Shopping Around for The Best Ingredients in Dubai

All the places you need to know to get the best of Dubai

If you’ve lived in Dubai a while then you’ll know that a weekly shop most often involves stopping off at various different places. From your fave bakery, to the only place to buy a specific type of cheese – the freshest veg, to the most delicious fruit – or simply to find the best bargains, we’ve put together a handy guide to finding the very best ingredients in our desert city, mamas!

Bread and freshly baked goods

BiOrganic Store Bakery
BiOrganic has a fab bakery that specialises in breads from all around the world. In addition to the usual breads, bagels, pretzels and patisserie items (all made using the best organic ingredients, of course), there are gluten-free loaves, quinoa, spelt, kamut and rye breads perfect for mamas and families with food intolerances. Of course, being a bakery, there are a few naughty options on offer – from fresh cookies to cakes and all sorts of little treats and sweets – but they’re organic so that makes them healthy and guilt-free in our eyes…
Irise tower tecom, Ground Floor Dubai, UAE

Carrefour
We love the that the French bakery within the supermarket, is always fully stocked with lovely croissants (made with real, creamy butter), and a fab range of (fresh) breads. They pride themselves on always striving to “provide the best quality and most diverse selection of household goods available in the UAE”, so you can be sure that they are making their baked goods with great quality ingredients – for affordable prices! They often have great deals so be sure to check their website for offers.
Various locations in Dubai

Milk & Honey
Milk & Honey is a name that has become synonymous with freshness, quality, value and exclusive products from around the world. They aim to serve those health conscious clients with the best of the best, which is just ideal for when we are looking for (relatively) healthy snacks for the little ones to munch on. If you’re looking for an on-the-go snack, this gourmet grocer provides plenty of organic sandwiches as well!
Various locations in Dubai

Park & Shop
As a staple for all sorts of ingredients and goodies, we can always rely on Park & Shop to give us our necessities. Our personal faves are their delicious hot cross buns, and petite little rolls that are perfect for the kiddo’s lunch box! Plus, their unusual bread (spelt and yoghurt bread – yum!) is really hard to find anywhere else in Dubai. So spare yourself the cooking, mamas, and do what you do best: eat.
Various locations in Dubai

Paul
In case you didn’t already know, we are HUGE fans of all the gorgeous treats from Paul. They share our passion for food and make sure that every mama’s experience with them feels like a taste of Paris. The cozy feel, impeccable service and chocolate eclairs are just a few of the reasons why this place is one of our absolute favourite places. If you’re on the hunt for a real treat, make sure you try their Parisien Au Chocolate, with thin cake layers and dark chocolate filling, be prepared to fall in love!
Various locations in Dubai

Looking for more of the best artisan bakeries in Dubai? Check out our full list here!

Fruit & Veg

Greenheart Organic Farms Shop
Greenheart has a gorgeous little farm shop out towards Arabian Ranches plus numerous collection points across Dubai, and their delivery service is a super convenient saviour for last minute shopping! They believe in providing “fresh, nutritious, organic food grown by people who really care”. Yup, that means food that doesn’t cost the earth, or The Earth! Make sure to take a look at the “New this week” section on their website (this week it’s fresh oregano and blood oranges), so be sure to stay up to date!
The Light Building, Ground Floor, Shop 8, Arjan, Al Barsha 2, Dubai, UAE

Ripe
We are huge fans of all the wonderfully fresh food that Ripe Market has brought to our bustling city and the Ripe store in Umm Suqeim is a regular mama go-to (plus, this organic farmers market comes direct to your door with Ripe’s selection of boxes). Whether you’re juicing or just want to make sure that your fam is getting their weekly dose of fruit & veg then this is for you! We fully support these locally grown and harvested fresh fruit and veggies.
Various locations in Dubai

Union Co-op
Their great little local organic veg section has us cheering for more! Fresh produce at completely reasonable prices? We really couldn’t ask for anything else (and rumour has it that some of Dubai’s most powerful peeps are regular customers).Head to any of their branches across Dubai, and you’re sure to find yourself an absolute bargain. Make sure you make the most of their “Pay Less & Save More” idea…
Various locations in Dubai

