The growth in sales across the country of basic consumer goods including chocolate, rice, tea and shampoo has slowed by half in the past year, data from the research company Nielsen show.
In the 12 months to March this year, sales of these everyday products grew at 8.2 per cent, a drop from the 21.3 per cent growth in the same period a year earlier.
Ashok Nair, the director of retail measurement services at Nielsen for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, said past growth was driven by the influx of people into the country but after the economic downturn that trend had lessened.
"The whole economy was driven by the excitement and the number of people coming into the country and looking at new opportunities," Mr Nair said. "That has stopped."
What is more, the consumer goods tracked by Nielsen are being snapped up faster in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain than in Dubai and Sharjah, he said.
Sales growth in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the year up to March was 10.9 per cent, while in Dubai and Sharjah it was just 4.8 per cent. This is a drop from 20.5 per cent and 21.8 per cent, respectively, in the previous year.
"Abu Dhabi is growing but still slower than it used to grow," said Mr Nair.
But it is growing because in the capital fewer jobs were shed and fewer people left, Mr Nair said. Also, many people who were made redundant in Dubai found jobs in Abu Dhabi and relocated to the capital, he added.
Another factor is the addition of new hypermarkets and supermarkets, which has slowed in Dubai but is continuing in Abu Dhabi, Mr Nair said.
The shift is evident when looking at most categories, ranging from food to personal care. With chocolate, sales growth in the past year in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain was 4 per cent, while in Dubai and Sharjah it was down 2.8 per cent. For rice, sales growth in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain was 7.8 per cent. The growth in soap product sales in Abu Dhabi was 20.7 per cent, compared with 14.4 per cent in Dubai and Sharjah.
"Abu Dhabi, you wouldn't call it booming any more, but it is still growing and it is still doing quite well," said David Edwards, the managing director of IMES Consulting Group, a market research company based in Dubai. "People losing their jobs in Dubai have been finding them in Abu Dhabi. There has been a shift in the central economic focus in the country from Dubai towards Abu Dhabi and you would expect to see faster growth rates in Abu Dhabi to Dubai."
Another factor contributing to the overall slowdown is that existing residents have scaled back their spending. UAE consumers were unsure whether their jobs were secure and became more cautious with their purchases, Mr Nair said. For those who are still employed, salaries have not increased, giving consumers less of an incentive to shop, he added.
However, consumer sentiment is improving. The latest reading of consumer confidence in the UAE showed an 11-point jump, to 103 points, bringing the country back among the top 10 most optimistic markets in the world, data from Nielsen showed. The company expects sales to improve but consumers will continue to be cautious.
aligaya@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Small%20Things%20Like%20These
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Third Test
Result: India won by 203 runs
Series: England lead five-match series 2-1
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company%20Profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Last five meetings
2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil
2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil
1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil
1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil
1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil
Note: All friendlies
More from Armen Sarkissian
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Zayed Sustainability Prize