How to Buy a Grocery in Sharjah & Ajman: Prices & Checks
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Short answer: To buy a grocery in Sharjah or Ajman, check that the trade licence can be amended into your name with the economic department (SEDD in Sharjah, Ajman DED in Ajman), that the shop lease is attested by the municipality and has enough time left, and that the sales match POS reports, bank statements and VAT returns. In 20 past Sharjah and Ajman grocery and supermarket listings on BusinessFinder.me, the median asking price was AED 205,000, and half asked between AED 130,000 and AED 312,500.
Last updated: November 12, 2026
BusinessFinder.me is a UAE marketplace for buying and selling running businesses, where owners list groceries, supermarkets, restaurants, shops and trade licences with asking prices in AED. This guide covers buying a running grocery, baqala or small supermarket in Sharjah and Ajman, where prices are usually lower than in Dubai. For the general buying process, read our main guide on how to buy a business in Dubai.
Why buy a grocery in Sharjah or Ajman?
A neighbourhood grocery sells everyday goods, so demand comes from the families and workers living around it rather than from tourists or offices. Sharjah and Ajman have many dense residential and industrial areas, and in the listings on BusinessFinder.me their groceries usually asked less than comparable stores in Dubai. Buying a running store also gives you an existing licence, fit-out, suppliers and customers from day one.
Key terms you will see in listings
- Baqala (or bakala): a small neighbourhood grocery, often with home delivery to nearby buildings.
- Running grocery: a store trading now, sold with its licence, fit-out, fridges, stock and usually its staff.
- Key money: the premium paid to the outgoing owner for the running business and fit-out, on top of the rent.
- Stock at cost: the goods on the shelves, normally counted on handover day and valued at purchase price.
- Attested lease: a tenancy contract certified by the municipality, which Sharjah and Ajman use instead of Dubai’s Ejari.
How much does a grocery cost to buy in Sharjah and Ajman?
Based on 20 past grocery, baqala and supermarket listings in Sharjah and Ajman on BusinessFinder.me (listed 2020 to 2024, reposts and placeholder prices removed), the median asking price was AED 205,000. Half of them asked between AED 130,000 and AED 312,500. The 16 Sharjah listings had a median of AED 205,000, and the 4 Ajman listings a median of AED 232,500, which is too small a sample to treat as a market price.
| Asking price | Sharjah and Ajman grocery listings |
|---|---|
| Up to AED 100,000 | 5 |
| AED 100,001 to 250,000 | 6 |
| AED 250,001 to 500,000 | 8 |
| Above AED 500,000 | 1 |
Examples from those listings include a 1,453 sq ft supermarket in Sharjah Industrial Area listed in 2024 for AED 140,000, a 1,400 sq ft supermarket in Abu Shagara listed in 2023 for AED 210,000, and a supermarket in Al Rashidiya, Ajman listed in 2024 for AED 300,000. The only listing above AED 500,000 was a combined restaurant and supermarket in Al Khan asking AED 3,200,000. For Dubai prices, compare with what supermarkets and baqalas cost in Dubai.
Which groceries are for sale right now?
These are the latest grocery and supermarket listings on BusinessFinder.me, updated automatically as owners post new ads:
- Running grocery for sale in Dubai (International City, Dubai, UAE)
- Well running supermarket for sale in Dubai (Dubailand, Dubai, UAE)
- Supermarket with coffee shop for sale in Dubai (Al Muraqqabat, Deira, Dubai, UAE)
- Supermarket for sale in Dubai (International City, Dubai, UAE)
- Supermarket for sale in Dubai (Al Mamzar, Dubai, UAE)
- Supermarket for sale in Dubai (Arjan, Dubai, UAE)
To see only these emirates, browse businesses for sale in Sharjah or businesses for sale in Ajman on BusinessFinder.me.
How do you buy a grocery in Sharjah, step by step?
- Shortlist stores that fit your budget and the area you know, such as a residential block or an industrial area with many workers.
- Ask for the numbers: twelve months of POS sales reports, bank statements, supplier invoices and VAT returns if the store is registered.
- Visit at different times to see real footfall and how many orders go out for delivery.
- Check the licence with the economic department: the grocery activity, the legal form, the expiry date and any violations.
- Check the lease: the attested tenancy contract, rent, expiry date and the landlord’s consent to the new owner.
- Agree the price and the stock method: whether stock is included or counted and paid for at cost on handover day.
- Sign a written sale agreement that lists the assets, stock, staff, liabilities and the handover date.
- Transfer the licence and lease into your name, then update the bank account, supplier accounts and staff records.
