Grocery for Sale in Dubai: What Supermarkets and Baqalas Cost
Short answer: If you are looking at a grocery for sale in Dubai, how much should it cost? Based on 163 supermarkets, groceries and baqalas listed for sale in Dubai on BusinessFinder.me between 2019 and 2026, the median asking price was AED 210,000. Half asked between AED 102,500 and AED 600,000. A small neighbourhood baqala often asks under AED 150,000, while a large supermarket can ask several million dirhams. These are sellers’ asking prices, not final sale prices. To see what is on the market now, browse every baqala for sale in Dubai.
Last updated: 2 November 2026
Where these figures come from
We analysed BusinessFinder.me’s own history of supermarket, grocery and baqala ads that have since expired or been removed. Across the UAE that is 192 priced listings once we removed likely reposts of the same shop and prices that were not credible: eight under AED 20,000, far too low for a running shop, two ads asking AED 50 million and AED 100 million, and eight ads showing AED 1,230,000, a placeholder figure that appeared on dozens of unrelated ads in 2021–2022 rather than a real asking price. 163 of the 192 are in Dubai, and this guide focuses on them.
The data is mostly from 2019–2023. Of the Dubai listings, 122 were posted in 2019–2021, 28 in 2022–2023 and only 13 in 2024–2025. We show the full 2019–2026 picture and the recent figures separately. All numbers describe groups of listings, never a single seller.
How much does a supermarket or baqala cost in Dubai?
| Asking price | Dubai listings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under AED 100,000 | 36 | 22% |
| AED 100,000 – 199,999 | 39 | 24% |
| AED 200,000 – 499,999 | 37 | 23% |
| AED 500,000 – 999,999 | 27 | 17% |
| AED 1 million and above | 24 | 15% |
The spread is much wider than for most small businesses. About 46% of Dubai listings asked under AED 200,000. This is mostly baqala territory: the few of these listings that stated a size had a median of about 500 sq ft, typical of a neighbourhood grocery at the base of a residential building. At the other end, about one in seven asked AED 1 million or more. These are full supermarkets with large floor areas, bigger teams and high monthly sales. The cheapest valid Dubai listing asked about AED 30,000 and the most expensive about AED 11 million.
Prices over time: 2019–2021 vs recent listings
| Listing period | Dubai listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | 122 | AED 172,500 |
| 2022–2023 | 28 | AED 290,000 |
| 2024–2025 | 13 | AED 1.9 million |
| All years | 163 | AED 210,000 |
The jump in the recent median looks dramatic, but it mostly reflects which shops were listed. Only 13 Dubai grocery ads with a price date from 2024–2025, and most were large supermarkets: about half of them asked AED 1.9 million or more. Small baqalas still appear, such as a shop of about 420 sq ft in Al Satwa that asked AED 375,000 in November 2024. With so few recent listings, compare a shop with others of the same size and area rather than with the recent median.
Supermarket and baqala prices by area
These are the Dubai areas with at least eight priced listings:
| Area | Listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Al Karama | 8 | AED 115,000 |
| International City | 18 | AED 141,500 |
| Bur Dubai | 10 | AED 145,000 |
| Dubai Marina | 10 | AED 775,000 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 9 | AED 1.2 million |
International City had the most grocery listings of any area, with a median of about AED 141,500. Its many residential blocks support lots of small baqalas. Older areas such as Al Karama and Bur Dubai sit in a similar range. Dubai Marina and JVC are much higher. In JVC, the listings that stated a size were mostly 1,900–2,600 sq ft, so these were larger supermarkets serving big residential communities. Dubai Marina had a mix, from small shops to stores asking over AED 1 million.
Prices by size
Only 61 listings across the UAE stated a floor area, with a median of about 1,600 sq ft. Price rises steeply with size:
| Shop size | Listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | 16 | AED 187,500 |
| 1,000 – 1,999 sq ft | 22 | AED 405,000 |
| 2,000 – 3,999 sq ft | 17 | AED 700,000 |
A bigger shop needs more stock, more fridges and shelving, and more staff, and it usually has higher sales, so sellers ask more. The size bands are small samples, so use them as a rough guide only.
Rent, sales and staff
- Rent: 71 listings stated a yearly rent. The median was about AED 95,000 a year, and half paid between AED 50,000 and AED 215,000. The typical asking price was about 3.3 times the yearly rent.
- Sales: 21 listings stated monthly sales. The median claim was about AED 165,000 a month, with half between about AED 105,000 and AED 300,000. Grocery margins are thin, so high sales do not mean high profit. Too few ads stated a profit to give a reliable figure.
- Staff: 48 listings stated a team size; the median was five to six staff.
- Other emirates: Sharjah (14 listings, median about AED 205,000) and Abu Dhabi (10 listings, median about AED 265,000) were in a similar range to Dubai, but the samples are small.
Sales and rent figures are the sellers’ own claims. Always ask for POS reports, supplier invoices and bank statements before you rely on them.
What is usually included in the price
A running supermarket or baqala is normally sold with its trade licence, fit-out, fridges and shelving, and often its stock. In the listings we analysed, 22% stressed a prime location, 12% said the licence was included, 11% said staff visas or staff could transfer, and 11% said the price was negotiable. Stock is the item to agree carefully. Many sellers price it separately at cost on the handover day, so the final amount can be well above the advertised price.
