Minister of Economy: UAE food imports stable

April 03, 2026 / 4:41 PM

Sharjah 24 – WAM: Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, emphasised that securing food supply and protecting consumer rights in the UAE are national priorities in line with the directives of the wise leadership.

Food supply and market readiness

He noted that the daily import flow of food commodities is proceeding normally, with sufficient quantities available in warehouses and on shelves, and that there are no indications of shortages or disruptions—reflecting the high readiness of supply chains and the efficiency of strategic reserves across the country’s markets.

Field visit to Al Ain fruit and vegetable market

The Minister made his statements following a field visit to the fruit and vegetable market in Al Ain to assess the availability of food commodities at fair prices, monitor compliance with sound commercial practices, and review the efficiency of food supply chains, enhancing market stability and ensuring consumer needs are met under various circumstances.

National efforts to strengthen strategic reserves

This visit is part of a series of field tours undertaken by the Minister to monitor market conditions across the UAE. It aligns with national efforts to strengthen strategic reserves, ensure the availability of essential goods—particularly food—maintain supply chain continuity, ensure retail outlets’ compliance with consumer protection policies, and confirm price transparency and market stability.

Call for responsible consumer practices

The Minister urged consumers to purchase according to their needs and avoid excessive buying that leads to waste, helping maintain price stability and ensuring the availability of goods for all.

Advanced infrastructure and logistics

He added: “The UAE possesses advanced infrastructure and a sophisticated logistics network that has strengthened the protection of essential supply chains since the beginning of the current circumstances, particularly for food, medical, and industrial goods. This has been achieved through activating alternative routes and developing the strategic stock system, which has become an integrated and flexible network capable of efficiently redirecting supplies within record timeframes.”

Inspections and consumer protection

Since the beginning of the crisis, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with local economic departments, has conducted approximately 12,284 inspection campaigns across UAE markets. These resulted in identifying 249 violations—most notably unjustified price increases—and issuing 905 warnings to traders, suppliers, and retail outlets.