Goods Prices Platform. This digital tool is designed to provide comprehensive price comparisons for a range of essential and major consumer goods, allowing residents to find the most affordable options in their locality.
Overview of the Essential Goods Prices Platform
Launched on April 19, the Essential Goods Prices Platform is a significant initiative by the MOET to aggregate and analyze the prices of 33 consumer goods. These are divided into 17 essential items and 16 other major products. The platform is aligned with the UAE’s Cabinet Decision No. 120 of 2022, which focuses on regulating the prices of nine key everyday commodities including cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat.
Key Features
The platform offers real-time price tracking across all emirates, providing users with the ability to compare prices by location. It includes data from various consumer cooperatives and retail outlets across the UAE, ensuring a wide range of options for consumers looking to make informed purchasing decisions.
Using the Platform: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Access the Platform
To utilize this service, visit the Essential Goods Prices Platform on the MOET’s official website. The platform is easily accessible without the need for any login credentials, which simplifies the process for users.
Step 2: Explore and Compare Prices
Upon entering the platform, users can browse through a curated list of essential goods categorized by items such as cooking oil, wheat, and rice. The platform provides a snapshot comparison, highlighting the ‘best price’ and ‘highest price’ options available.
For a more detailed view, users can select specific items like cooking oils to explore subcategories and brands, such as sunflower, corn, or canola oil. The platform displays prices from various retail stores across the UAE, sorted in ascending order to highlight the best deals at the top.
Further details include the name and precise address of the retail store offering the product, allowing consumers to locate the best deals with ease. Users can also click on store names to compare prices across different brands within a subcategory, enhancing the decision-making process.
Step 3: Utilize the Search Function
For those with specific items in mind, the platform features a search bar for direct access to desired products. Users can utilize advanced search filters such as category, subcategory, brand, units, emirate, store, and store branch. This function streamlines the process of finding the best prices for specific goods, enabling consumers to make well-informed choices.
Once a selection is made, such as different brands of fresh whole milk, users can click on ‘Compare Prices’ to identify which store offers the best deal, ensuring they maximize their savings on grocery purchases.
Impact and Benefits
The Essential Goods Prices Platform is a valuable tool for UAE residents, promoting transparency in pricing and supporting informed consumer decisions. By offering a centralized resource for price comparison, the platform empowers consumers to make cost-effective choices, potentially leading to significant savings on everyday essentials.
This initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to consumer rights and economic regulation, fostering a competitive market environment that benefits both consumers and retailers. As the platform continues to evolve, it is expected to further enhance the shopping experience for residents across the country.
