Page 30 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025 Part 1

Press Release

Ministry of Economy reviews latest consumer protection measures
and strategies for price monitoring & stability ahead of Ramadan

Sultan Darwish: UAE’s consumer protection system continues to evolve, with the Ministry
strengthening price regulation and market transparency

Abu Dhabi, XX February 2025: The Ministry of Economy held a media briefing on February
XX, 2025, highlighting its preparations, alongside its partners, for the holy month of Ramadan.
During the briefing, key updates on market stabilisation efforts, consumer protection measures,
and efforts to improve price control for goods, products and services in the UAE were shared by
the ministry.

Sultan Ahmed Darwish, Director of Consumer Protection and Commercial Control at the
Ministry of Economy, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its consumer
protection laws and regulations to guarantee the highest standards of fairness and stability in the
market, in line with best global practices. He emphasised that to guarantee a secure and transparent
consumer environment for purchasing goods and services, the ministry collaborates closely with
federal and local government entities, especially the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection,
as well as with the private sector, cooperatives and other key stakeholders.

Darwish further highlighted the UAE’s efforts to enhance market transparency and offer a safe
consumer environment. He said that the country has implemented several legislative measures
such as the Federal Decree-Law No. (5) of 2023, which amends the Consumer Protection Law and
its executive rules. This decree was one of the key factors that enhanced consumer protection,
strengthened regulatory monitoring, maintained a fair supplier-customer relationship, and gave
consumers additional rights and guarantees. The executive regulations established extensive
regulatory mechanisms to encourage ethical commercial practices and highlighted over 43 supplier
requirements.

He continued, “The new pricing policy for essential consumer goods, along with associated
regulations, are fundamental pillars for price control in local markets. According to this policy,
increase in prices for nine key consumer goods — cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar,
poultry, legumes, bread and wheat —are only permitted with prior approval from the Ministry and
relevant authorities. However, other products are subject to market demand and competition.”

Darwish emphasised that the implementation of the pricing policy has been further reinforced by
three ministerial decisions – consumer goods sector code of conduct, essential consumer goods
price monitoring decision and unit pricing policy. These steps aim to improve price control