Page 318 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025 Part 1

To protect consumers from unjustified price hikes, the ministry has reinforced its policy of
controlling the prices of nine essential goods. These include cooking oils, eggs, dairy, rice, sugar,
poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat. Retailers are prohibited from increasing prices on these
products without prior approval.

Authorities have also launched a real-time monitoring system linked to 14 major supermarket
chains, including Carrefour, Lulu, Spinneys, and Al Safeer. If any of these outlets alter the price of a
regulated product beyond the permissible limit, the system flags it immediately.

Authorities have planned 420 inspections throughout the holy month to ensure compliance with
price regulations and consumer protection laws. In addition, local consumer protection authorities
in each emirate are conducting independent inspections.

During the first two months of 2025, the ministry carried out 768 inspection campaigns. In 2024,
surprise visits to 80,249 outlets led to 8,388 violations, including cases involving fake spare parts at
car dealerships.
In addition to physical inspections, authorities are leveraging technology to track market trends.
The ministry maintains a rapid-response system through WhatsApp, ensuring instant
communication between consumer protection teams and economic authorities.

Reporting consumer concerns

Consumers are urged to report price tampering, misleading promotions, or quality concerns by
calling the ministry’s toll-free number 8001222 or reaching out via social media. In 2024, the
ministry received 1,891 consumer complaints electronically, resolving 93 percent of them
efficiently.

https://www.travelsdubai.com/25-Feb-2025/ramadan-2025-uae-supermarkets-slash-prices-by-
50-percent-on-10-000-products