ع
RetailME selected Safeer Market as the recipient of its Golden Spoon Award for Supermarket Chain of the Year 2026. The honour recognises exceptional performance and leadership in the grocery sector with emphasis on operations, market expansion and community impact according to criteria listed on the Food Business Forum website that hosts the awards. Safeer Market operates as a key player in the UAE retail landscape with a focus on value-driven offerings and customer convenience across multiple emirates.
The award comes as Safeer Market prepares for further growth following the March opening of a new 300,000-square-foot distribution centre in Sajjah, Safeer Group said in a statement at the time. The facility incorporates automation and data systems to improve inventory management and delivery efficiency across the group’s retail brands. Additional store openings are scheduled for the first quarter of 2026 as part of a broader push to meet rising consumer demand in residential areas.
Safeer Market forms the supermarket division of Al Safeer Group which began operations in 1985 with a single store in Al Ain. The company has since expanded into a network of hypermarkets and supermarkets serving customers in the UAE, Qatar and Oman with a range of groceries, household goods and lifestyle products. Its 40th anniversary celebrations in 2025 included plans for 20 new locations over two years and a year-long series of community events.
Euromonitor International data shows supermarkets in the UAE recorded a 6 per cent increase in value sales during 2025 reaching AED18,677 million. Migration trends and a mix of premiumisation alongside price sensitivity have shaped consumer behaviour in the sector. Operators have responded by expanding private label ranges and investing in omnichannel services to maintain competitiveness.
A Khaleej Times report citing an InterRegional for Strategic Analysis assessment projects the UAE retail sector will expand from $145.3 billion to $227.1 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 per cent. The grocery and supermarket segment is forecast to grow at more than 13 per cent annually driven by population increases and urban development. Smart retail technologies are expected to surge at 32.2 per cent annually over the same period as artificial intelligence reshapes in-store and online experiences.
Al Safeer Group has positioned the new Sajjah hub as central to supporting its retail expansion while contributing to national food security objectives. The centre will handle warehousing, processing and distribution for multiple brands under the group umbrella. Safeer Market continues to issue weekly promotional booklets and host in-store events to drive footfall across its outlets.
