The Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to strengthen oversight of product and service prices across UAE markets during the Holy Month of Ramadan, reinforcing consumer protections and ensuring price stability.

The announcement came during a media briefing led by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, who highlighted the country’s expanding regulatory framework aimed at safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining a fair commercial environment.

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“The UAE has made significant progress in building a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework for consumer protection,” Bin Touq said, according to a WAM report. He added that the measures reinforce consumer confidence and support a transparent and competitive business landscape.

Stronger coordination and legal frameworks

The minister said the ministry has intensified coordination with federal and local authorities, particularly through the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection. Engagement has also been strengthened with cooperatives, private sector entities and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws and promote sound commercial practices.

Among the most significant legislative developments, Bin Touq pointed to Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2023, which amends certain provisions of Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection, along with its Executive Regulations.

Together, these frameworks impose more than 43 obligations on suppliers to uphold high standards of consumer protection. The measures are designed to strengthen deterrence against violations and breaches while ensuring consumer satisfaction and well-being within a safe and fair commercial environment.

To further enhance price stability, the ministry has implemented the “Pricing Policy for Essential Consumer Goods.” The policy prohibits price increases for nine key items, cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread and wheat, without prior approval from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. All other goods remain subject to market competition and supply-and-demand dynamics.

E-commerce regulations strengthened

Bin Touq also highlighted the importance of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on Trade by Modern Technological Means, which regulates and advances e-commerce across UAE markets.

The decree clearly defines guaranteed consumer rights in online transactions. It requires adequate technical protection measures to ensure safe purchases through digital platforms and mandates secure digital payment methods that comply with approved technical and regulatory standards. Importantly, such services must be provided without imposing additional fees.

The law also ensures the protection of consumer data in line with regulatory, professional and technical requirements set out under relevant legislation.

In addition, the Cabinet issued Resolution No. 200 of 2025 concerning violations and administrative penalties for breaches of the e-commerce law, further strengthening enforcement mechanisms.

Strategic reserves and market monitoring

The minister stressed that the UAE maintains a robust strategic reserve of essential goods, ensuring sufficient supply during Ramadan without unjustified price increases. He attributed this resilience to prudent national policies and strong leadership support.

To ensure compliance, MoET will coordinate with local economic departments to monitor both pricing and availability of essential goods. The ministry plans to hold 26 meetings with major suppliers and importers and conduct 420 inspection campaigns during Ramadan. Legal action will be taken against violators.

In cooperation with local authorities, the ministry will also launch awareness campaigns promoting responsible consumption. These initiatives will guide consumers on their rights and encourage communication through the ministry’s toll-free number, 8001222.

Oversight of Ramadan promotions

The ministry will closely oversee Ramadan promotions announced by cooperatives and retail outlets, including discounts exceeding 50 per cent on selected products. Special “Ramadan baskets” containing essential goods such as rice, sugar, flour, grains, oil, legumes and milk will also fall under scrutiny to ensure transparency and compliance.

MoET has activated an advanced online price monitoring system linked to 627 major retail outlets, representing more than 90 percent of domestic trade in essential goods. The system enables real-time tracking of prices and facilitates swift identification of violations.

Retailers are required to submit periodic price lists, which are automatically analysed against reference prices to detect discrepancies.

The ministry warned against violations, including increasing prices of the nine essential goods without prior approval, manipulating goods-related data, withholding required information, providing misleading data that hinders monitoring activities, or engaging in prior agreements between suppliers and traders to collectively raise prices.

Graduated penalties and enforcement

The ministry’s system for administrative penalties follows a graduated approach designed to correct violations while promoting compliance. Authorities assess the nature, severity, frequency and market impact of each violation before determining appropriate action.

Penalties may begin with a written warning and a deadline for rectification. Financial fines range from Dhs500 to Dhs100,000, depending on the violation. Additional measures may include temporary closure of establishments. In severe or repeated cases, stricter actions proportionate to the gravity of the offence may be imposed.

During 2025, the ministry and economic development departments conducted approximately 155,218 inspection tours across markets nationwide. These inspections resulted in 7,702 violations. Authorities monitored price labeling, product quality and compliance with laws aimed at preventing commercial fraud and trademark infringement.

Complaint handling and product recalls

Consumer engagement remains a central component of the ministry’s strategy. Last year, the ministry received 3,167 complaints through its website, resolving 93.9 per cent of them. Officials said the high resolution rate reflects the effectiveness of the electronic system and the prompt response of competent authorities.

The ministry also processed 130 product recall requests, resulting in the recovery of 551,976 goods from the market. This, officials noted, demonstrates ongoing oversight of product quality and safety standards.

In closing, the ministry urged consumers to practice conscious purchasing habits, including retaining receipts and verifying purchases, as receipts serve as a fundamental guarantee of consumer rights. Consumers are also encouraged to engage with regulatory authorities and use official communication channels to report harmful practices.

