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6/26/25, 8:59 AM Government News
member states.

In his keynote address at the forum, Mohammed Sultan Janahi, Director of the Competition Department at
the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, highlighted the UAE’s pioneering efforts in establishing a robust

legislative framework to safeguard competition. “By aligning with global best practices, this framework fosters
fair business practices, drives sector-wide productivity, and reinforces the UAE’s position as a highly

competitive and attractive destination for both regional and international investors,” he added.

The Federal Decree-Law No. (36) of 2023 on Competition Regulation marks a transformative advancement
in the UAE's competition protection framework. This landmark legislation significantly strengthens the legal
system's autonomy while broadening its jurisdictional reach to encompass all activities affecting UAE markets

- including cross-border operations and digital marketplaces.

The new law reaffirms the UAE's commitment to aligning with global best practices by limiting exemptions
exclusively to fully government-owned entities that play a vital role in the national economy. To ensure
effective implementation, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in partnership with key government

stakeholders, will conduct a nationwide series of workshops in 2025, engaging judicial authorities, local
economic departments, legal experts, and private sector representatives. These initiatives aim to deepen

understanding of the new legislation and its compliance requirements, directly supporting the "We the UAE
2031" vision.

In this regard, Cabinet Decision No. (3) of 2025 concerning the thresholds for notification of economic

concentration operations reinforces the role of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in monitoring and
supervising economic concentration activities of establishments in the country, ensuring compliance with fair
competition rules. This is achieved by specifying the thresholds and controls related to dominant positions

and the obligatory notification of economic concentration operations implemented under the Competition
Regulation Law. These measures are designed to strengthen fair competition, ensure market stability, deter

monopolistic practices, and promote market access for new entrants - an essential step given that the UAE is
home to over 1.1 million companies and economic institutions.

The Cabinet's decision establishes clear notification thresholds based on two key financial criteria: when the

combined annual local sales of the parties in the relevant market exceed AED 300 million in the preceding
fiscal year, or when their aggregate market share surpasses 40 per cent of total transactions in that market.
To ensure thorough evaluation, the review period for such transactions has been extended to 90 days,

allowing for comprehensive technical and economic analysis.

The UAE will host the 7th Arab Competition Forum in 2026, which is one of the most important regional

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