Abu Dhabi

NBK Tower

Supermarkets on Al Reem Island: Complete Guide

Overview of Shopping on Al Reem Island

Al Reem Island provides comprehensive grocery shopping infrastructure through diverse retail formats spanning international hypermarkets, premium supermarkets, mid-size community stores, and convenience mini-marts. This variety accommodates varying shopping preferences, budgetary constraints, and proximity requirements, enabling residents to select grocery outlets matching specific needs from weekly bulk shopping through daily quick-stop purchases.

Supermarket Categories on Al Reem Island

International Hypermarkets: Large-format stores (Carrefour) offering extensive product ranges including groceries, electronics, clothing, and household goods

Premium Supermarkets: Upscale grocery retailers (Waitrose) emphasizing imported products, organic selections, and quality-focused inventory

Regional Supermarket Chains: Established local retailers (Al Maya) providing comprehensive grocery selections at competitive pricing

Community Supermarkets: Mid-size stores (Zoom) serving specific neighborhoods with daily essentials

Mini-Marts: Small-format convenience stores (Bite, Daily Mini Mart) offering quick-stop shopping for immediate needs

This tiered retail structure creates shopping flexibility, with hypermarkets supporting major weekly shops, community supermarkets handling mid-week replenishment, and mini-marts addressing forgotten items or emergency purchases.

Major Supermarket Chains

Carrefour Supermarket

Overview: French multinational retail chain operating three locations on Al Reem Island, providing hypermarket-scale shopping with extensive product ranges spanning groceries, electronics, clothing, accessories, and household essentials at competitive price points.

Accessible Locations:

Hydra Avenue branch: City of Lights, Shams Abu Dhabi residents
Paragon Bay branch: Marina Bay residents
Al Reem Mall branch: All island residents (destination shopping)

Product Categories:

Food and Groceries:

Fresh produce (fruits, vegetables)
Meat and seafood departments
Dairy products and refrigerated goods
Bakery items (bread, pastries)
Frozen foods
Packaged groceries across all categories

Specialty Food Sections:

Organic Foods: Dedicated organic section with certified products
International Foods: Specialized aisles featuring:
- Filipino products
- Indian and Pakistani foods
- Regional produce from various countries
- Imported specialty items

Non-Food Merchandise:

Electronics (small appliances, mobile accessories)
Clothing and textiles
Home accessories and décor
Kitchen utensils and cookware
Stationery and office supplies

Shopping Services:

Home Delivery: Online ordering with direct-to-home delivery eliminating need for in-store shopping. Service particulars (delivery fees, minimum orders, delivery zones) require verification with specific branches.

Loyalty Program: Points accumulation system rewarding repeat purchases. Customers earn points on transactions redeemable for discounts on future purchases, creating incentive for continued patronage.

Advantages:

Multiple island locations reducing travel distances
Extensive product variety supporting one-stop shopping
Competitive pricing positioning Carrefour as affordable option
Long operating hours (some branches until midnight)
International food sections serving diverse expatriate demographics
Organic food availability
Home delivery convenience

Ideal For:

Weekly bulk grocery shopping
Households seeking one-stop shopping including non-food items
Budget-conscious shoppers prioritizing competitive pricing
International residents seeking home-country products
Families preferring organic food options
Shoppers valuing loyalty rewards programs

Waitrose Supermarket

Overview: British premium supermarket chain emphasizing quality products, imported goods, and organic selections, operating single Al Reem Island location within Shams BOUTIK Mall.

Location:

Shams BOUTIK Mall (central island osition)

Fresh Products:

Fresh vegetables with quality emphasis
Premium meat selections
Organic fruits with certification
Refrigerated prepared meals and ready-to-eat options

British Specialty Items:

British snacks and biscuits
Fish and chips preparations
Traditional British grocery items
UK-brand products familiar to British expatriates

International Organic Brands:

Extensive organic food selection featuring recognized international brands across:

Organic packaged goods
Certified organic produce
Natural and health-focused products
Dairy products from quality sources

Market Positioning: Premium pricing tier reflecting quality focus, imported product concentration, and upscale market segment targeting. Higher per-item costs compared to Carrefour or regional chains, compensated by product quality and specialty selection unavailability elsewhere.

Advantages:

Central Shams BOUTIK Mall location convenient for surrounding communities
Premium product quality and selection
Extensive organic offerings
British product availability serving UK expatriate preferences
Quality-focused fresh departments (produce, meat)
Mall location enabling combined shopping and dining trips

Ideal For:

British expatriates seeking familiar home-country products
Health-conscious shoppers prioritizing organic selections
Quality-focused consumers accepting premium pricing
Shoppers valuing product sourcing and brand reputation
Residents living near Shams BOUTIK Mall
Those combining grocery shopping with mall dining or retail activities

Al Maya Supermarket

Overview: Regional supermarket chain with five Abu Dhabi locations, two directly accessible to Al Reem Island residents, providing comprehensive grocery selection at competitive mid-market pricing.

Locations :

The Gate District, Jazeerat Al Reem

Amaya Tower 1, Shams Abu Dhabi

Product Categories:

Food and Groceries:

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Dairy products
Daily essentials across categories
Packaged foods and staples

Non-Food Items:

Stationery and office supplies
Kitchen utensils and cookware
Household cleaning products
Basic home accessories

Shopping Services: Home delivery service available, enabling online ordering or phone orders with delivery to residential addresses. Service details (delivery fees, minimum orders) require verification with specific branches.

