His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, conducted a field visit to various retail outlets across the country. This initiative aimed to verify the stability of product prices and their availability during the holy month of Ramadan in 2026, while also assessing the compliance of retailers and cooperatives with consumer protection laws and policies, especially concerning the pricing of essential consumer goods and the corresponding regulations issued by the ministry.
Strategic Stock
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq affirmed that the strategic stock in the UAE is well-prepared and capable of continuous supply, ensuring the availability of goods and products over the long term. As Ramadan approaches, the markets are witnessing a significant abundance of products, particularly basic consumer goods. He stated, “The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is committed to meeting all consumer needs and ensuring the required quantities are available while preventing any unjustified price increases during the holy month of Ramadan. We will also monitor the compliance of sales outlets and cooperatives with the fundamental rights enshrined in the consumer protection law and its executive regulations, as well as adherence to promotional offers and discounts announced during Ramadan, contributing to greater market stability and a safe, attractive consumer environment.”
The Minister visited the UAE Cooperative Society in Al Tawaar 3, Dubai, where he was welcomed by Ali Mohammed Al Ruwaifi, Chairman of the Society, and other officials. During his visit, he reviewed the available quantities of goods and assessed the clarity of displayed prices for consumer goods, enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions in accordance with established standards and policies.
Consumer Rights
He continued his tour at a Spinneys store in Al Khawaneej to ensure the application of established policies that bolster consumer rights and price stability in the markets. He was met by Sunil Kumar, CEO of Spinneys, and Tom Harvey, General Manager of Commercial Affairs at Spinneys.
In this context, he highlighted the significance of ongoing collaboration and communication with retail outlets and cooperatives to regularly exchange information and data concerning essential consumer goods, ensuring their sustainable availability. This is especially important during Ramadan, when special discounts and offers are provided to consumers. He emphasized that the pricing policy for essential consumer goods plays a crucial role in organizing the vital relationship between suppliers, retailers, and consumers, ensuring the rights of all parties and the application of best business practices. He noted that adherence to unit pricing for consumer goods and cleaning supplies in retail outlets helps ensure price transparency for consumers, providing them with accurate information that assists in rational consumption and optimal choices among alternatives, while ensuring fair competition based on unit prices, rather than solely on total promotional prices currently offered in the markets.
Pricing Policy
The pricing policy prohibits the increase of prices for essential goods such as cooking oils, eggs, milk, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat without prior approval from the ministry and relevant authorities, in accordance with Cabinet Decision No. 120 of 2022 concerning the pricing rules for consumer goods.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s unit pricing decision requires retail shops, including both physical and digital commercial establishments exceeding 1,000 square meters, to prominently display unit prices in a clear and readable manner, using standard measurement units for each item. This decision also grants the ministry and relevant authorities the right to monitor compliance with unit pricing regulations, enabling consumers to file complaints against retail stores and digital traders if they violate these regulations.
The Minister was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, including Safia Al Saffi, Assistant Undersecretary for Commercial Governance and Control; Sultan Darwish, Director of Consumer Protection and Commercial Monitoring; Amina Al Haj, Consumer Protection and Monitoring Consultant; and Salem Al Auliqi, Head of the Compliance and Monitoring Section in the Consumer Protection Division.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism reaffirmed that consumers play an active role in monitoring product prices in the markets by engaging with regulatory authorities and maintaining communication with the ministry through official channels to file complaints, report any harmful business practices affecting consumer protection, or provide suggestions and ideas to enhance the consumer protection environment within the country.