Sheep prices jump by 60% before Eid

The price of sheep this year has risen by 50 per cent to 60 per cent compared to 2007, dealers said.

They blamed the rise on the fact that some Ras Al Khaimah's top dealers have allegedly increased the prices by at least 30 per cent.

They said during the Eid season their profits come to about 40 per cent, which compensates the losses made during the rest of the year due to low demand for sheep in Abu Dhabi market.

Ali Safer, Manager, Khalid Al Hussain Sheep and Cattle Trading in Al Mena Market in Abu Dhabi, accused top dealers in Ras Al Khaimah of raising the prices.

"The increase this year is not less than 60 per cent. Al Mena Market dealers consider Eid an opportunity to compensate for their losses during the rest of the year. They also make up for the high rents imposed by Abu Dhabi Municipality on pens, as the rent of one pen reached Dh16,000 in the market," Safer said.

He said the profits made by dealers are not less than 40 per cent during Eid.

Jodi Ghulam Hussain, Manager of Salsabil Sheep Import Company, said dealers who import sheep are not the reason for the increase in prices. He added that Omani authorities imposed a tax of Dh30 for passage of sheep from Iran to the UAE. In addition, the cost of transport and shipping has risen by 50 per cent during Eid holidays.

"Some top dealers in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah bought big quantities of sheep and sent them to Qatar and Kuwait instead of the UAE and that led to a fall in supply and an increase in prices in the UAE."

After conducting a field tour, Emirates Business found that the price of Al Jazeeri sheep this year is ranging between Dh850 and Dh1,200 compared to Dh500 and Dh700 last year.

The price of big billy goat is between Dh600 and Dh1,000 compared to Dh600 in 2007. The price of small billy goats ranges between Dh350 and Dh420 compared to Dh300 in 2007.

The price of Somali sheep rose to Dh400 compared to Dh250 in 2007.

UAE national Khalid Al Mazrouie said prices have gone up by more than 60 per cent, adding that the price difference per sheep ranges from Dh200 to Dh400.

He said the price of local goats rose from Dh500 to Dh800, adding that Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah traders exploit the religious festivities to push prices up in the absence of control by the Ministry of Economy.

"We have not seen any inspector in the market."

Meanwhile, Director of the ministry's Consumer Protection Department, Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, defended the ministry's position.

He said the ministry last week signed an agreement with importers of sheep via the main outlet of Ras Al Khaimah. It said that prices would not be raised and large amounts of sheep will be made available to the country's markets.

Al Nuaimi said this year prices start from Dh550, an 18 per cent drop in comparison to last year's prices.

He asked people to buy animals days before the Eid rather than wait until the eve of the Eid or the first day of Eid Al Adha.

He said the ministry has co-ordinated with the country's municipalities and economic departments to station their monitors in the markets during the National Day and Eid Al Adha holidays to prevent exploitation of customers by traders or animal suppliers.

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