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7/16/24, 3:55 PM Everything you need to know about the UAE's competition regulation law
Law experts say businesses have welcomed the clarity provided by the defined turnover

thresholds in the law.

It helped in understanding when merger activities will be subject to regulatory review,

thus reducing uncertainty and facilitating in compliance planning.

“The UAE is seemingly aligning its framework with global best practices,” Alexandra

Rogers, competition partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, told The National.

“Businesses will welcome increased certainty, for example through the introduction of
turnover thresholds in merger control, and the additional guidance on the application of

the new regime."

Turnover thresholds refer to specific financial yardsticks used to determine whether a

merger or acquisition must be reviewed by competition authorities. These thresholds are

typically based on the annual sales of the companies involved in the transaction.

Penalties and scope to appeal

Depending on the breach, fines may range from Dh100,000 ($27,246) to 10 per cent of the

annual total sales of the company in question. However, if the annual total sales during the

last fiscal year cannot be computed, the penalty will be Dh500,000 and goes up to Dh5

million.

The law allows stakeholders to file a written complaint about any decision within 15

working days of being notified of the decision.

Who enforces the law?
The competition regulation committee formed under the new regulation is responsible for

setting policies for competition and enforcing provisions of the legislation.

“This indicates that the ministry is seeking to have a less dormant role in relation to anti-

competitive practice in the UAE, and an increased oversight on the market,” global law

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