Basmati rice, the most popular grain in the UAE, has started vanishing from supermarket shelves after the recent increase in prices coupled with a rise in domestic demand and in major exporting countries like India and Pakistan.

According to reports, some major rice exporters are considering reducing exports even further or completely withdrawing from the UAE market, as they are not getting the rate they demand.

Market sources in Dubai said that price of Basmati rice had gone up by nearly 25 to 30 % compared to prices in October 2007, citing a shortage in supply as the reason.