Abu Dhabi grocers forced to close

Did you come back from a seasonal trip to find that your local grocer is no longer answering the phone or has shut up shop? It was a surprise to many, but as of December 31, all of the corner and grocery shops that had not renovated and upgraded had to close their doors. Regulations enforced by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority require the city’s 1,300 little shops to modernise in order to meet global food safety procedures. In some cases the upgrades could cost store owners in the region of Dhs100,000 or upwards. While it may be frustrating, keep an eye out because if the renovations are completed the smaller grocers may open their doors again.