What should you check before buying a grocery in Sharjah?
Can the licence move to you?
Mainland licences in Sharjah are issued by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD). Its services guide lists amendment services for changing a licence’s partners, trade name and activities, which is how most grocery sales are completed. SEDD’s published fee guide links licence issuance fees to the value of the lease contract (8% for local investors and 13% for foreign investors, plus service fees), so ask SEDD for the exact cost of your transaction before you agree a price.
Is the lease attested and long enough?
Sharjah Municipality attests commercial tenancy contracts through its Aqari platform. Its service guide lists a fee of AED 100 plus 5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500, and new contracts need the economic department’s approval stamp and SEWA’s approval. Check the rent, the expiry date and whether the landlord will issue a new contract to you.
Do the sales figures add up?
Grocery margins are thin, so a small gap between claimed and real sales changes the value a lot. Match the POS reports with bank deposits, card settlements and supplier invoices for at least twelve months, and be careful with any store whose sales exist only in a notebook.
What about stock, staff and VAT?
Count the stock together on handover day and remove expired or damaged goods from the count. According to the UAE Government portal, expatriate private-sector staff with one year or more of service earn gratuity of 21 days’ basic salary for each of the first five years and 30 days for each year after, so agree who pays gratuity built up before the sale. Under UAE VAT law, businesses must register for VAT once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 a year, and the Federal Tax Authority’s public clarification VATP015 explains when the sale of a business as a going concern can fall outside VAT.
How is buying a grocery in Ajman different?
In Ajman, trade licences are handled by the Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED), and commercial leases are attested by the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department through its Tasdeeq system. The municipality lists a fee of 5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500, a completion time of one working day and validity of one year. It also asks for an Ajman Sewerage no-objection certificate unless the unit is already connected or is in Manama or Masfout.
| Check | Sharjah | Ajman |
|---|---|---|
| Licence authority | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) | Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) |
| Lease attestation | Sharjah Municipality (Aqari platform) | Ajman Municipality and Planning Department (Tasdeeq) |
| Lease attestation fee | AED 100 plus 5% of annual rent, min. AED 500 | 5% of annual rent, min. AED 500 |
| Median past asking price on BusinessFinder.me | AED 205,000 (16 listings) | AED 232,500 (4 listings) |
For a wider look at prices across the emirate, see what businesses cost in Sharjah.
Grocery buyer checklist
- Trade licence copy, activity list, expiry date and violations check
- Attested tenancy contract, rent, expiry and landlord consent
- Twelve months of POS reports, bank statements and supplier invoices
- VAT registration certificate and returns, if registered
- Stock list and the agreed counting method
- List of fridges, shelving, POS system and other equipment
- Staff list with visas, salaries, start dates and gratuity owed
- Written sale agreement signed before you pay
Key takeaways
- The median past asking price for a grocery or supermarket in Sharjah and Ajman on BusinessFinder.me was AED 205,000, with half between AED 130,000 and AED 312,500.
- Licence changes go through SEDD in Sharjah and Ajman DED in Ajman; confirm the transfer cost before you agree a price.
- Leases are attested by the municipality in both emirates, at 5% of annual rent with a AED 500 minimum.
- Verify sales from POS reports, bank statements and VAT returns, not daily sales quoted by the seller.
- Start your search with businesses for sale in Sharjah on BusinessFinder.me.
Selling a grocery instead? You can list it on BusinessFinder.me from the post an ad page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a grocery cost to buy in Sharjah?
In 16 past Sharjah grocery and supermarket listings on BusinessFinder.me, the median asking price was AED 205,000. Across Sharjah and Ajman together, half of the listings asked between AED 130,000 and AED 312,500.
Who approves a grocery licence transfer in Sharjah?
The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) handles licence amendments such as changing partners, the trade name or activities. Food-related approvals also need to stay valid with the municipality.
How much does it cost to attest a shop lease in Sharjah?
Sharjah Municipality lists AED 100 plus 5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500, for commercial tenancy contract attestation.
How do you attest a shop lease in Ajman?
Through the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department’s Tasdeeq system. The fee is 5% of the annual rent, with a minimum of AED 500, and the contract is valid for one year.
Is stock included in the price of a grocery for sale?
It depends on the deal. Some sellers include stock in the asking price, while others count it on handover day and charge for it at cost. Agree the method in the sale agreement.
Where can I find groceries for sale in Sharjah and Ajman?
BusinessFinder.me lists groceries, baqalas, supermarkets and other running businesses for sale in Sharjah, Ajman and across the UAE, with asking prices in AED.