The Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with various Economic Development Departments across the country, conducted approximately 8,168 inspection rounds from February 28 to March 18, 2026. These efforts resulted in the issuance of 729 warnings and the imposition of 216 penalties, with fines ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 dirhams. These inspections are part of ongoing national initiatives aimed at strengthening market oversight and ensuring that retailers adhere to consumer protection policies, ultimately fostering a secure and fair shopping environment for all consumers.
Price Monitoring as a Top Priority
In this context, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Mehairi, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Consumer Protection Committee, stated: “The ministry continues, in cooperation with Economic Development Departments and relevant authorities, to uphold consumer rights and combat any practices that may lead to price manipulation of goods and products.
Monitoring prices and ensuring the availability of goods in the country’s markets are top priorities for the ministry, especially under current circumstances. We are also regularly assessing and reviewing regulatory policies and procedures to ensure that markets respond effectively to any changes and protect consumers from unfair practices that could infringe upon their rights.”
36 Follow-up Meetings
Additionally, he mentioned: “At the onset of the crisis, the ministry formed a national crisis and emergency team focused on oversight, in collaboration with local economic departments. We have held over 36 meetings with major suppliers and importers since the beginning of the crisis to ensure the steady flow of essential goods in adequate quantities. We are also monitoring daily updates from major retail outlets regarding the stock levels of the top 50 food items and the number of days of consumption available for each, thereby enhancing the readiness and efficiency of the state’s strategic stock.”
Receiving 1,994 Complaints
Specifically, from February 28 to March 17, 2026, the ministry received 2,441 consumer complaints, of which 1,994 were related to hikes in food prices, alongside 9 complaints concerning the hotel sector and 438 other grievances.
All complaints were addressed promptly, including field visits to verify the prices of the most commonly traded food items in the markets, such as onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and bananas.
Intensive Awareness Campaigns
During the same period, the ministry, in collaboration with Economic Development Departments, launched a series of intensive awareness campaigns aimed at reassuring the public about the availability of goods and price stability, while encouraging consumers to avoid panic buying or stockpiling during the current situation.
These campaigns also focused on enhancing consumer awareness within the community through educational posts shared via the ministry’s social media platforms about fundamental consumer rights, the importance of responsible consumption, and reducing waste, which will contribute to sustaining the availability of goods in markets.
Gradual Implementation of Penalties
The ministry indicated that it follows a gradual escalation approach when applying penalties and fines, aimed at correcting violations and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and policies, taking into consideration the nature and recurrence of the offense.
The ministry oversees the markets through specialized teams within its structure and Economic Development Departments, relying on an electronic price monitoring system that allows for real-time tracking of prices and is linked to approximately 627 major retail outlets, including cooperatives, hypermarkets, and large stores, covering around 90% of the domestic trade in essential consumer goods.
Consumers as Partners in Oversight
The ministry emphasized that consumers play a vital role in monitoring the prices of goods and products by actively engaging with regulatory bodies and communicating with the ministry through official channels to lodge complaints and report any price increases or suspected violations. Consumers can reach out via the Ministry of Economy and Tourism website at www.moet.gov.ae, contact 8001222 via phone or WhatsApp, or email [email protected].
It is noteworthy that the relevant teams within the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with Economic Development Departments in various markets, conducted around 155,218 inspection rounds in 2025, leading to 7,702 violations, which included the absence of price tags and monitoring the quality of products available to consumers.
Additionally, the ministry received approximately 3,167 complaints through its electronic service system on the ministry’s website in the same year, efficiently managing these complaints with a resolution rate of 93.9%, reflecting the effectiveness of the electronic system and the quick responses of the relevant authorities in protecting consumer rights.