There have been some changes to supermarket opening times across the country

As malls across the UAE close for two weeks and the country undergoes a vast sterilisation programme as part of ongoing measures to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there have been some changes to store opening times.

Supermarkets and some pharmacies within malls will remain open to ensure everyone is able to access essentials, however, some opening times have changed as people have been asked to remain in their homes between the hours of 8pm and 6am until Sunday, April 5.

LuLu Hypermarkets across the UAE have temporarily reduced opening hours in line with the government's ongoing sterilisation drive, which has been extended until Sunday, April 5.

Until then, all its stores will operate on reduced hours, open daily from 8am to 7pm. V Nandakumar, chief communications officer at LuLu Group, said, "Please plan your shopping accordingly and avoid last moment rush so as to maintain social distancing procedures."

Shoppers wait in line at a Carrefour supermarket. Pawan Singh / The National

Malls will be taking special measures to ensure customers are able to access supermarkets safely, signposting them to the closest entrance and carrying out daily deep cleaning, while some malls have thermal cameras installed.

A spokesperson for Oasis Mall, which has outlets in Dubai and Sharjah, told The National. "In Dubai, a thermal camera has been installed at the mall's main entrance, while the basement parking will be fully functional in both the Dubai and Sharjah locations, to give all visitors quick access to the Carrefour stores as well as the iCare clinic in Oasis Mall Dubai and Life pharmacy in Sharjah."

Carrefour, which has dozens of branches across the UAE, has also ensured customers that it is working closely with suppliers to ensure that stock levels remain high, and prices do not inflate.

"We encourage all our valued customers to shop responsibly and be mindful of others," a spokesperson for the supermarket said. "We have full confidence in our stock and supply chain and we continue to monitor stock levels to ensure we adequately cater to customer needs. We are also working closely with suppliers to ensure that essential products remain at reasonable prices so that our customers don’t experience an increase in their shopping bills."

Carrefour hypermarkets in Dubai and Fujairah will now be open 8am to 8pm, while the chain's smaller supermarkets will remain open at their normal hours.

The statement added that stores would be adding special measures to ensure customers follow social distancing rules, including placing acrylic glass screens at checkout counters and installing signs detailing best social distancing practices.

Here is a handy guide for which supermarkets will be open when:

Dubai

Carrefour, Mall of the Emirates

Daily, 8am-8pm

Carrefour, Ibn Battuta

Daily, 8am-8pm

Carrefour, Sunset Mall

Daily, 8am-midnight

Carrefour, Deira City Centre

Daily, 8am-8pm

Carrefour, Festival City

Saturday to Wednesday, 8am-8pm

Thursday and Friday, 8am-8pm

Carrefour, Oasis Mall

Daily, 8am-midnight

Carrefour, Mirdif City Centre

Daily, 8am-8pm

Carrefour, Me'aisem City Centre

Daily, 8am-8pm

Grandiose, Jumeirah

Daily, 7am-midnight

Grandiose, Marina

Daily, 24 hours

Hyperama, Al Quoz

10am-9pm, Sunday to Wednesday and 10am-10pm Thursday to Saturday

LuLu Hypermarket, Al Barsha

Daily, 8am-7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

LuLu Hypermarket, Al Qusais

Daily, 8am-7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Spinneys, Al Furjan

Daily, 8am-11pm

Spinneys, Dubai Marina

Daily, 7am-11pm

Union Coop, Umm Suqeim

Daily, 24 hours

Waitrose, The Dubai Mall

Daily, 10am-9pm (from Sunday, March 29)

Waitrose, Marina Mall

Daily, 7.45am-11pm

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Co-op, Abu Dhabi Mall

Daily, 8am-midnight

Abu Dhabi Co-op, Khalidiya

Daily, 24 hours

Abu Dhabi Co-op, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre

Daily, 9am-11am

Waitrose, The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Daily, 8am-9pm

Carrefour, Airport Road

Sunday to Thursday, 8am-midnight

Friday and Saturday, 9am-midnight

Carrefour, Marina Mall

Daily, 9am-midnight

Carrefour, Yas Mall

Daily, 9am-midnight

Lulu Hypermarket, Al Wahda

Daily, 8am-7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Lulu Hypermarket, Khalidiya Mall

Daily, 8am - 7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Lulu Hypermarket, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre

Daily, 8am - 7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Lulu Hypermarket, Mushrif Mall

Daily, 8am-7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Lulu Hypermarket, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi

Daily, 8am - 7pm (Until Sunday, April 5)

Organic Foods and Cafe, Nation Towers

Daily, 9am-11pm

Spinneys, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi

Daily, 7am-11pm

Waitrose, Boutik Mall

Daily, 8am-11pm

Spinneys, Corniche

Daily, 24 hours