Abu dhabi: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with economic development departments across the UAE, conducted approximately 8,168 inspection visits to markets between February 28 and March 17, 2026. These inspections resulted in 729 warnings and 216 penalties, with fines ranging from AED 2,000 to AED 200,000.
According to Emirates News Agency, these inspections are part of a national initiative aimed at enhancing market oversight and ensuring compliance with consumer protection policies. The goal is to provide consumers with a safe and fair shopping environment. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, emphasized the ministry's commitment to protecting consumer rights. Efforts include combating price manipulation and ensuring the availability of goods in UAE markets, especially during challenging times.
The ministry has formed a national crisis and emergency team, collaborating with local economic departments to oversee market conditions. Since the onset of the crisis, over 36 meetings have been held with major suppliers and importers to ensure a steady flow of essential goods. Daily monitoring of stock levels for the top 50 key food items at major retail outlets is conducted to enhance the readiness and efficiency of the country's strategic reserves.
During the specified period, the ministry received 2,441 consumer complaints, including 1,994 related to food price increases, 9 pertaining to the hotel sector, and 438 other issues. These complaints prompted immediate action, including field inspections to verify the prices of commonly traded food items like onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and bananas.
Consumers play a crucial role in monitoring prices by interacting with regulatory authorities and reporting violations through official channels. The ministry encourages consumers to report price increases or violations via its website, phone, WhatsApp, or email.
In 2025, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with economic development departments, conducted around 155,218 inspections across UAE markets. These efforts led to 7,702 violations related to price labeling, product quality monitoring, and prevention of commercial fraud and trademark infringement. Additionally, the ministry received 3,167 complaints through its electronic services system, achieving a resolution rate of 93.9%, highlighting the effectiveness of the electronic system in protecting consumer rights.