The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has announced an enhancement of its monitoring efforts across retail outlets throughout the nation, aiming to ensure the stability of prices for goods and products and their sufficient availability to meet consumer demand, especially amidst the rising demand for essential consumer goods during this period.
The ministry emphasized that daily inspections are actively ongoing through specialized teams, in coordination and collaboration with economic development departments across the emirates. This joint national monitoring team is focused on consolidating efforts to prevent price hikes and any unfair trading practices, while promoting continuous market oversight at the emirate level.
Moreover, the ministry highlighted high-level coordination among concerned authorities in all emirates to continuously monitor markets and to ensure that outlets and traders adhere to consumer protection policies and regulations. This includes a pricing policy for nine essential goods: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat, for which any price increase requires prior approval from the ministry and the designated national committee.
Regarding the recent uptick in the prices of certain food items, such as onions and tomatoes within the last couple of days, the ministry explained that this increase is temporary and limited, resulting from natural impacts linked to the regional crisis. They confirmed that additional supplies of the affected goods have been made available in adequate quantities to maintain market stability.
The ministry reassured the public that the quantity of essential goods available in the markets is sufficient and that multiple alternatives exist. They encouraged consumers not to worry about the availability or prices of goods, assuring that there would be a swift return of prices to normal levels with an increase in supply.
In this vein, the ministry stated that the UAE has a strategic stockpile of essential goods that can meet market needs for six months, ensuring the sustained availability of these goods and price stability, even in emergencies. The distribution of this strategic stock across various regions is managed systematically to enhance the efficiency of supply chains and ensure prompt fulfillment of market demands.
The ministry stressed that shipping and supply chains are operating normally and efficiently through various outlets, contributing to the continuous availability of goods in local markets without interruptions.
Furthermore, the ministry communicated that the UAE today boasts a vast network of partner markets supplying imports of various goods, with the ability to efficiently and quickly seek alternative markets in times of crisis.
Since the onset of the regional crisis, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with economic development authorities across different markets, has conducted approximately 7,105 inspection rounds, identifying 567 violations, including unjustified price increases. As a result, 449 warnings were issued to traders, suppliers, and retail outlets, alongside a total of 207,250 dirhams in fines, reinforcing market oversight and ensuring adherence to consumer protection policies.
The ministry confirmed it will continue to intensify monitoring campaigns in the upcoming period in cooperation with economic development departments and relevant authorities, assuring market stability and providing consumers in the UAE with a safe and stable shopping environment.
The ministry also called attention to the active role of consumers in monitoring prices of goods and products, encouraging them to engage with regulatory authorities and communicate any price increases or observed violations through official channels. Consumers can reach out via electronic services on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s website at www.moet.gov.ae, or by calling or messaging via WhatsApp at 8001222, or emailing [email protected].
Additionally, the ministry urges consumers across all emirates to adopt sound consumption practices by buying according to need and avoiding excessive stockpiling or shopping, which helps stabilize prices and ensures availability of goods for everyone.