Amid the ongoing regional conflict, and the escalating war between Iran, the United States, and Israel, the United Arab Emirates faces many problems that both authorities and citizens alike face.
While public safety schedules and board exams were already looming as persistent issues, the recent rise in vegetable prices has darkened the cloud of doom over the public. UAE residents have reported sudden fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and other commodities in recent days. But now, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has taken steps to intensify monitoring efforts to control prices in the market.
According to the ministry, the prices of some basic commodities, such as tomatoes and onions, witnessed a temporary increase during the past two days, as a result of the effects of the ongoing regional crisis.
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Residents report a sudden increase in prices
Rashad Ahmed, a resident of Al Quoz, said he was worried when the price of tomatoes reached 10 dirhams per kilogram in the supermarket next to him. “The price of onions was only 5 dirhams last week, and onion prices also rose to 7 dirhams, compared to 4 dirhams the previous week. When I read the news that the minister acknowledged the price increase, I felt very relieved.
I am also pleased to note that additional quantities have been made available. This will definitely lead to lower prices,” he told Khaleej Times.
Abdullah Y., a Dubai resident, added that he had been visiting Al Awir Market since the beginning of the unrest and noticed that prices fluctuated slightly. “Some fruits and vegetables saw a sharp increase in the first few days of regional tensions,” he said. But since the ministry began inspections, prices have returned to normal.
“I’m grateful for the oversight.”He added that the only commodity that did not witness an increase in prices was eggs, which he claimed may be due to obtaining them from local farms. “It highlights the commendable efforts made by the UAE to increase local production.”
The UAE authorities are taking quick action
In response to complaints and observations, the Ministry stressed that additional quantities of the affected goods had already been supplied to the markets in “Abundant” Quantities to ensure stable supply.
The authority said that the markets will witness normal price levels as supply continues to increase. Specialized inspection teams are now conducting daily field visits in coordination with the Department of Economic Development throughout the country through a joint national supervisory team aimed at preventing unjustified rise in prices. Prices of nine major commodities, including cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, pulses, bread and wheat, are set to be fixed in price at all times.
Prices may not be increased except with prior permission from the Ministry itself. The officials added that the UAE maintains a strategic stock of basic commodities capable of covering market needs for up to six months, which helps ensure the availability of basic commodities along with price stability even in times of emergency. Since the beginning of the regional crisis, the Ministry has carried out about 7,105 inspection tours, in cooperation with local economic development departments in the emirates of the country.
The authorities detected 567 violations, the most prominent of which were related to unjustified increases in prices.
Local companies are joining the effort
Local companies across the country have joined the effort to ensure the continuity of the supply chain. They assure customers that there is a constant supply of fresh produce in the markets. NRTC Group, part of Geetha Holdings, has activated a rapid operational response centered around diversified sourcing, logistics planning and rapid procurement since the onset of the disruptions. Mohammed Al-Rifai, CEO of the group, said consumers should continue to find fruits and vegetables on shelves as they do on a normal day: from berries to beans, peaches to potatoes, cherries to hot peppers. “Our teams have worked proactively to secure supplies from regular and alternative sources to ensure stability and availability,” he said.The company imported an estimated 3,000 tons of products from Jordan, Turkey, Syria and Egypt via land corridors last week.
Moreover, it transported 200 tons of products via air freight and 1,200 tons through the ports of Khor Fakkan and Fujairah. Lulu Group also airlifted 80,000 kg of Indian products including fruits, vegetables and other perishables in Abu Dhabi on March 7. Recently, several other retailers said they were arranging special shipments from other major global markets to ensure a steady flow of products into the country.
Violators face stiff fines
On March 8, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism said that it had carried out about 4,468 inspection tours in markets in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development, which resulted in the arrest of 554 violations. As a result, 449 warnings were issued to merchants, suppliers and sales outlets, and financial fines were imposed on violators with a total value of 176 thousand dirhams. This came during an extensive field tour conducted by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, in the Al Awir Central Fruit and Vegetable Market in Dubai.
What does this mean for UAE residents?
The ministry’s efforts and inspections, along with food imports from local companies, aim to ensure a steady supply of fresh produce and other perishable items for civilians. The UAE imports a large share of its food, making an efficient logistics network for daily grocery supplies essential. Officials and industry experts also pointed to the country’s greater food safety policy, which is maintained through diverse source markets and supply routes to ensure steady imports, even in times when a larger portion of airspace remains closed or limited.
