UAE Enhances Retail Price Oversight and Consumer Protection Amid 6.8% Non-Oil Economic Growth

The United Arab Emirates is intensifying its efforts to monitor retail prices and protect consumers as part of a broader strategy to sustain market stability, improve business competitiveness, and foster long-term economic growth. This initiative was discussed during a recent meeting of the UAE’s Economic Integration Committee.

Chaired by UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the committee convened with directors-general of economic departments from across the emirates to evaluate new measures aimed at strengthening retail price oversight and consumer protection mechanisms nationwide.

The discussions centered on enhancing market supervision, regulating retail outlets, and ensuring balanced pricing structures while safeguarding consumer rights. The committee also examined strategies to improve the competitiveness of the UAE’s business and investment environment.

Officials reviewed mechanisms designed to support market oversight, refine retail regulation, and stabilize prices to restore market equilibrium. A key focus was on enabling national companies to expand their activities into intellectual property sectors, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth and reinforcing the UAE’s regional and global competitiveness.

Progress on recommendations from the committee’s previous meeting was also assessed, reflecting ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri emphasized the UAE’s dedication to solidifying its status as a premier global business and investment destination. He highlighted the implementation of forward-looking economic legislation and policies aligned with international best practices, which have enhanced the country’s ability to attract investment and develop an advanced regulatory and economic framework.

The minister noted that the UAE’s non-oil GDP grew by 6.8 percent in 2025. Furthermore, the country secured the top global ranking in economic performance and maintained its leading regional position for the tenth consecutive year in the 2026 Global Competitiveness Report published by the International Institute for Management Development.

Committee members underscored the private sector’s vital role in consumer protection, commodity price regulation, and market stability preservation. They stressed the importance of ongoing oversight of traders and retail outlets to ensure balanced markets and normalized pricing.

The meeting also addressed support for approximately 9,500 companies participating in the national SME programme. The initiative aims to expand their activities in intellectual property, helping businesses convert innovations and inventions into valuable economic assets. These efforts are bolstered by Ministry of Economy intellectual property services enhanced with artificial intelligence technologies.

Further discussions explored enhanced cooperation between federal and local authorities to improve governance of high-value financial transactions among commercial companies. This initiative seeks to boost financial compliance, maintain sectoral flexibility, and strengthen transparency within the UAE’s commercial environment.

The committee affirmed that these measures align with the objectives of the We the Emirates 2031 vision, which aspires to position the UAE as a global leader in developing progressive legislation for emerging economic sectors.

Recent related initiatives include the UAE Ministry of Economy’s new pricing policy for 2025 focusing on nine basic consumer goods, the launch of a grocery price tracker covering 33 essentials across 12 retailers, and the country’s robust food security system supported by advanced logistics ports that reinforce its role as a regional hub.

These comprehensive efforts collectively underpin the UAE’s strategic investment proposition, which is built on a long-term vision rather than short-term conditions, further solidifying the nation’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.