During his tour of Al Aweer Central Vegetable & Fruit Market

Minister of Economy & Tourism: Any compromise to the availability of food supplies or violation of consumer rights a red line

Daily import rates of vegetables and fruits at Al Awir market are running normally amid the current regional crisis, reflecting the high level of readiness of the UAE’s strategic stockpiles and the stability of supply chains

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, conducted an extensive field tour of the Al Aweer Central Vegetable and Fruit Market in Dubai. The aim was to ensure the availability of sufficient food commodities for the public, meeting everyone’s needs amid the current regional crisis, and to verify that there is no shortage of goods on display.

H.E. visited a number of retail outlets, commercial shops, and wholesale stores to monitor the extent of their commitment to implementing policies and legislation related to consumer protection and rights, and to ensure price transparency and market stability.

The Minister of Economy and Tourism emphasized that the UAE considers any compromise to the availability of food supplies or violation of consumer rights a red line, and that the Ministry will not be lenient in confronting any violations or unsound commercial practices that could affect market stability or consumer rights. He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to taking all necessary legal measures against violators, including the imposition of fines, to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, thereby contributing to the continued supply of food commodities to markets at fair and safe prices for the public.

During the tour, H.E. stated that the daily import rates of vegetables and fruits at Al Aweer market remain normal despite the current regional crisis. The sufficient availability of food commodities in the market reflects the high level of readiness of the UAE’s strategic stockpiles and the stability of supply and sales operations across various market outlets, helping meet consumer needs without any shortage or impact on prices.

H.E. Bin Touq noted that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in continuous coordination with local economic departments and relevant authorities, monitors stock quantities with suppliers and sales outlets on a daily basis. It also conducts precise analyses of the sufficiency levels of essential food commodities to ensure continuous supply and prevent any potential shortages. The monitoring supports proactive decision-making to maintain price stability in the markets, particularly as the Ministry is implementing an action plan that includes more than 420 inspection tours during the holy month of Ramadan.

H.E. further explained that market monitoring is carried out through specialized teams from the Ministry and local economic departments, in addition to the Ministry’s online price monitoring system. The system enables direct, real-time tracking of prices and is linked to 627 major sales outlets, including cooperative societies, hypermarkets, and large retail stores, representing around 90 per cent of the domestic trade volume for essential consumer goods in the UAE.

Since the beginning of the regional crisis until now, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with local economic development departments, has conducted approximately 4,468 inspection tours across various markets in the country. These resulted in the detection of 554 violations, most notably unjustified price increases. Consequently, 449 warnings were issued to traders, suppliers, and sales outlets, and financial fines amounting AED 176,000 were imposed.