Ministry of Economy and Tourism organises workshop on competition law to enhance coordination between executive and judicial authorities in its enforcement

UAE’s success in developing a pioneering legislative ecosystem for competition highlighted

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with ESCWA, organised recently a training workshop for Emirati judges and public prosecutors on Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023 on the regulation of competition. The workshop was held from 10 to 12 November 2025, with the aim of enhancing coordination between executive and judicial authorities in enforcing competition law and empowering the judiciary to play a pivotal role in safeguarding economic justice and promoting fair trade practices in the UAE’s markets.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote and protect competition in the UAE, combat monopolistic practices, address economic cartels harmful to consumers, support the growth of economic sectors and increase productivity, and enhance the UAE’s attractiveness to local and foreign investments. These efforts are in cooperation with various relevant national entities, foremost among them the judicial bodies concerned with competition law.

UAE: A leading model in combating monopolistic practices

In his opening speech at the workshop, H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, underscored the UAE’s success in developing a pioneering legislative ecosystem for competition in line with global best practices. This is reflected in the issuance of Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2023 concerning the regulation of competition and the Cabinet Resolution on the percentages related to its implementation. These provide a comprehensive legal framework to enhance the role of competition in the growth of the national economy and the business environment.

The Undersecretary explained that these efforts have resulted in the development of effective tools to protect markets from restrictive agreements, abuse of dominant positions, and all forms of economic dependency that could disrupt market balance or limit equal opportunities. The UAE has further reinforced its standing by joining leading international organizations, such as the International Competition Network, reflecting its prominent global role in promoting market governance, advancing regulatory practices, and adopting international best practices.

H.E. Al Saleh emphasized that the UAE judiciary is a key guarantor of the economic system and a cornerstone in fostering confidence in the business environment. This underscores the importance of the workshop, which aims to deepen understanding of the economic aspects of competition law and to develop mechanisms for judicial analysis in cases involving pricing and market concentration. The workshop also provides a platform for exchanging expertise with national, regional, and international partners, and for learning from international best practices, thereby strengthening the UAE’s capacity to address complex cases in modern markets.

ESCWA lauds UAE’s competition law and its role in promoting the country’s economic growth

Nathalie Khaled, Economic Affairs Officer and Project Coordinator at ESCWA, highlighted the significance of the ongoing cooperation between ESCWA and the Ministry in supporting the UAE’s efforts to develop its competition legislation in line with international best practices and standards. She noted that the UAE’s competition regulation law represents a pivotal step toward enhancing economic efficiency while balancing the protection of competition with the public interest. She also reaffirmed ESCWA’s commitment to continued collaboration with national entities to strengthen competition law enforcement capacities across the Arab region

The ESCWA official added that the workshop is happening at a time when the number of merger cases and complaints related to anti-competitive practices is on the rise, reflecting the judiciary’s pivotal role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring economic justice. The workshop provides a platform for constructive dialogue between judges and experts, employing an interactive training methodology that combines theoretical discussions and practical case studies drawn from regional and international experiences. It contributes to enhancing the proper application of competition law provisions, the exchange of expertise and experiences, and knowledge-sharing in this field.

Competition law: A cornerstone for developing the business environment and promoting economic justice

The Competition Law and its implementing regulations serve as a cornerstone for developing the business environment and promoting economic justice. They provide clear mechanisms to regulate economic activity according to free-market principles and establish precise controls to monitor economic concentration, prevent abuse of dominant positions, and limit economic dependency. The law also introduces more flexible criteria for assessing economic concentration, relying on establishments’ annual sales values rather than solely on market shares, and strengthens the integration of federal and local entities in its enforcement, enhancing its effectiveness nationwide.

In turn, the law supports the UAE’s attractiveness for both local and foreign investment by promoting transparency, equal opportunities, and sound commercial practices. It aligns with global trends in safeguarding competition across traditional and digital markets, reinforcing the country’s position as a leading economic hub driven by efficiency, competitiveness, and innovation.

Panel sessions review legal, economic & practical aspects of the competition regulation law

The workshop underscored the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE’s economic, business, and investment environment through transparency, competition, and sound governance. It emphasized strengthening the capacities of national institutions to implement modern economic legislation in line with the UAE’s vision of building a more open and sustainable economy. The sessions also contributed to enhancing judicial readiness in handling competition-related cases, unifying judicial understanding of the law and its economic dimensions, and supporting a competitive business environment that drives growth while protecting consumers. These efforts align with national initiatives to reinforce the principles of economic justice and good governance in the country’s markets.

The workshop featured six specialised panel sessions that explored the legal, economic, and practical aspects of the Competition Regulation Law. The first session titled, "Legal and Regulatory Framework of the New Competition Law," reviewed the legislative and regulatory developments in competition in the UAE, and explored the main features of the new law compared to the previous legislation. Participants also discussed the jurisdictions of the entities responsible for enforcement and the mechanisms for applying the law.

The second session, entitled "Anti-Competitive Agreements," addressed the definition of anti-competitive agreements and their key elements, along with methods for detecting and preventing such agreements. Practical case studies were presented to demonstrate their impact on the market and consumers. During the third session, titled "Abuse of Dominant Position Within Market," participants explored the concept of market dominance and forms of its abuse, methods for assessing a dominant position, and the effect of such abuse on the competitive balance within markets.

The fourth session, "Economic Dependence and Its Impact on Competition," highlighted the concept of economic dependence and its legal dimensions, as well as mechanisms to mitigate the abuse of imbalanced commercial relationships, preserving market stability and fairness. The fifth session, "Exemptions and Predatory Pricing," reviewed the legal regulations of exemptions, along with a discussion on the effects of excessively low pricing on the market and the mechanisms for monitoring it.

Finally, the sixth session, "Analysis of Competition Cases and Judicial Procedures," focused on methods for gathering economic evidence and investigating infringing practices, the mechanisms for resolving disputes and imposing sanctions. It highlighted international best practices in competition law enforcement.

The workshop concluded with participants emphasizing the importance of further developing judicial capacities in this vital field and strengthening cooperation between national and international entities. Such collaboration promotes the effective implementation of the Competition Law in the UAE, ensuring a fair and competitive business environment that supports sustainable national economic growth.

The event was attended by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; Nathalie Khaled, Economic Affairs Officer and Project Coordinator at ESCWA; 30 judges and members of the Public Prosecution from various emirates of the country; experts, and representatives from 15 regional and international economic and legal bodies specialising in competition. Prominent participants included Professor Frédéric Jenny, former Chairman of the OECD Competition Committee; Tihamér Tóth, Judge at the General Court of Court of Justice of the European Union; Ian Forrester, former Judge at the General Court of Court of Justice of the European Union; Hamoud bin Mutlaq Alotaibi, Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs at the General Authority for Competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and François Souty, an international expert in competition policy.