The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has reinforced its commitment to market stability, highlighting a sophisticated “digital price monitoring system” designed to protect consumers across all seven Emirates in the UAE Media briefing.
Advanced Digital Oversight of Retail Markets
The Ministry’s cutting-edge monitoring system is now technically integrated with 627 major retail outlets, encompassing an extensive network of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and consumer cooperatives. This infrastructure covers more than 90 per cent of the internal trade for essential consumer goods in the UAE.
Through “direct technical integration,” inspection teams can automatically track prices in real-time, allowing for the immediate detection of any unauthorized violations or unjustified price hikes. Retailers are required to provide periodic updates to their price lists to ensure total transparency.
Price Controls on Essential Commodities
To safeguard the purchasing power of residents, the government enforces a strict pricing policy on nine essential categories: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat. Under this policy, prices for these items cannot be increased without prior official approval from the Ministry.
These measures, rooted in the Consumer Protection Law, are designed to regulate supply and demand while preventing sudden market shocks caused by external economic shifts or exceptional global circumstances.
Commitment to Supply and Consumer Recourse
During a briefing on March 1, the Ministry reassured the public that basic food commodities remain available in “sufficient quantities” throughout the country. Officials confirmed that there are currently no indications of supply chain disruptions or shortages of any food or non-food items.
Residents who observe price violations are encouraged to take action. Complaints can be submitted through the Ministry’s digital portal, via email at [email protected], or by calling the dedicated hotline at 8001222. These firm measures aim to enhance consumer confidence and ensure fair commercial practices nationwide.
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