Market Positioning: Mid-market pricing between budget hypermarkets (Carrefour) and premium supermarkets (Waitrose), balancing affordability with product variety and quality.

Advantages:

Two island locations increasing accessibility
Comprehensive product range supporting complete grocery shopping
Home delivery convenience
Extended hours (Amaya Tower location until midnight)
Competitive mid-market pricing
Established regional brand familiarity
Non-food household items reducing need for multiple store visits

Ideal For:

Residents seeking balance between price and product variety
Gate District and Shams Abu Dhabi residents prioritizing proximity
Households requiring both food and non-food household items
Shoppers valuing home delivery services
Those preferring regional chain familiarity over international brands

Community Supermarkets

Zoom Supermarket

Overview: Community-scale supermarket serving Marina Square area, providing daily essentials with online ordering convenience in compact format.

Location:

Marina Square Tower, Reem Island Tower 15

Product Selection:

Core Groceries:

Cooking supplies and staples
Fresh produce (fruits, vegetables)
Refrigerated and frozen items
Packaged foods

Additional Categories:

Stationery supplies
Pet food and pet supplies
Household basics

Shopping Experience: Smaller format compared to hypermarkets, creating quicker shopping trips for routine purchases. Staff assistance available for locating items or special requests.

Shopping Services: Online ordering system enabling residents to place orders digitally for pickup or delivery, accommodating varying shopping preferences from in-person selection through completely contactless ordering.

Advantages:

Convenient Marina Square Tower location for nearby residents
Online ordering flexibility
Friendly, helpful staff
Compact format supporting quick shopping trips
Pet supplies availability
Extended hours (7 AM opening)

Ideal For:

Marina Square and nearby tower residents
Quick daily shopping trips
Pet owners requiring convenient pet supply access
Shoppers preferring smaller stores over large hypermarkets
Online ordering preference
Residents valuing personalized service

Mini-Marts and Convenience Stores

Bite Supermarket

Overview: Convenience-format supermarket serving Marina Bay and Ring Island areas, specializing in snack foods, chocolates, and daily staples with extended late-night hours.

Location:

Ring Island, Al Reem Island

Product Specialization:

Core Focus:

Food staples and basic groceries
Dairy products
Packaged goods

Specialty Categories:

Chocolate selections
Snack foods (chips, crackers, nuts)
Confectionery items
Convenience foods

Shopping Services: Free home delivery service for residents in adjacent island areas, eliminating delivery fees while supporting convenience-oriented shopping patterns.

Advantages:

Late hours (until 1:00 AM) serving night-shift workers and late-night needs
Ring Island location convenient for Marina Bay residents
Free home delivery reducing shopping trip requirements
Chocolate and snack specialization
Quick-stop convenience format

Ideal For:

Marina Bay and Ring Island residents
Late-night shopping needs (open until 1 AM)
Snack and chocolate purchases
Emergency grocery runs
Residents preferring delivery over in-store shopping
Quick convenience stops

Daily Mini Mart Food

Overview: Small-format mini-mart serving Shams Abu Dhabi area, providing food items and cooking supplies with free delivery service.

Location:

Beach Tower A, Shams Abu Dhabi

Product Selection:

Food items across basic categories
Cooking supplies and staples
Daily essentials
Refrigerated products

Product Variety: Despite compact size, maintains diverse product selection addressing daily shopping requirements without hypermarket scale or variety.

Shopping Services: Free delivery service enabling phone or online orders with delivery to nearby residences, supporting convenience-focused shopping patterns.

Advantages:

Beach Tower A location convenient for Shams Abu Dhabi residents
Free delivery service
Compact size enabling quick shopping
Surprising product variety despite small format
No-cost home delivery

Ideal For:

Shams Abu Dhabi and Beach Tower residents
Quick daily purchases
Shoppers preferring free delivery
Forgotten item purchases
Residents avoiding large supermarket trips
Last-minute cooking supply needs

Supermarket Comparison

Comparison by Store Type and Features

Supermarket	Type	Locations	Hours	Key Strengths
Carrefour	Hypermarket	3 branches	7 AM-12 AM*	Extensive variety, competitive pricing, international foods
Waitrose	Premium	Shams BOUTIK	7 AM-11 PM	Quality focus, organic selection, British products
Al Maya	Regional Chain	2 branches	8 AM-12 AM*	Mid-market pricing, household items, delivery
Zoom	Community	Marina Square	7 AM-11 PM	Convenient location, online ordering, pet supplies
Bite	Mini-Mart	Ring Island	8 AM-1 AM	Late hours, free delivery, snack specialization
Daily Mini Mart	Mini-Mart	Beach Tower A	8 AM-10 PM	Free delivery, compact convenience

Comparison by Shopping Need

Shopping Need	Best Options	Reasoning
Weekly Bulk Shopping	Carrefour (Hydra, Al Reem Mall)	Extensive variety, one-stop shopping
Premium/Organic Products	Waitrose	Quality focus, organic selection
Budget-Conscious	Carrefour	Competitive pricing, loyalty rewards
British Products	Waitrose	Specialized UK imports
Quick Daily Purchases	Zoom, Bite, Daily Mini Mart	Convenient locations, quick trips
Late-Night Shopping	Bite (until 1 AM), Carrefour Hydra (midnight)	Extended hours
Home Delivery	Carrefour, Al Maya, Zoom, Bite, Daily Mini Mart	All offer delivery services
International Foods	Carrefour	Specialized international aisles
Pet Supplies	Zoom	Dedicated pet product section