UAE refers first cartel case since 2023 overhaul amid surge in competition enforcement

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has referred a poultry price-fixing cartel to the Federal Public Prosecution. This is the first public cartel referral since the UAE overhauled its competition regime in 2023.

The Ministry found that a group of businesses had colluded to fix poultry prices, imposing unjustified price increases in breach of both the UAE's Competition Law and Consumer Protection Law. Poultry is one of nine essential consumer goods subject to price controls in the UAE, meaning any increase requires prior government approval.

The referral comes amid a sharp escalation in enforcement activity. In less than two months, the Ministry conducted over 15,480 inspections nationwide, including consumer protection, price control, and antitrust. These inspections uncovered 312 violations and resulted in over 1,000 warnings.

This enforcement push follows the Ministry's January 2026 publication of new guidelines on competition complaints, showing a more structured and transparent approach to antitrust enforcement.

With fines of up to 10% of UAE revenue on the table, the stakes are significant. The Ministry has made clear that it will continue to monitor pricing trends and pursue enforcement. In practice, the Ministry has backed this up with concrete institutional steps.

In February 2025, it launched a national digital platform integrating over 90% of domestic retail outlets for real-time price tracking of essential commodities. In early 2026, the Ministry also announced intensified monitoring campaigns, including price trend analysis, ahead of and during Ramadan. Authorities have confirmed that monitoring campaigns will intensify further in the coming period.

Beyond cartel enforcement, the Ministry is also expected to step up merger control scrutiny. Reportedly, a spike in filings is already straining the Competition Department's resources and extending review timelines.

Looking ahead, the Ministry is expected to introduce an administrative penalties regime. This would allow it to impose fines directly, without the need for a referral to the Public Prosecutor. As such, enforcement is likely to become faster and more routine across both antitrust conduct and merger review.

In October 2026, the UAE is hosting the 2026 Arab Competition Forum in Dubai, in collaboration with the United Nations Trade and Development. This reflects the UAE's ambition to take a leading role in regional competition enforcement.

The message for businesses operating in, or impacting, the competitive landscape in the UAE market is clear. Competition enforcement, across both antitrust conduct and merger control, has shifted up several gears into active enforcement mode.

Companies should prioritize robust antitrust compliance, particularly around pricing practices, competitor communications, and maintaining records that demonstrate legitimate commercial decision-making.

Deal teams should factor heightened merger control scrutiny into transaction timelines and engage early with the Ministry where notification thresholds may be triggered.