Buying cheaper options, shopping online; how UAE residents are cutting costs as food prices rise

Buying cheaper options, shopping online; how UAE residents are cutting costs as food prices rise

Many are revising family budgets and cutting corners amidst rising inflation

By Nasreen Abdulla Published: Mon 18 Apr 2022, 11:22 AM

Residents in the UAE are feeling the impact of a surge in global inflation, which doesn't appear to be easing up anytime soon.

For many, that means it's time to revise the family budget and cut corners.

Shopping online, swapping cost-efficient ingredients, reducing takeaways or eating out, and hunting for deals and discounts are just some ways UAE residents are looking to pinch their pennies in the face of rising food prices.

For food blogger Shabina Afzal, cooking is a mainstay of her content creation, and the rising prices have directly impacted it.

"We are a joint family of 8," she said. "What I make for the family is what I shoot as recipes. We used to buy hormone-free, no antibiotics added chicken. However, this Ramadan, my mother has decided to switch to frozen chicken with the rocketing food prices. We use a lot of chicken for our snacks, and it is no longer feasible to buy the special ones."

"We also make steamed fish cakes," she said. "Usually, we would use kingfish for this. But again, with the prices rising, it gets too expensive to