Consumers report that many major retail outlets and stores lack discounts on supplies for the 54th UAE Union Day, calling for price reductions on such items as clothing, flags, posters, decorations, and badges. They mentioned that the prices of some of these items are very high, at a time when the country's markets are witnessing large purchases of supplies for Union Day celebrations, whether by citizen and resident families or government entities and companies. While two officials in retail trade stated that the high demand for Union Day celebration supplies and their high-quality materials raise the prices of some of them, a retail affairs expert considered the price increase unjustified and deemed it an exploitation of the high demand, urging consumers to buy supplies from wholesale stores that offer them at lower prices than traditional stores. In detail, citizen Ahmed Al-Shahhi said that many major sales outlets and stores were devoid of discounts on supplies for the 54th UAE Union Day, especially clothing, flags, posters, decorations, badges, and balloons, pointing out that the prices of some supplies are high. He explained, for example, that sales outlets offered dresses for young girls with special occasion logos at prices exceeding 100 dirhams per dress, while stores sold ribbons and small badges at prices exceeding 35 dirhams per piece. Al-Shahhi demanded discounted offers on these supplies, especially with the increase in demand for them during this period coinciding with the occasion. Citizen Saeed Muhammad also confirmed that many major sales outlets and commercial stores lacked discounted offers on Union Day celebration supplies, expressing his surprise at the high prices of some items. He mentioned that outlets and stores sold large flags at prices reaching more than 220 dirhams per flag, while stores sold small posters at prices exceeding 25 dirhams per poster, demanding discounts on these supplies within the framework of supporting the joy of this national occasion. Resident Hiba Al-Said said she noticed an increase in the prices of some Union Day supplies, especially children's clothing, which ranged between 70 and 120 dirhams depending on the material. She also noticed that the prices of some decoration items, such as badges, bags, and hats, were high and exceeded 50 dirhams. She added that resident families are accustomed to participating in Union Day celebrations and buying many celebration supplies, and their children participate annually in the celebrations held in schools. For his part, an official at one of the major sales outlets, Idris Ibrahim, said that the outlets are used to offering a variety of Union Day celebration supplies in different sizes and materials, at varied and different prices according to size and material to suit different individual and company consumer categories. He pointed out that the significant increase in demand for purchasing these supplies during this time of the year raises the prices of some of them. He agreed with him, an official at one of the commercial stores, Ahmad Siddiqi, that this period is characterized by a large increase in sales of Union Day celebration supplies, indicating that the retail sector is coping with that by providing large quantities of supplies at varied prices that meet different needs. He confirmed that all the supplies are distinguished by high-quality materials, which affects the prices. In turn, a retail affairs expert, Ibrahim Al-Bahr, stated that many traditional stores did not offer discounts on Union Day celebration supplies, despite this occasion being a precious and dear national occasion for every citizen and resident, and the country witnesses active purchasing movement during it, which enables stores to achieve large profits within a few days. Al-Bahr believes that the prices of some supplies are high unreasonably, which he considers exploitation by some stores of the high demand from families, companies, and government and private entities alike, calling on stores to offer discounts of 54%, in reference to the 54th anniversary of Union Day. Al-Bahr urged consumers to buy supplies from wholesale stores that offer them at prices much lower than traditional stores. 100 dirhams is the price of a Union Day celebration dress for young girls in outlets, while stores sold posters at prices exceeding 25 dirhams.
