Community-focused retail chains will serve up vital support to shoppers during Ramadan by slashing the cost of tens of thousands of food items by up to 90 per cent.
The Union Co-operative and Sharjah Co-op will cut prices on close to 50,000 household essentials at dozens of branches in Dubai and Sharjah.
The Sharjah initiative will begin on Friday and will extend throughout the holy month, which is expected to start on April 2.
Discounts will range from 25 to 90 per cent under the Ramadanak Wayana campaign.
Majid Salem Al Junaid, chief executive of Sharjah Co-op, said the programme aims to “ease the burdens on citizens and residents alike”.
“The Co-op allocated Dh30m to support more than 20,000 consumer goods across 47 branches during the holy month with discounts up to 90 per cent on some products.”
Four types of Ramadan baskets containing goods such as rice, sugar, flour, oils and juices are available at prices between Dh49 to and Dh399 in all Sharjah Co-op branches and online.
A Palestinian resident said the new programme is timely as families are preparing to stock up on goods for Ramadan gatherings.
“We invite many friends and family over for iftar and cook more and different meals every day,” said Shireen Ahmad, 36, who lives in Al Tawun in Sharjah.
“Our monthly budget will double during Ramadan and since I lost my job, my husband’s salary has been barely enough so the discounts come in really good time.”
Tala Yousef, who lives in Sharjah, said her family always try find cheaper alternatives to cover all their needs with a monthly budget of about Dh5,700 for food.
“The offers by the co-operatives will help us enjoy the holy month because we wouldn’t need to give up on some Ramadan favourite food items,” she said.
Dubai discounts
In Dubai, about 30,000 products will be reduced in price by up to 75 per cent.
“The co-operative allocated Dh185m for the Ramadan campaign to reduce the prices of 30,000 food and consumer goods,” said Khalid Humaid Al Falasi, chief executive of the Union Co-op.
“The prices that are reduced up to 75 per cent will be available across all branches and centres belonging to the Co-op throughout Dubai.”
Both co-operative societies say they have adequate stocks to ensure consumers' needs are met throughout the holy month.
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- 600-seat auditorium
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1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
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Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
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