Ras Al Khaimah: Bakeries have ignored orders from the municipality not to raise bread prices, saying that prices of wheat and diesel fuel have shot up.
The price of a large loaf of bread has jumped from 50 to 75 fils.
"Copies of the official notice were delivered in person to each bakery with clear instructions to stick to the old price," said Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Director of RAK Municipality.
He said a market study showed that there was no excuse for the bakeries to increase prices of bread.
The official said the study was done after complaints from the public. "Bread is a basic commodity and the municipality will not allow this," he said.
The official said the bakeries were verbally warned earlier. "They have now received copies of the municipal order and it is effective immediately," he said, urging the public to report violations.
Murad Ali, a consumer, said his family consumes bread costing at least Dh10 to Dh15 a week. He said the increase is unjustified and will affect poor families. "Prices of basic needs have gone up. Rents have shot up. Salaries are still the same," he said.
Sayed Ahmad, in charge of a bakery, said he earlier bought a 50 kilo bag of wheat for Dh40, but retailers recently increased the price to Dh70.
"The 25 fils increase [in price] is not much for the customers," he claimed and said that a big loaf now weighs 220 grams as opposed to 150 grams earlier.
"We cannot survive on the old prices," he said.
A senior official in the Department of Economic Development said bakeries now also have to pay commercial registration fees of Dh400. He said expenses of bakeries have increased.
Protection
"Consumer protection is important, but you must also protect the producers and manufacturers," he said.
However, he said bread prices should not go up as the price of wheat is fixed.
