Anti-Commercial Fraud and Counterfeiting
Overview of Combating Commercial Fraud
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is committed to promoting a fair and competitive economic environment through an integrated framework for combating commercial fraud and counterfeiting. This framework aims to protect consumers and markets from fraudulent and counterfeit goods and unlawful commercial practices.
It includes developing legislation and policies, conducting regulatory and awareness campaigns, strengthening compliance, and fostering cooperation among federal and local authorities and the private sector to support a safe, fair, and sustainable marketplace.
What Is Commercial Fraud?
Commercial fraud refers to any act or practice that misleads consumers or conceals the truth about a product or service, including its nature, components, origin, quality, validity, price, or specifications, in a way that may harm consumers or undermine fair competition.
Objectives of Combating Commercial Fraud
- Protect consumers from fraudulent or counterfeit goods and services.
- Strengthen confidence in markets and commercial activities.
- Protect intellectual property rights and trademarks.
- Support a business environment underpinned by integrity and transparency.
- Reduce unlawful commercial practices.
- Enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the national economy.
Policies and Legislation
National policies and legislation form the foundation of the UAE’s framework for consumer protection, market oversight, and combating commercial fraud.
In cooperation with federal and local authorities, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism continues to develop this framework in line with economic and commercial trends and technological advances, while strengthening compliance and regulatory efficiency.
Consumer Awareness and Guidance
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism places significant emphasis on raising consumer awareness and enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. This is achieved by publishing information and guidance, conducting awareness campaigns and educational programmes that promote responsible consumption, protect consumer rights, and reduce unlawful commercial practices.
Combating Online Commercial Fraud
This section provides information on the main risks associated with e-commerce, which are:
- Fake accounts and online stores.
- Misleading advertisements.
- Fraud through social media platforms.
- The sale of counterfeit goods or goods that do not comply with applicable standards.
- Ways to verify the reliability of online stores.
- Steps to follow when exposed to fraud.
Reports and Complaints
The public may submit complaints and enquiries related to commercial fraud through the following official channels:
- Submit an online complaint through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism website.
- Call Centre: 8001222
- Email: Info@moet.gov.ae
Initiatives and Projects
This section presents the Ministry’s initiatives and projects related to combating commercial fraud.
Integrity and Fair-Trade Platform
An awareness initiative that aims to promote integrity, transparency, and fairness in markets, address challenges related to commercial fraud and consumer protection, and encourage cooperation and knowledge-sharing among government entities, the private sector, and consumers.
Ministry of Economy's Unified Number
800 1222
Contact via WhatsApp
+971 800 1222Screen resolution should be 1280x1024 for best browsing experience. Browser Compatibility: IE 11.0+, Firefox 35.0+, Safari 5.1+, Google Chrome 39.0+.
Page was last updated on:
07 Oct 2026 2:45:01 PM