Meat

Organic Foods & Cafe
A Dubai institution and a Sassy Mama favourite when it comes to organic staples and healthy ingredients, such as almond milk, stevia extract, quinoa, spelt, and healthy kiddie snacks – you just can’t beat this place. Their online store is fully loaded with everything from fruit & veg to meat, fish, dairy, baby food, beauty & body care, plus lots more – all organic, of course. Free home delivery on all orders over AED 250 or AED 50 for delivery on orders below. For meat, we love their chicken – especially when they have the 20% off days every month!
Building 2, Emaar Business Park, The Greens, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Prime Gourmet
If you’re looking for something special to chuck on the BBQ then it’s time to call Prime Gourmet. As you can imagine, the selection here is rather beef-centric, but there is also chicken, veal and various sorts of (non-pork) sausages on offer – and they are all top quality. They also have a good selection of sauces, rubs, marinades and other stuff that can make or break a steak! Oh, and their Gold & Diamond Park store is worth a visit!
Sheikh Zayed Road, 4th Interchange, Dubai

Spinneys
This leading supermarket chain has built a strong and well-deserved reputation for fresh quality and customer service – two things every mama is on the hunt for when on the hunt for quality meat at decent prices! This has been the focus since the company started, and explains their tagline: “The fresher experience”. With stores conveniently located across the UAE you’ll be sure to find one located in your community – we love their New Zealand free-range chicken, Aussie lamb and Wagyu beef – plus homemade sausages, meatballs and bbq staples.
Various locations in Dubai 

Looking for a full list of the best delivery options? Check our our full list here! 

Fish & Seafood

Markets around Dubai
There’s no place better for fresh fish than at a fish market – and now that these have sprung up at most of the fishing harbours in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, you don’t need to travel all the way to Deira either (although a trip to the Deira Fish Market at 5am is lively, loud and a little stinky, it’s the perfect place to find everything from octopus to lobsters being weighed out and cleaned). Take the kiddos to the fish harbours along Jumeirah’s coastline and support the local fishermen as they bring you their catch of the day – from net to table.

Markets & Platters
We love heading to Markets & Platters whenever we are planning a special meal or a dinner party – or in fact on any occasion when seriously good food calls (or cravings strike).  They also cater to private jets and yachts if you happen to have one of those… Although the store has an excellent selection of artisan cheese from all over the world as well as other gourmet foods, there’s no doubt that it’s best known for line-caught fish and the freshest seafood – which they can either marinate and make ready to cook or let you take as it is. They also offer cooked and raw shellfish, beautiful sushi and seafood platters that will impress any guest.
G Floor, Marina Pinnacle Tower, Al Safouh Road,Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE

Cheese

Carrefour
Sometimes the supermarket is the only convenient place to stock up – especially when that supermarket is French. Well, mamas, Carrefour has an impressive selection of international cheeses to peruse, purchase and enjoy. With everything from vintage cheddar, to oozing camembert, to delicious goat’s cheese, you can create an impressive cheeseboard with minimal effort. And the best bit? Seriously impressive prices!
Various locations across Dubai

Eataly
Adore the freshest mozzarella? We’re right with you, mamas – which is why we love stopping by Eataly on the Lower Ground of The Dubai Mall, where fresh mozzarella is made by hand in front of customers every single day. Before you tuck in, take your pick from the store’s selection of fresh bread made daily – and then rush home to indulge!
Lower Ground Floor, The Dubai Mall, Dubai, UAE

Galeries Lafayette
Fancy a cheese fix, mama? Prepare to be seriously tempted in the food court of Galeries Lafayatte, located on the second floor of the Dubai Mall department store. You will discover 11 individual food stations, including one dedicated to fine cheese – hooray!. This is the place to head if you are planning a fancy dinner party, with an array of soft, hard, and speciality cheeses from all over the world.
Second Floor, The Dubai Mall, UAE

Jones the Grocer
Forget plain old cheese counters, Jones the Grocer (off Al Thanya Street) has an entire ROOM dedicated to cheese for you to browse, sniff, and buy in bulk. And if you can’t wait until you get home to tuck in (we don’t blame you, mamas), the store will arrange your purchases onto a cheeseboard, accompanied by bread, crackers, and dried fruit. Our tummies are rumbling at the thought!
Opposite Times Square Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Spices

Dubai Spice Souk
Where better to stock up on every spice under the sun than the narrow, sweet-smelling passages of Dubai Spike Souk? Fresh supplies arrive every day by dhow from India, Pakistan, and Iran, with spices on offer including cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, fresh vanilla and much more!
Alongside the Creek, Deira, Dubai, UAE

OMPK Trading LLC
Missing the familiar Indian spices you grew up with, mamas? OMPK Trading LLC in Karama is the place to head. Located opposite BurJuman Mall, the Indian grocery store is a family run business – and you can expect to find al the flavours of home.
Opposite BurJuman Mall, Bikanerwala Lane, Karama, Dubai, UAE

