Surge in Demand for Goats in RAK Livestock Market

There has been a heavy rush of people at the Ras Al Khaimah Livestock Market, located in Filayah area, since Sunday as traders from different emirates descended upon the only such market in the country, which is the arrival place for all livestock from Iran.

“After the traders who import these goats and sheep from Iran get them off the ships at Saqr Port in Ras Al Khaimah, the animals are transported to RAK livestock market where traders from Ras Al Khaimah and other emirates can obtain them. This is the reason why the market is so busy; many traders have come to procure animals in preparations for the month of Ramadan,” said Hamudan Ali, an Emirati livestock trader.

Khaleej Times visited the livestock markets on Monday and witnessed some of the action, including animal dealers quoting their price to animal traders even before the animals were offloaded from the trucks.

Traders are stocking as many animals as possible for their customers, as the demand for livestock, especially sheep and goats, increase during the Holy month of Ramadan, said Mohamoud Khan, who imports goats and sheep from Iran.

Although there are varieties of goats and sheep in the livestock markets across the country, livestock traders say that their customers, especially UAE nationals and Arabs, prefer Iranian goats and sheep to other animals because their meat is good and they make delicious soup.

Muhammed Hafeedh, 50, a Pakistani livestock trader in Ras Al Khaimah, said that for all the 15 years he has worked in the RAK livestock market, Iranian goats and sheep have been in high demand and their prices have always been higher compared to the rest of the animals. “A 10kg goat from Iran is being sold at Dh450, and an Iranian sheep of the same weight costs Dh650.”

“Lamb is among the favourite dishes prepared for Iftaar and pre-dawn (sohoor) for many Emirati families. Given that Ramadan is just a few days away, I have bought five Iranian goats and three sheep to keep them at home as the markets would be more busy during the coming days,” said Abdul Nassir Seif, an Emirati who had visited the market along with his wife.

Explaining the prices of other types of goats, Hafeedh said that where a 10kg Somali goat cost Dh350, a ‘Serara goat’ from Oman costs Dh400 and an Indian goat costs Dh450. Local goats from Ras Al Khaimah are being sold at between Dh350- Dh500, depending on the size.

Although not on high demand during Ramadan, the prices of cows range from Dh2,000 to Dh3,000, depending on the size; and the price of camels start from Dh2,500, said traders at the RAK Livestock Market.

Fadhil Qadib, Pakistani livestock trader from Abu Dhabi said that despite an increase in the cost of procuring livestock from importers, prices in the local markets have remained unchanged. The Ministry of Economy recently agreed with livestock traders and other retailers in the country not to increase prices of their products during Ramadan. ismail@khaleejtimes.com

Meat prices in Rak Markets

- 1kg of fresh meat for Somalia,

India, Oman and UAE: Dh25

- 1kgof lamb: Dh28

- 1kg of beef with bones: Dh20

- 1kg of beef without bones: Dh25