Ministry of Economy and Tourism conducts 8,168 inspection tours to strengthen market oversight from February 28 to March 18, 2026

In cooperation with the economic development departments across the UAE and with the aim of ensuring price stability for goods and products

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with the economic development departments across various markets in the UAE, carried out approximately 8,168 inspection tours between February 28 and March 18, 2026. These inspections resulted in the issuance of 729 warnings and 216 penalties with fines ranged between AED 2000 and AED 200,000 The inspections form part of ongoing national efforts to strengthen market oversight, ensure that traders and retail outlets comply with consumer protection policies and their effective implementation, and provide a safe and fair shopping environment for all consumers.

Price monitoring is a top priority for the Ministry

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, said: “The Ministry, in cooperation with the local economic development departments and other relevant authorities, continues its efforts to protect consumer rights and combat any practices that may lead to manipulation of goods and product prices. Therefore, price monitoring in the UAE markets is a top priority for us, especially under current circumstances. We are also continuously assessing and reviewing monitoring policies and procedures to ensure that markets respond effectively to evolving conditions and to safeguard consumers against improper practices that may affect their rights.”

36 meetings held to review daily updates from retail outlets

His Excellency added: “At the onset of the crisis, the Ministry formed a national crisis and emergency team dedicated to market monitoring, in cooperation with local economic departments. Since the beginning of the crisis, we have held more than 36 meetings with major suppliers and importers to ensure the continuous flow of essential goods in sufficient quantities. We are also reviewing daily updates from major retail outlets on the commercial stock of the 50 most essential food items, monitoring the number of days of consumption available for each item. This supports the strengthening of the country’s strategic stock readiness and efficiency.”

1,994 complaints related to rising food prices

Between February 28 and March 17, 2026, the Ministry received 2,441 consumer complaints, including 1,994 complaints related to increased food prices, nine related to the hotel sector, and 438 in other categories. All complaints were addressed immediately, through 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 to reassure the public and enhance consumer rights knowledge

During the same period, the Ministry, in cooperation with the economic development departments, launched a series of intensive awareness campaigns to reassure the public about the availability of goods and price stability, while encouraging consumers to avoid panic buying and stockpiling under current conditions. The campaigns also aimed to enhance consumer awareness by publishing educational content on the Ministry’s social media platforms, covering basic consumer rights, the importance of responsible consumption, and the need to avoid waste, thereby supporting the continued availability of goods in the market.

Gradual escalation approach in imposing penalties and fines

The Ministry stated that it adopts a gradual escalation approach to the imposition of penalties and fines, aimed at correcting violations and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and policies, while considering the nature and recurrence of each violation. Market monitoring is conducted by specialised teams from the Ministry and the economic development departments, supported by the e-price monitoring system, which enables real-time tracking of prices. The system is linked to approximately 627 major retail outlets, including cooperatives, hypermarkets and large stores, representing around 90 per cent of the domestic trade in essential consumer goods in the UAE.

Consumers active partners in price monitoring

The Ministry emphasised the role of consumers as active partners in monitoring the prices of goods and products by engaging with regulatory authorities and communicating with the Ministry through its official channels to submit complaints or report any price increases or violations. Consumers may contact the ministry through its e-services on www.moet.gov.ae, via phone or WhatsApp at 8001222, or by email at info@moet.gov.ae

The Ministry’s inspection teams, in cooperation with the local economic development departments across UAE markets, conducted approximately 155,218 inspection tours in 2025, resulting in the discovery of 7,702 violations including failure to display price tags. The inspections monitored quality of products offered to consumers, commercial fraud and cases of trademark infringement.

Furthermore, the Ministry received around 3,167 complaints through its e-services system during the same year, and handled them with high efficiency, resolving 93.9 per cent of all cases. The resolution rate reflects the effectiveness of the e-system and the rapid response of the relevant authorities in protecting consumer rights.