UAE will impose a minimum six-month gap between consecutive price increases on essential consumer goods

Beginning Thursday, January 2, 2025, the UAE will require at least a six-month buffer between successive price rises for key consumer items. This new regulation, presented by the Ministry of Economy at a news conference on Tuesday, December 24, intends to safeguard consumers while maintaining market stability throughout the country.

Under the new guidelines, stores must obtain prior clearance from the Ministry of Economy before boosting prices on nine fundamental goods, including cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, chicken, legumes, bread, and wheat. This approach is part of a larger attempt to regulate pricing and prevent unexpected increases that could put a hardship on consumers.

The new guideline requires businesses to prominently show the unit costs of goods. This move aims to increase openness and enable customers to make more informed judgments. It will also make it easier to compare costs across many shops, including physical stores and online platforms.