The Ministry of Economy and Tourism reported yesterday that since the beginning of the regional crisis until now, in cooperation with economic development departments across the state's markets, it has conducted approximately 7,105 inspection tours, resulting in the detection of 567 violations and the imposition of financial fines amounting to 207,250 dirhams. The ministry emphasized that oversight and on-site inspections continue daily through specialized inspection teams, confirming the availability of goods and products in markets in abundance. It noted that there is a high level of coordination among concerned authorities across all emirates to continuously monitor markets and ensure that retail outlets and traders comply with consumer protection laws and policies, especially regarding the pricing policy for basic consumer goods. In detail, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism yesterday confirmed the intensification of its oversight efforts in retail outlets across the country to ensure the stability of prices and the availability of goods in sufficient quantities to meet consumer needs, particularly with the rise in demand for basic consumer goods at this time. In a statement, the ministry said that oversight and on-site inspections continue daily through specialized inspection teams within the framework of close cooperation and coordination with economic development departments in the country's emirates as part of a joint national inspection team aimed at unifying efforts to prevent unjustified price hikes for goods and products and unfair trade practices, and to enhance continuous market monitoring at the emirate level. It pointed to a high level of coordination among stakeholders across all emirates to continuously monitor markets and ensure that retail outlets and traders adhere to consumer protection legislation and policies, especially regarding the pricing policy for basic consumer goods, which include ten key items: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, wheat, the prices of which can only be increased with prior approval from the ministry and a national committee formed for this purpose. Regarding the price increase of some food items, such as onions and tomatoes over the past two days, the ministry clarified that this increase is temporary, limited, and a natural result of impacts related to the regional crisis, confirming that additional new quantities of goods that have seen a price increase have already been made available in abundance to ensure market supply stability. The ministry also confirmed that the available quantities of basic goods in markets are sufficient and have multiple alternatives, indicating that there is no need to worry about their availability or prices, and that prices will quickly return to normal levels as supply increases. In this context, the ministry stated that the UAE possesses a strategic stock of basic goods covering market needs for six months, ensuring the availability of essential goods and price stability even in emergency situations. The distribution of the strategic stock across different regions of the country is carried out through a well-studied system that enhances supply chain efficiency and ensures rapid market needs fulfillment. The ministry stressed that shipping and supply are proceeding normally and regularly through various outlets, and supply chains are operating efficiently, contributing to the continuous availability of goods in local markets without any interruption. It also highlighted that the UAE today has an extensive network of partner markets that supply imports of various goods and products needed, with the ability to efficiently and quickly find alternative markets in cases of crises and emergencies. Since the beginning of the regional crisis until now, the ministry reported that in cooperation with economic development departments across the state's markets, it has conducted approximately 7,105 inspection tours, resulting in 567 violations being detected, the most prominent of which is unjustified price increases, and in response, 449 warnings were issued to traders, suppliers, and retail outlets, and financial fines totaling 207,250 dirhams were imposed, which enhances market oversight and ensures compliance by traders and retail outlets with consumer protection policies and their proper application. The ministry confirmed the continuation of intensifying inspection campaigns in the coming period in cooperation with economic development departments and concerned authorities in the country, which will ensure market stability and provide a safe and stable consumer environment for consumers in the UAE. The ministry indicated that the consumer is an active partner in monitoring the prices of goods and products through interaction with oversight authorities and communication with the ministry via its official channels to file complaints and report any price hikes or observe any violations, explaining that communication can be made through electronic services on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism's website (www.moet.gov.ae), or by calling or via WhatsApp on the number (8001222), or by email (info@moet.gov.ae). The ministry appealed to consumers across all emirates to follow sound consumer practices, purchase according to need, and avoid hoarding or excessive shopping, which will ensure price stability and goods availability for everyone. The ministry confirmed that the quantities of basic goods in markets are sufficient, and shipping and supply are proceeding normally and regularly.