How to judge whether a grocery is fairly priced
- Compare like with like: same area, similar size and similar sales. Check current supermarkets for sale in the UAE as well as the tables above.
- Separate stock from goodwill. Ask what part of the price is stock, what is equipment and what is the business itself.
- Check the lease and the location rules. A baqala’s value depends on its lease, its Ejari and its unit. Confirm the lease term and renewal terms with the landlord.
- Check delivery and supplier accounts. Many baqalas earn a large share of sales from phone and app orders. Confirm which accounts and phone numbers transfer to you.
- Remember these are asking prices. Deals often close below the first figure, especially for older listings.
Costs to budget on top of the asking price
The asking price is not the full cost of taking over a grocery. Before you agree a price, get a written figure or quote for each of these:
- Licence transfer or reissue: the trade licence and the food safety approval for the shop must be moved into your name, and the licence renewal date tells you when the next yearly fees fall due.
- Lease transfer: the landlord may charge a transfer or agency fee and ask for a new or larger security deposit, and the Ejari must be registered to the new licence holder.
- Stock: if stock is not included, it is usually counted and paid for at cost on handover day.
- Staff: visa transfers or new visas, and the end-of-service gratuity already earned by staff who stay on.
- Equipment: chillers, freezers and POS systems are expensive to replace, so have them inspected before you sign.
- Working capital: cash for the first months of rent, salaries and supplier payments, as supplier credit does not always carry over to a new owner.
Checklist before you pay a deposit
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 12 months of POS reports, supplier invoices and bank statements | Claimed daily sales should match stock purchases and card takings. Cash sales that cannot be traced cannot be verified. |
| Ejari, remaining lease term and renewal terms | Rent is the biggest fixed cost. A short remaining term or a large rent rise at renewal can wipe out the margin. |
| Licence status, fines and violations | Unpaid fines and open violations on the shop become your problem after the transfer. |
| Stock count and valuation date | Agree in the contract how stock is counted and valued, and on which day. |
| Staff contracts, visas and gratuity | Staff who stay bring their contracts and end-of-service entitlements with them. |
| Supplier accounts and unpaid bills | Make sure the seller settles what is owed, and confirm which credit terms will continue for you. |
| Reason for sale | Relocation and visa changes are common reasons. Ask for evidence, not just assurances. |
If you are buying in Abu Dhabi, see current listings of each baqala shop for sale in Abu Dhabi. For the buying process and valuation method, read how to buy a business in Dubai and how to value a business in Dubai. To compare other small businesses by budget, see small business for sale in Dubai. We publish the same kind of price data for ladies salons and car garages, and you can also browse this running grocery store for sale in the UAE.
Looking at other retail businesses? See running shops for sale in Dubai.
Looking beyond groceries? See the latest Dubai businesses for sale.
Frequently asked questions
What does a grocery for sale in Dubai usually cost?
Most Dubai grocery listings on BusinessFinder.me in 2019–2026 asked between about AED 102,500 and AED 600,000, with a median of AED 210,000. About 46% asked under AED 200,000, mostly small baqalas, while larger supermarkets asked AED 1 million or more.
How much does a supermarket cost in Dubai?
Based on 163 supermarket, grocery and baqala listings in Dubai on BusinessFinder.me from 2019–2026, the median asking price was AED 210,000, and half asked between AED 102,500 and AED 600,000. Large supermarkets can ask over AED 1 million. These are asking prices, not final sale prices.
How much does a baqala cost to buy in Dubai?
Small baqalas usually sit at the lower end of the market. About 46% of Dubai grocery listings asked under AED 200,000, and areas with many small baqalas, such as International City, Al Karama and Bur Dubai, had medians of about AED 115,000 to AED 145,000.
What rent does a supermarket in Dubai pay?
Among listings that stated a yearly rent, the median was about AED 95,000, and half paid between AED 50,000 and AED 215,000 a year. The typical asking price was about 3.3 times the yearly rent.
Is stock included when you buy a supermarket in Dubai?
It depends on the deal. Many sellers price stock separately at cost on the handover day, so agree in writing whether stock is included and how it will be counted and valued.
Where are supermarkets cheapest to buy in Dubai?
In our data, Al Karama, International City and Bur Dubai had the lowest median asking prices, at roughly AED 115,000 to AED 145,000. Dubai Marina and JVC were much higher, largely because more of their listings were larger supermarkets.
What licence do you need to run a supermarket in Dubai?
A grocery needs a commercial trade licence from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) with the right foodstuff trading activity, plus Dubai Municipality food safety approval for the shop. When you buy a running store, the licence is either transferred to you or a new one is issued in your name, and the shop’s Ejari has to be moved to the new licence holder.
Can a foreigner own a supermarket in Dubai?
In most cases, yes. Since 2021, most commercial activities on the Dubai mainland, including grocery retail, can be 100% owned by foreign investors, so expat buyers can usually hold the licence in their own name. Confirm the ownership rules for the exact activity with DET before you sign.
Find or sell a supermarket on BusinessFinder.me
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