Cupboard Ingredients

Waitrose and Spinneys
It’s not the cheapest place to do the entire weekly shop, mamas, but when it comes to restocking the cupboards with dry ingredients, Waitrose and Spinneys are the places to head. Stocking the own brand Waitrose range, the items are surprisingly affordable and pack a punch on flavour. Take, for example, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mayo; we’re licking our lips at the thought!
Various locations across Dubai

Pork

Choithrams
From chops, to spare ribs, to pretty decent sausages, Choitrams is a good bet when you want to buy pork, mamas. The department is one of the best stocked we’ve found in Dubai – and the best bit is that prices remain affordable. You can buy fresh, frozen or cupboard goods.
Various locations across Dubai

Martin’s Meats
Mobile butcher Martin’s Meats offers a wide selection of fresh pork, with delivery to your door across Dubai. Take from pick from cuts including streaky bacon, pork belly, and black pudding, to name just a few.
www.martinsmeats.me

Spinneys
With a large selection at the back of every store, it’s easy to pick up what you need at Spinneys when shopping for pork. A special mention goes to the selection of hams behind the counter, which can be sliced to request for the freshest possible deli meats.
Various locations across Dubai

Need a little taste of ‘home’ mamas? There are a few places that stock International ingredients for when you’re feeling nostalgic…

British

Marks & Spencers
We have to give this British store a shout out – while the food section is limited compared to those in Blighty, you can still pick up scrummy staples including crumpets, tea-cakes, fresh sandwich fillings and dairy produce from the UK. Yum.
Various locations across Dubai 

Park n Shop
Craving the flavours of home? If that home happens to be the UK, you should swing by a branch of Park n Shop to stock the cupboards; with familiar brand names including Betty Crocker, Heinz. Sharwoods, Pot Noodle, Uncle Bens, and Pillsbury.
Various locations across Dubai

Swedish

IKEA
Stock up on your favourite Swedish delicacies at IKEA Dubai, with the likes of traditional Almond Cake, Marinated Salmon Fillet, and Sugar-Free Oat Biscuits available at the Swedish Food Market. And if you have time to dine in, you can tuck into plates of traditional meatballs, grilled salmon, and shrimp sandwiches – before heading back to the shop floor for some retail therapy.
Dubai Festival City, Al Rabat Road

Indian

Lulu Hypermarket
The various locations of Lulu Hypermarket are amongst the best in the city for restocking the cupboards with Indian groceries, mamas. From rice, to pulses, to masala, to breads, to spices, to cupboard staples, it’s a one-stop shop to well-loved brands from home.
Various locations across Dubai

German

Organic Foods & Café
Pick up German comfort food at Organic Foods & Café on Sheikh Zayed Road, where familiar brands such as Andechser and Beutelsbacher are available on shelves for expats craving some traditional flavours.
Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah, The Greens and soon-to-open in Dubai Marina 

Italian

Eataly
Italy has come to Dubai in the form of Eataly, located on the Lower Ground of Dubai Mall. Take your pick from delicious reminders of home, including fresh loaves of bread, pasta, ice cream, and mozzarella that are made in front of customers on a daily basis. We never say no to mozzarella, mamas!
Lower Ground Floor, The Dubai Mall, Duabi, UAE

French

Carrefour
With an array of French cheeses, to tinned delicacies including foie gras and confit de canard, right down to own-brand rusks, yoghurt, juices, and cereals, Carrefour has everything you need if you are missing a taste of home. Not only is it stocked to the brim with familiar favourites, but it’s affordable too – and we’re not arguing with that, mamas!
Various locations across Dubai

Russian

Lucky Mini Store
With bestsellers including borscht, potato pelmeni, and golubtsi, you will find the shelves at this Bur Dubai store packed to the brim with Russian favourites. Make sure you avoid the afternoon break though mamas, as the store is shut between 3 to 5pm.
Al Rolla Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE

South African

Park n Shop
There isn’t a huge selection, but expats missing South African cuisine can pick up a range of marinades and sauces at branches of Park & Shop, giving your meals the flavour of home. Eleven O’Clock Roiboos Tea is also on shelves for those craving their favourite brew.
Various locations across Dubai

Filipino

Al Maya
You’ll find Filipino delicacies and favourites at most supermarkets in Dubai, mamas, but Al Maya has a better stock than most. Take your pick from whole shelves dedicated to familiar pastes, marinades, rice, noodles, and spices that will remind you of home!
Various locations across Dubai

Get those cupboards stocked, and those bellies full, mamas!