Abu Dhabi’s push into regulated digital finance took a step forward on Wednesday after the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) approved the launch of a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin developed by International Holding Company (IHC), Sirius International Holding and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

The stablecoin, known as DDSC, has received approval to go live and will operate on ADI Chain, an institutional layer-2 blockchain developed by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation, according to a joint statement from the companies.

DDSC was first announced in April last year by IHC and FAB.

With regulatory approval secured, the project is now entering its operational phase, with Sirius International Holding, IHC’s technology-focused subsidiary, supporting deployment, integration and institutional adoption.

The companies said the stablecoin is designed as a compliant digital financial instrument for institutional and government-led use cases.

These include payments and collections, high-value settlement and treasury operations, trade and supply-chain flows, and programmable financial services for regulated entities.

FAB customers to have access to the ‘DDSC’ stablecoin through multiple platforms

DDSC is expected to be made available to FAB customers through multiple approved platforms, supporting institutional and enterprise use cases.

The bank stated that the structure maintains regulatory oversight, transparency, and operational standards in line with central bank requirements.

ADI Chain, on which DDSC will run, is described as purpose-built for governance, scalability and institutional performance. It is designed to integrate traditional financial systems with blockchain-based digital asset infrastructure, enabling regulated entities to participate while maintaining compliance and security controls.

Syed Basar Shueb, chief executive of IHC, said the approval marked “a defining milestone in the UAE’s digital finance journey”, adding that the dirham-backed stablecoin is designed to modernise payments, settlement and treasury workflows and enable secure, automated value transfers.

Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, group head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking at FAB, said the milestone demonstrated that stablecoins can be integrated into the financial system when built to meet regulatory and risk requirements.

She added that the bank would enable DDSC to combine regulatory oversight with blockchain infrastructure for institutional and government clients.

Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, group chief executive of Sirius International Holding, said the launch marked “a new phase of regulated digital finance” and that the company would support adoption and institutional applications using ADI’s blockchain infrastructure.

The approval positions DDSC as a regulated, UAE dirham-backed stablecoin within the country’s financial system, as authorities continue to develop frameworks for digital assets and blockchain-based financial services.

Read: FAB 2026 outlook flags capital reallocation as growth, policy paths diverge

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) transported more than 14 million passengers and 30 million tonnes of freight in 2025, marking record operational performance and highlighting the network’s role in supporting the kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Rail freight operations removed two million truck journeys, saving 139 million litres of fuel and reducing carbon emissions by 364,000 tonnes.

The year also saw the launch of the ‘Dream of the Desert’ luxury tourism train and the announcement of a SAR6bn real estate fund to develop lands adjacent to Makkah stations.

Saudi Arabia Railways was also awarded the International Union of Railways (UIC) prize for long-distance tourist trains.

Saudi Arabia Railways orders new trains

The company also announced the purchase of 20 new trains from Spanish manufacturer Talgo to expand the Haramain High-Speed Railway fleet.

Deliveries will begin by the end of 2028, with full delivery expected by 2031.

The new trains will serve all five stations on the network, which links Makkah and Madinah and currently operates 35 trains.

With the additions, the fleet will expand to 55 trains. Each train will consist of 13 carriages, including eight economy-class and five business-class carriages, with a total capacity of 417 seats.

The Haramain line operates at speeds of up to 300 km/h, completing the journey between Makkah and Madinah in approximately two hours.

Oracle NetSuite, announced the launch of NetSuite Next, its next-generation enterprise resource planning platform, for the UAE market.

The platform is built to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and automate complex tasks through practical AI capabilities, including embedded conversational intelligence, agentic workflows, and natural language search.

“NetSuite Next is designed to transform how AI works for business and will provide a collaborative, insightful, adaptive, and AI-centric user experience for customers in the UAE,” said Nicky Tozer, SVP, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Oracle NetSuite. “With the latest AI innovations built in, NetSuite Next delivers powerful insights and the ability to autonomously handle both repetitive and complex tasks. By grounding each insight and action in data, which in turn are governed by a user’s existing roles, permissions, and policies, NetSuite Next will enable customers in the UAE to intuitively engage with AI and achieve immediate value.”

A smarter, more intuitive user experience

At the core of NetSuite Next is Ask Oracle, a natural language assistant that allows users to search, navigate, analyse, and act across the entire NetSuite dataset using their own words. The tool delivers context-aware answers, visualisations, interactive content, and reasoning that explain the “how” and “why” behind every response. Ask Oracle works across customizations and extensions built on the SuiteCloud Platform, including partner applications in the SuiteCloud Developer Network, providing seamless contextual insight across the suite.

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Customers can switch to NetSuite Next with a single click, without migrating or disrupting existing customizations. Powered by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), NetSuite Next combines a unified data model with explainable, auditable AI and the modern Redwood Design System. This ensures every insight and action is trustworthy, helps identify opportunities and risks proactively, and allows users to retain full control over operations.

