The Consumer Protection High Committee convened its first meeting of 2026, led by His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq Al Mari, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The meeting included representatives from member institutions, during which key efforts and achievements in enhancing the legislative and regulatory framework for consumer protection were reviewed, aimed at fostering a secure consumption environment in the nation’s markets and ensuring market stability while safeguarding consumer rights.
The committee approved a comprehensive oversight plan for the Holy Month of Ramadan, collaborating with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism alongside various federal and local entities responsible for market regulation. This plan encompasses inspection rounds, awareness initiatives, and communication efforts with the consumer and cooperative sectors, ensuring the promotion of fair business practices, increased compliance in markets, prevention of fraudulent activities, and maintenance of price stability and goods availability.
His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq noted that the UAE has successfully established a robust legislative and regulatory consumer protection system due to the wise directives from its leadership. This reflects the country’s commitment to enhancing fairness and transparency in markets, establishing a stable and equitable consumption environment aligned with global best practices, which reinforces its position as a leading destination for quality of life and business competitiveness, supporting the goals of the “We Are the UAE 2031” vision.
He further mentioned that through this inaugural meeting of the Consumer Protection High Committee for the year, they aim to enhance discussions and develop new recommendations that support national trends in evolving the consumer rights protection framework, particularly with the approaching month of Ramadan, ensuring market stability and boosting community confidence in the consumption environment and the wholesale and retail sectors.
His Excellency welcomed Hassan Jassem Al Noais, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, to the membership of the Consumer Protection High Committee, affirming that expanding national participation in the committee enhances its effectiveness in monitoring relevant market growth files, strengthening oversight, and diversifying initiatives that benefit consumers and improve quality of life in the UAE.
Strong Monitoring Indicators
During the meeting, the committee reviewed significant achievements and indicators realized through the ministry and concerned authorities’ efforts to reinforce oversight and consumer protection in the nation’s markets. The specialized teams from the Ministry and Economic Development Departments across the Emirates conducted 155,218 inspection rounds in 2025, resulting in 7,702 violations being recorded. Additionally, the ministry received 3,167 complaints via its website last year, efficiently addressing 93.9% of them, alongside processing 130 product recall requests, recovering 551,976 items.
His Excellency Abdullah Bin Touq emphasized that the legislative landscape for consumer rights protection has seen significant advancements recently. A comprehensive national policy was adopted for pricing essential consumer goods under Cabinet Decision No. (120) of 2022 regarding the pricing rules and regulations for consumer goods in the country.
In this context, he noted the issuance of three ministerial decisions supporting the policy on pricing essential consumer goods, which include setting unit prices for certain essential commodities, monitoring basic goods prices, and preventing any price increases without the ministry’s prior approval covering nine key items. Moreover, a code of conduct was established to organize the relationship between suppliers and retailers, enhancing market transparency.
He also highlighted the Federal Law No. (14) of 2023 concerning commerce via modern technologies, aimed at regulating digital trade and ensuring consumer rights through protective measures, secure digital payment channels, and data protection, alongside the issuance of Cabinet Decision No. (200) of 2025 regarding violations and administrative penalties related to the law’s provisions.
Updates
Specifically, during the meeting, committee members reviewed a report on the progress of implementing recommendations from the second meeting of the Consumer Protection High Committee for 2025. This report highlighted previous key decisions and the outcomes of national coordination between the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and local authorities regarding oversight and consumer protection, in addition to the efforts to develop a unified and integrated regulatory framework that enhances compliance with market organization regulations, reduces violations, and promotes sound commercial practices to establish a balanced and fair relationship between suppliers and consumers.
The report also outlined the ministry’s mechanisms for monitoring essential consumer goods prices in coordination with Economic Development Departments, ensuring no unjustified price hikes before Ramadan. It further discussed the plan for consumer protection during Ramadan, which includes intensified price oversight, prevention of fraudulent practices and manipulation of Ramadan promotions, and checking the quality and safety of food products. Additionally, it aims to strengthen partnerships with supportive entities within the consumer protection framework through joint awareness campaigns and organizing workshops that bolster the national oversight plan.
Market Regulation
The committee examined efforts by local authorities to enhance oversight on markets and ensure the availability of essential goods ahead of Ramadan. The Abu Dhabi Economic Development Department presented its field plans for monitoring price fluctuations and securing adequate supplies of essential products at retail outlets while intensifying enforcement of pricing policies and preventing exploitative practices during peak seasons.
The Dubai Economy and Tourism Department showcased its regulatory efforts and proactive strategies to ensure market stability and supervise Ramadan promotions, while ensuring compliance with price tagging and price transparency, along with strengthening oversight on the quality and safety of products.
The committee adopted a comprehensive market oversight plan during Ramadan, comprising approximately 26 meetings with key suppliers and importers to ensure sufficient stock of essential goods is available in markets. It also includes 420 inspection rounds and field visits to retail outlets over the Ramadan period to monitor prices, compliance with pricing policies, and prevent commercial exploitation, along with legal action against any observed violations.
Additionally, intensive awareness campaigns will be run in cooperation with Economic Development Departments to promote a responsible consumer culture during this holy month, as well as to support discount and promotional initiatives set by retail channels across the country.
Guidelines for Codes of Conduct
The committee also discussed the latest developments in the implementation of the guidelines for codes of conduct in the consumer goods sector, which aims to regulate the contractual relationship between suppliers and retailers while promoting integrity and transparency within the essential consumer goods sector.
In this context, members reviewed insights from retail outlets regarding the application of these guidelines, with several outlets affirming their full commitment to them, while others proposed enhancements to the guidelines to boost their positive impact and adherence, particularly concerning e-commerce, promotional offers, and contractual models between suppliers and retailers following best practices.