Khaleej Times

DUBAI, Mar 2: You will now need to shell out some extra bucks on your bakery. Since yesterday, bakeries all over Dubai have hiked the prices of different products by an average of Dh1-2.

Last week, bakeries in Ajman and Sharjah had also announced similar increases. Bakery owners claim the increase in raw material prices had left them with no other option.

The decision to hike the prices was reportedly taken at a meeting of bakery owners in Dubai last month.

Said Hussein Qubessi, manager of Al Reef Lebanese Bakery in the emirate: "The prices of sugar, flour, milk powder, oil and eggs have all shot up by almost 150 per cent. Plus, there has been an increase in transportation costs.

“The rents have gone up too. We had no option but to increase the prices."

As per the new rate chart, the price of a small Arabic Bread piece has increased from 75 fills to Dh1. The price of Samoan, another type of bread, has gone up to 85 fills, from the 75 fills earlier. The price of Lowealorie, a kind of brown bread, now stands at Dh5 as against Dh4 till last month.

It may be noted that the Ajman Municipality had recently warned bakery owners in the emirate against any price hike.

When contacted, Khalid Sharif, the head of the Food Control Section at the Dubai Municipality, said: "We cannot make any comments right now. The matter is being looked into."