Key features of NetSuite next

NetSuite Next introduces several AI-driven tools designed to improve efficiency and insight:

• AI canvas: A collaborative workspace where users can analyze data, brainstorm solutions, and trigger agentic workflows visually.
• Narrative summaries and insights: Automated explanations in record forms, reports, and pages surface correlations and trends, enabling users to detect opportunities and risks before they escalate.
• Agentic workflows: AI-driven workflows help automate complex tasks such as payment proposals, vendor selection, reconciliations, and supply chain operations. Users can approve key decisions or let agents act autonomously.
• Document and knowledge integration: Large language models extract and validate information from invoices, contracts, PDFs, manuals, and more, turning isolated documents into actionable workflows.

Expanding AI capabilities across the suite

Oracle NetSuite has also enhanced several products to accelerate business processes, drive revenue, and support compliance in the UAE:

• NetSuite AI Connector Service: Connects NetSuite securely with external AI assistants and agent platforms. Users can select models, define accessible data, and govern model interactions.
• NetSuite Exception Management: Detects and manages finance and operational exceptions automatically, helping organisations resolve issues before period close.
• NetSuite E-Invoicing: Enables creation and sharing of electronic invoices with UAE tax authorities, supporting compliance with the UAE Federal Tax Authority’s mandate. Pilot phase starts July 1, 2026, with full rollout on January 1, 2027.
• NetSuite Subscription Metrics: Provides a single view across financial and operational performance for subscription-based businesses. Includes AI-driven insights, SaaS metrics, and visualisations.

Availability: NetSuite Next will roll out within 12 months in English in the UAE, while the AI Connector Service, Exception Management, and Subscription Metrics are already available. E-Invoicing updates align with evolving tax mandates.

Bringing actionable insights to businesses

“Users continuously want more from your business. When they spot something that needs attention, they don’t just flag it, they analyse and propose solutions,” said James Chisham, VP, Product Management, Oracle NetSuite.

He added, “The power is in your hands. Every solution is designed to give you more control, and now we’re taking it further. We want to make sure you can build your own intelligent solutions with AI, which is why we’re introducing Smart Agents. These agents can be customised directly on the Oracle Cloud Platform to work alongside your teams, manage complex workflows, and adapt to evolving policies, all within a single suite environment.”

Designed for speed, simplicity, and smart workflows

The platform is built using the Oracle Redwood Design System, ensuring speed, simplicity, and consistency. Record lists and forms feature smart filters, search, and infinite scrolling, making transactions faster and more intuitive. Reports have been redesigned for clarity, while user-friendly features like Dark Mode enhance the day-to-day experience.

NetSuite Next’s AI is purpose-driven, delivering real value in three key ways:

1. Automation – Eliminates repetitive, time-consuming tasks.
2. Insight – Surfaces actionable information.
3. Agility – Helps businesses adapt as they grow.

Advanced pricing AI allows dynamic rule-setting for costs, promotions, and customer segments. In service management, AI agents schedule technicians more efficiently and optimize workflows in real time.

Enterprise performance management gets smarter

AI in enterprise performance management now analyses, reconciles, plans, and explains processes with greater efficiency, boosting transparency while reducing manual effort:

• Prediction explanation assistant: Details how forecasts are generated to build trust and improve precision.
• Profitability and cost management agent: Automates cost allocation with a Model Builder System and Allocation Trace System, explaining allocation flows in natural language.
• AI-powered account reconciliation: Includes a proactive assistant, an AI Matching System, and automated Flux Analysis for general ledger balances.

“Confidence in insights drives business success,” said Chisham.

Analytics Warehouse: Visual, interactive insights

With Analytics Warehouse Visualisations powered by Oracle Analytics Cloud, users can transform data into dynamic, interactive summaries. Drill-downs, filters, and real-time AI interaction make it ideal for CFOs and executives preparing financial reports.

“Automation helps us move faster. Insight helps us make better decisions. But agility ensures we keep up with change,” said Chisham.

Connecting AI tools with agility

NetSuite Next’s AI Connector Service, built on the Model Context Protocol, allows multiple AI assistants to interact with NetSuite securely and in a governed way. This ensures businesses are not locked into a single vendor or model.

On invoicing, NetSuite is fully prepared for the UAE’s digital transformation and upcoming e-invoicing mandate. Companies participating in the July 2026 pilot will receive full support, with the January 2027 rollout ensuring seamless tax and compliance management.

Oracle NetSuite Next brings actionable AI, automation, and real-time insights to UAE businesses, allowing organisations to make decisions faster, reduce manual work, and adapt to evolving needs. With tools like Ask Oracle, Smart Agents, and AI-driven workflows, NetSuite Next promises a smarter, more intuitive ERP experience, transforming the way businesses operate in the region.