How to buy a fridge in the UAE

I didn’t have much time to shop around after my #freezergate (more about this to follow soon) but I still learned a few things I can share with you now. 

1. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

That secret warehouse someone told you about, where you can get amazing home appliances at throwaway prices, doesn’t exist. It’s an urban myth. If you want a new appliance under warranty and zero hassle, you’ll have to go to a traditional shop. 

Margins are low hence prices of new appliances will likely be similar across stores. What makes a difference is the after sales service, warranty terms, possibly a loyalty program you can apply to or payment facilities if needed.

Whatever happens, don’t go the second hand route unless you’re buying from a very trustworthy source (your best friend or similar). Sadly many “professionals” buy broken appliances around town, repair them temporarily and resell them. They may offer you “6 months warranty” but will have vanished a few days later, when your appliance breaks down. They post ads on Dubizzle, Facebook marketplace but also community groups, sometimes making it look like they’re a neighbour moving out. 

2. Define your needs

When you first start googling fridges, the choice can seem overwhelming. There are only few styles in reality: top freezer, bottom freezer, side by side, French doors. Start with measuring out your space so you know what you could, and what you couldn’t go for. 

3. Do your research

Online: Check the websites of reputable stores like Carrefour, Emax, Sharaf DG, Jumbo Electronics, Lulu, Jashanmal, Better Life, ACE to name just a few. List your favourites but make sure the items are sold and fulfilled by the store itself, not a third party. 

In store: It makes a huge difference to see the appliance on a small picture online and to stand in front of it, touch it, handle it. While I was indecisive when looking at pictures, I knew immediately what I liked and what I didn’t when I saw the fridges in store. Don’t forget this is an item you’re going to use daily for the next years of your life. Think about your needs and
priorities. Which area do you access the most? Maybe a bottom freezer type works better than a top freezer? Maybe you’d rather have a side by side fridge, or one with French doors? Do you need a water dispenser or would you rather have more freezer space? Extra features can be expensive. The exact same Samsung fridge for example can cost 2000 dhs more with an integrated water and ice dispenser which is why you should first identify your personal needs.

Once you know which type you’re looking for, choice will have drastically reduced. Depending on your budget, you will have to choose from a few brands, from entry level models to high end appliances. I asked our Instagram followers for their preferred brands and most of them voted for Samsung, followed by Hitachi and LG. 

I ended up buying a Samsung fridge from Emax because I liked the door configurations, it was on discount (can’t say no to a deal!)  and it came with 3 years warranty, as opposed to the usual 12 months. I didn’t know this, but Emax match the price of their products so if you can prove you found the same item cheaper somewhere else, you’ll get a discount. My fridge was delivered the next day and I’m very happy overall and mostly relieved to have 3 years warranty- no more #freezergates hopefully! 

4. Some more facts

Energy consumption doesn’t make a huge difference – moneywise. From what I saw most fridges in the same category had a similar consumption. 1 kWh costs 0,230 dhs so a fridge in the 400 kWh/year range will cost you a little more than 92 dhs to run/year and a fridge which consumes 700 kWh/year will cost you around 160 dhs/year. Within these categories a few kWh more or less won’t make a difference financially speaking. 

Stores like Emax will offer you a small discount – typically around 200 dhs – if you give them your old fridge, no matter the condition.  

Some credit cards offer more cashback than others on home appliances. Check your credit card(s) and pay with the most convenient.

Happy fridge shopping!