At the Ministry of Economy & Tourism 

We Regulate and Grant Competition Exemptions in Support of Economic Development

The Ministry of Economy & Tourism is responsible for regulating and overseeing competition in the UAE markets and for ensuring that commercial practices are conducted in a manner that promotes economic efficiency, consumer welfare, and sustainable development.
In this context, the Ministry examines requests for exemptions from the application of certain competition laws, in accordance with Article (9) of Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2023 Regulating Competition. Exemptions may be granted to agreements or practices that, despite restricting competition, are necessary to enhance economic development, improve production or distribution systems, strengthen competitiveness, or achieve specific benefits for consumers, provided that they do not eliminate competition in the relevant market or impose restrictions beyond what is strictly necessary.

Know The Exemption Request Process

Undertakings operating in the UAE may submit Exemption Requests to the Competition Department at the Ministry of Economy & Tourism, seeking  exemption for specific agreements or practices from the application of Articles (5), (6), (7), and (8) of the Competition Law.
Upon submission, the Ministry conducts an initial review to verify the completeness of the application and supporting documents, followed by a substantive assessment to determine whether the legal conditions for granting an exemption are satisfied, which include:

• Demonstrating that the agreement or practice contributes to economic development, technical or technological progress, or consumer benefits;
• Ensuring that any restrictions are proportionate and limited to what is necessary to achieve the stated objectives; and
• Confirming that the exemption will not result in the total exclusion of competition in the relevant market or a substantial part thereof.

Oversight, Review, and Institutional Role

Exemptions are granted for a specified duration and may be subject to periodic review or compliance with conditions imposed by the Ministry. The Ministry may revoke an exemption if the underlying circumstances change, if conditions are not fulfilled, or if the decision was based on inaccurate or misleading information.
The Competition Regulation Committee, exercising its functions under Article (17) of the Decree-Law, plays a key role in reviewing exemption matters and submitting recommendations to the Minister, thereby ensuring that exemption decisions are consistent with national competition policy and international best practices.
Through this framework, the Ministry of Economy & Tourism seeks to strike an appropriate balance between protecting competition and enabling efficiency-enhancing cooperation, in a manner that supports innovation, investment, and long-term economic growth in the UAE.