The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has confirmed a significant abundance of goods in the markets during the upcoming Ramadan month. During a press briefing held yesterday at its headquarters in Dubai, the ministry discussed its preparations to enhance consumer protection during Ramadan, with the presence of representatives from the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection. It was noted that an electronic system for price monitoring has been developed, enabling automatic and continuous tracking of prices by linking the ministry's electronic price monitoring system with 627 main sales outlets, representing over 90% of the domestic trade volume of basic consumer goods in the country. This will allow for direct price monitoring throughout the month of Ramadan. The ministry confirmed to "Emirat Al Youm" that it will confront any unjustified price increases observed in the markets during the Ramadan season, ensuring no manipulation of the discounts offered by many sales outlets, which range from 50% to 70%, and monitoring their compliance. In detail, Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, stated during a press briefing in Dubai yesterday that "the strategic stockpiles in the UAE are characterized by high efficiency and comprehensiveness, ensuring long-term continuous supply." He confirmed that the country's markets are witnessing a significant abundance of goods and products, especially strategic ones, as the ministry is keen to meet all consumer needs and ensure they obtain goods easily and in the required quantities without any unjustified price hikes. He added: "The UAE adopts the best policies to provide strategic stockpiles of all basic goods needed by citizens, residents, and visitors in the country, in abundant and sufficient quantities for long periods, thanks to clear directives and unlimited support from the country's wise leadership." He explained: "The ministry has enhanced plans for monitoring the prices of products and goods in the country's markets during the month of Ramadan, the most prominent of which is regular follow-up to ensure the availability of basic goods in large and sufficient quantities and without raising prices, in coordination with local economic departments and suppliers in all emirates of the country," noting that 26 meetings have been held with major suppliers and importers to ensure the flow of basic goods in sufficient quantities. Bin Touq revealed that "the ministry plans to carry out 420 inspection tours and field visits to sales outlets during Ramadan to monitor prices, pricing policy adherence, and prevent commercial exploitation, taking swift legal action in case of any violations." He disclosed "the development of an electronic price monitoring system that allows for automatic and continuous tracking of prices, enabling inspection teams to detect any excesses or unjustified changes through direct technical linkage with major sales outlets. These outlets periodically provide the system with price lists, which are then analyzed and compared to reference prices, in addition to daily monitoring of consumer goods prices to identify any deviation from the set price ceiling to ensure market stability and consumer protection." He clarified: "The ministry's electronic price monitoring system is linked to 627 main sales outlets, representing over 90% of the domestic trade volume of basic consumer goods in the country, and will play a pivotal role in direct price monitoring during Ramadan." The Ministry of Economy and Tourism warned sales outlets against manipulating goods data, withholding information from the ministry, and providing misleading data that could disrupt the monitoring process, or prior collusion between suppliers and merchants to collectively raise prices. Meanwhile, the Assistant Undersecretary for the Monitoring and Commercial Governance Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Safia Al Safi, told "Emirat Al Youm": "The ministry, in cooperation with economic departments, will conduct intensive monitoring and supervision of the markets during the month of Ramadan, including price monitoring, preventing manipulation of sales outlets' discounts, which have reached between 50% and 70%, and monitoring compliance with these offers." She confirmed that "the intensive monitoring policy will continue in the markets even until the Eid period and subsequent occasions and events, ensuring price stability." In the same context, the Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Dubai Consumer Protection and Fair Trade Establishment, one of the entities of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Ahmed Ahli, stated: "More than 220 visits and tours of stores and monitoring of digital platforms have been conducted to verify the availability of goods and offers presented and to track prices before the month of Ramadan." He added: "Inspection campaigns will be carried out in the markets during the Ramadan season to check the conformity of prices with those approved in previous months and to confirm the absence of any unjustified price increases or exploitation of the growth in consumer demand during Ramadan."
