The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, participated in the Sixth Arab Competition Forum, held in Baghdad, Iraq, under the theme “Enforcing Competition Laws in the Arab Region.” The aim of the participation was to strengthen collaboration with competition authorities in Arab nations and to highlight key developments in Arab markets, particularly focusing on mergers and acquisitions, cross-border monopolistic practices, and discussing the role of competition in fostering innovation and attracting foreign investment.
The forum emphasized the significance of establishing competition authorities and enhancing investigative capacities with regard to violations, adhering to global best practices. It included a series of discussions addressing competition law enforcement, the impact of technology on market dynamics, coordination among Arab competition agencies, and showcased successful experiences from member countries.
During the forum, Mohamed Janahi, Director of the Competition Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, highlighted the UAE’s experience in developing a comprehensive legislative framework to protect competition, in line with international best practices.
The Cabinet Decision No. (3) of 2025 regarding mandatory notification thresholds for economic concentration processes enhances the role of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in monitoring and overseeing economic concentration activities in the country, ensuring compliance with fair competition rules. This is achieved through the establishment of criteria and regulations related to dominant market positions and required notifications for economic concentration activities. The Cabinet’s decision is based on two primary criteria: that the total annual sales value of the parties in the relevant market exceeds 300 million dirhams in the most recent financial year, or that the combined market share surpasses 40% of the total transactions in the relevant market during that same period. Additionally, the review period for transactions has been extended to 90 days to ensure thorough evaluation.