Abu Dhabi is the biggest emirate in the UAE and is also the federal capital. As such, the city offers plenty of services and useful facilities to citizens. Plenty of supermarket chains have set up shops in the city of Abu Dhabi, including Spinneys and Carrefour. This is our guide to all the Abu Dhabi supermarkets.
Popular Supermarkets in Abu Dhabi
Supermarkets are an essential need of every citizen. Whether its for groceries, home appliances, snacks and beverages or basic necessities, supermarkets are always needed for our day to day life.
Abu Dhabi Emirate is home to plenty of supermarket chains that offer different kinds of products and services. For the average person it can be somewhat difficult to wrap their heads around everything the Abu Dhabi supermarkets have to offer. If that’s the case then worry not because we have got you covered!
Following are the popular Abu Dhabi supermarket chains:
Carrefour
One of the most popular supermarket chains in the world. Carrefour set up a shop in the UAE back in 2010 and has grown exponentially since with a whole host of branches all over the UAE, including Abu Dhabi.
There are 16 Carrefour branches in Abu Dhabi, which are mentioned as follows:
- Carrefour – Abu Dhabi Online
- Carrefour – Airport Road
- Carrefour – Marina Mall
- Carrefour – Yas Mall
- Carrefour – Dalma Mall
- Carrefour – Bawabat Al Sharq
- Carrefour – Al Raha Beach
- Carrefour – Masdar City Centre
- Carrefour – Burj Al Khair
- Carrefour – Al Seef
- Carrefour – At Deerfield’s Mall
- Carrefour – Danat Tower
- Carrefour – Airport Road Al Saqr
- Carrefour – Mamsha Al Saadiyat
- Carrefour – City Hydra Avenue
- Carrefour – Khalifa City
Carrefour offers all kinds of goods in Abu Dhabi ranging from groceries to branded goods to electronic appliances and home decor items.
LuLu Hypermarkets
LuLu Hypermarket is considered to be the biggest supermarket chain in all of the Middle East. It has branches all over the UAE, including Abu Dhabi! Among all the supermarket chains in UAE, LuLu is preferred by many due to its large variety of products and its knowledgeable, friendly staff. However, when comparing Carrefour vs LuLu, there are certain minor differences in areas like payment methods, electronics selection, and pricing, among others.
LuLu first launched in Abu Dhabi in 1995 and has since only grown further. Currently, there are 19 LuLu branches in Abu Dhabi, mentioned as follows:
- LuLu Hypermarket – Madinat Zayed
- LuLu Hypermarket – Al Wahda Mall
- LuLu Center Supermarket – Salam
- LuLu Hypermarket – Capital Mall
- LuLu Hypermarket – Khalidiyah Mall
- LuLu Hypermarket – The Mall – WTC
- LuLu Hypermarket – Baniyas
- LuLu Express – City Center
- LuLu Hypermarket – Mushrif Mall
- LuLu Hypermarket – Al Falah Central Mall
- LuLu Hypermarket – Al Falah Plaza
- LuLu Hypermarket – Al Shamkha
- LuLu Express – Al Raha Mall
- LuLu Hypermarket – Al Forsan Central Mall
- LuLu Express – Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
- LuLu Express – Electra
- LuLu Express – Y Tower
- LuLu Express – Mazyad Mall
- LuLu Express – TCA
Spinneys
A popular option among Western expats, Spinneys is one of the largest Abu Dhabi supermarkets and is also popular all over the UAE. It is also one of the few supermarket chains in UAE that sell pork. However, it is important to check ahead of time if a specific branch has pork or not, as certain Spinneys locations do not have a non-muslim sections for pork, bacon and other non-halal commodities.
There are 10 Spinneys locations in Abu Dhabi, which are mentioned below:
- Spinneys – Trade Centre Road
- Spinneys – Rabdan
- Spinneys – West Yas Plaza
- Spinneys – Al Bandar
- Spinneys – Sas Al Nakhl Village
- Spinneys – Al Danah
- Spinneys – Forsan Town Square
- Spinneys – Rihan Heights Tower E
- Spinneys – Saadiyat Abu Dhabi
- Spinneys – Etihad Plaza
Waitrose
A supermarket chain all the way from the UK, Waitrose found its home in the UAE when it launched in Dubai in 2008. Waitrose is another great option for Western or non-muslim expats thanks to its non-halal products section that sells commodities such as pork and bacon. Waitrose is also a great option to find UK-based brands and baked products.
There are 6 branches of Waitrose in Abu Dhabi, which are specified below.
- Waitrose – Sun and Sky Towers
- Waitrose – Al Raha Gardens
- Waitrose – Al Maryah Islands
- Waitrose – 4th Street
- Waitrose – Khalifa City
- Waitrose – Yas Mall
VIVA Supermarkets
Started in 2018, VIVA Supermarkets offers quality products at affordable rates. This supermarket is located in various neighbourhoods in Abu Dhabi. This supermarket is famous for its tagline ‘FRESHER. CHEAPER. BETTER‘. Moreover, VIVA supermarkets in Abu Dhabi or any other emirate has a thumb rule of putting items under sale after every two weeks.
- Baniyas
- Al Raha 2
- Khalidiyah 2
- Al Jimi
- C2 Bateen Tower
- Emerald Tower
- Al Dhafra Walk
- Al Falah Street
- Danet Mall
- Al Raha Beach
- Al Khalidiya 1
Souq Planet
One of the oldest markets in Abu Dhabi, Souq Planet had its inception in the 1967. In the modern age it stands out thanks to two specific things. It’s non-halal section similar to Spinneys and Waitrose, and its innovation in the form of digital shopping.
This means that anyone can make their order online and then head to the store to take their order away, saving a ton of time which would otherwise be spent moving through the aisles.
Souq Planet has one store which is located at Etihad Plaza in Abu Dhabi.
Choithrams
A supermarket chain that has established itself over the course of 30 years, Choithrams goes beyond the realm of supermarkets and dabbled into food services, garments, household products and more. There are 3 Choithrams branches in Abu Dhabi.
- Choithrams – Al Khalidiya
- Choithrams – Al Falah
- Choithrams – Corniche Road
FAQs
LuLu is the biggest supermarket chain in the Middle East.
Waitrose, Spinneys, and Souq Planets are the only supermarket chains in Abu Dhabi that feature non-halal products.
Abu Dhabi features supermarkets galore, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Souq Planet is convenient for its digital shopping, meanwhile LuLu Hypermarkets features a vast catalogue of products. Carrefour, on the other hand, stands out thanks to the availability of products such as home decor and electronic appliances.
For more about shopping in UAE, check out our guide to the Carrefour branches in Ras Al Khaimah.
