Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection reviews ongoing efforts to monitor markets, regulate prices and strengthen consumer confidence across the UAE’s markets

More than 76,500 market inspections were carried out in H1 2025, resulting in 4,908 violations

The Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, held its second meeting of 2025 with the participation of representatives from member entities. During the meeting, the Committee reviewed key efforts and achievements in developing the legislative and regulatory framework, ensuring a safe and equitable consumer environment across the country’s markets, strengthening consumer rights protections, and maintaining price stability in line with global best practices, with an aim to support the growth and sustainability of the national economy.

H.E. Bin Touq emphasized the UAE’s commitment to advancing policies and legislation that safeguard consumer rights, promote transparency, and uphold fair competition throughout its markets. He reiterated that the country remains committed to guaranteeing a safe and stable consumer environment - one that enhances the nation’s global standing in quality of life and business competitiveness, while supporting the ambitions of the “We the UAE 2031” vision to build a diversified, knowledge-based, and sustainable economy.

H.E. added: “The meeting’s agenda placed strong emphasis on advancing high-impact national initiatives aimed at strengthening market oversight, monitoring and regulating price movements, and eliminating practices that could harm consumers. Our priority is to maintain a fair and transparent ecosystem that protects all parties - consumers, suppliers, and retailers - while reinforcing confidence in local markets. We are also committed to expanding direct communication channels with consumers to ensure timely and effective responses to their inquiries and complaints.”

Inspection campaigns

The local economic development departments across the UAE, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, continue to strengthen their market-monitoring efforts to regulate prices and combat the sale of counterfeit and fraudulent goods. In the first half of 2025, the departments carried out more than 76,500 inspection visits across various markets, resulting in 4,908 violations. These efforts form part of a unified and coordinated partnership between the Ministry and local authorities to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the nation’s markets.

Efficient handling of complaints and product recalls

The Committee reviewed key outcomes and performance indicators of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national market oversight. These include 2,297 consumer complaints received from the beginning of 2025 through early November, as well as 79 product-recall requests for non-compliant goods, totaling 309,484 items during the first nine months of 2025.

Enhancing early detection of cyber fraud

The Committee also examined ongoing efforts to educate consumers about emerging fraud and phishing schemes. The attendees received an update on the measures implemented by national regulators, alongside newly developed systems designed to detect cyber fraud attempts at an early stage and ensure rapid, technology-driven responses. These advancements leverage artificial intelligence and are being rolled out in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Police, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), economic development departments, and other federal and local partners.

The meeting also featured a presentation on the new guidelines for food-delivery platforms in Dubai, aimed at strengthening competitiveness and fair trade, promoting responsible commercial practices, and attracting further investment into this vital sector.

The Committee urged consumers to engage directly with the relevant regulatory authorities and to submit their experiences, complaints, and inquiries through the Ministry’s website and application, reinforcing its role as a trusted legislative and regulatory body, raising awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities, and ensuring the highest standards in handling feedback and complaints.