The UAE’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism has referred a group accused of monopolistic practices in the poultry market to the Federal Public Prosecution for investigation and legal action.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry confirmed the group’s involvement in exploiting current exceptional circumstances and colluding to fix prices.

The case includes manipulation of poultry prices and unjustified increases, violating both the Competition Law and Consumer Protection Law.

Such practices harm consumer rights, distort fair competition, and undermine market stability, according to the ministry. This action is part of ongoing market monitoring campaigns conducted in collaboration with relevant authorities. Recent inspections have been intensified to strengthen oversight and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Officials emphasized that the Competition Law provides the necessary legal framework to combat monopolistic practices and illegal cartels detrimental to consumers. The ministry is authorized to investigate anti-competitive behavior on its own initiative or based on complaints, in coordination with relevant authorities.

Under Article 5 of the Competition Law, agreements between businesses that aim to disrupt, restrict, or prevent competition are prohibited. This includes any direct or indirect arrangements to fix prices that artificially manipulate market conditions.

Additionally, the law prohibits collusion related to sales conditions, bids, auctions, tenders, and supply offers. It also forbids agreements that aim to limit production, development, distribution, marketing, or other economic activities.

Other banned practices include coordinated boycotts of specific businesses, refusal to engage in business with them, obstructing their operations, and creating artificial shortages or surpluses to distort prices.

The ministry indicated that the severity of these violations extends beyond mere breaches of competition and consumer laws, as they exploit exceptional regional circumstances. Such actions could directly impact the UAE’s economic and food security systems, violate economic fairness principles, and undermine market stability efforts.

9 Essential Consumer Goods

Officials noted that poultry is among nine essential consumer goods whose prices cannot be increased without prior approval from the ministry, as stipulated in Cabinet Resolution No. 120 of 2022. The list also includes cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, legumes, bread, and wheat.

The ministry stated that the UAE has a robust legislative and regulatory framework to address violations, ensure fair pricing, and maintain a balanced relationship between traders and consumers. Protecting consumer rights and ensuring market stability remain top priorities, and exploitative practices affecting citizens or residents will not be tolerated.

Authorities continuously monitor market activity and analyze essential commodity prices to detect monopolization or collusion, with penalties including warnings, administrative fines, and necessary referrals to prosecutors.

The public is encouraged to report violations, shortages, monopolies, fraud, or unjustified price increases by calling 8001222 or contacting local authorities.

Between February 28 and April 19, 2026, the ministry and local economic departments conducted approximately 15,480 inspections nationwide, uncovering 312 violations and issuing 1,005 warnings.