The Dubai Consumer Protection and Fair Trade Establishment, one of the entities of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, reported that its inspection teams conducted over 400 monitoring visits in the month preceding Ramadan, along with organizing more than 10 workshops for retail outlets to ensure full readiness and compliance with approved standards, especially concerning the availability of essential commodities, price stability, and clarity of promotional offers. The entity confirmed that the prices of nine essential consumer goods cannot be increased without prior approval from the Ministry of Economy. These goods include cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat. In case of any violations regarding these goods, the sale of the product is suspended immediately until the situation is rectified. In detail, the Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Dubai Consumer Protection and Fair Trade Establishment, Ahmed Ahli, stated: "The inspection visits conducted by the establishment ahead of the holy month of Ramadan are part of a comprehensive preemptive plan to ensure market stability and protect consumer rights." He noted that the field visits focus on verifying the availability of essential commodities and the stability of their prices, as well as ensuring the transparency and credibility of promotional offers announced across various channels. Ahli added during an inspection tour at Al Awir market yesterday that "monitoring campaigns continue throughout the year, but they intensify during seasons when consumer purchasing patterns change, such as Ramadan, the back-to-school season, and holidays, when the demand for specific products increases, which necessitates a greater focus on monitoring the availability of these goods and the stability of their prices." He pointed out that one of the key focuses of the inspection teams during Ramadan tours is the clarity of prices displayed on shelves and the transparency of promotional offer details. He mentioned that some previous complaints to the establishment concerned unclear pricing or a lack of clarity on whether discounts apply to all consumers or specific groups, such as loyalty card holders. Ahli explained that the inspection teams also verify that the price on the shelf matches the price paid by the consumer at the checkout, ensuring there are no errors in pricing systems or discount calculations. Ahli confirmed that the Ramadan visits have two main dimensions: regulatory and educational. On the regulatory side, it ensures that retail outlets comply with approved systems, while the educational side focuses on informing traders about their duties, product display and pricing mechanisms, and clarifying offers, as well as educating consumers about the importance of conscious shopping and knowing their rights. He indicated that these efforts are part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism's strategy, aligning with the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33', which aims to solidify the principles of fair and competitive trade and to be among the top three economic cities globally for investment, living, and working. Ahli revealed that consumer protection teams conducted over 400 monitoring visits in the month before Ramadan, in addition to organizing more than 10 workshops for retail outlets to enhance readiness and ensure compliance with regulations during this month. He highlighted that nine essential consumer goods are subject to a specific price protection mechanism by law, within a set price range for each product. These include: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat. Ahli confirmed that the prices of these goods remain stable throughout the year in all retail outlets and are not permitted to be raised without prior approval from the Ministry of Economy. Ahli mentioned that the compliance rate is very high, especially in major retail outlets, particularly during Ramadan, due to continuous communication with these outlets. He pointed out that despite the increased demand during this period, markets are witnessing an increase in offers and discounts in response to consumer needs. He added: "Violations are almost negligible, especially regarding prices and available offers," calling on consumers to report any non-compliant commercial practices through official channels. In response to a question about the measures the department will take upon detecting violations, Ahli confirmed that the action taken depends on the type and severity of the violation, explaining: "For instance, in violations concerning the nine essential consumer goods, the sale of the product is suspended immediately until the price is corrected and the situation is adjusted. For other violations, the situation is corrected, and if necessary, administrative actions are taken, such as fines and product seizures." Ahmed Ahli: "Inspection teams verify that the price displayed on the shelves matches the price the consumer pays at the checkout."
