UAE sees temporary price hike on some vegetables over past 2 days

Authorities say additional supplies have already been sent to markets, with prices expected to return to normal levels as supply continues to increase

Prices of some food commodities like tomatoes and onions have seen a temporary increase over the past two days, authorities said, as the Ministry of Economy and Tourism intensified monitoring efforts across markets nationwide to ensure price stability and the availability of essential goods.

The ministry said the “limited” increase was a result of the effects of the ongoing regional crisis, stressing that additional quantities of the affected commodities have already been supplied to markets in “abundant” amounts to ensure stable supply.

The markets will see normal price levels as supply continues to increase, the authority said.

Officials stressed that essential goods continue to be available in sufficient quantities across the UAE, with multiple alternatives accessible to consumers, adding that there is no cause for concern.

Authorities said there is “high-level coordination” between relevant entities across all emirates to continuously monitor markets and ensure that traders comply with consumer protection legislation and pricing policies.

Nine key commodities fall under regulated pricing policies: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread and wheat. Prices of these goods cannot be increased without prior approval from the ministry and the national committee responsible for reviewing such requests.

The ministry said it has intensified monitoring efforts at points of sale across the country as demand for essential consumer goods rises. Specialised inspection teams are conducting daily field inspections in coordination with economic development departments across the UAE through a joint national monitoring team aimed at preventing unjustified price increases.

Officials added that the UAE maintains a strategic stockpile of essential goods capable of covering market needs for up to six months, helping ensure the availability of key commodities and price stability even during emergencies.

Shipping and supply movements through the country’s entry points are operating normally, the ministry said, noting that supply chains continue to function efficiently and goods are reaching local markets without interruption.

Authorities also pointed out that the UAE has a wide network of global partner markets supplying imports of various goods, allowing the country to quickly identify alternative sources during crises or emergency situations.

Since the beginning of the regional crisis, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with local economic development departments across the country, has conducted about 7,105 inspection tours. These inspections detected 567 violations, most notably related to unjustified price increases.