In a move set to make everyday shopping easier, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has introduced a new digital tool that lets residents compare prices of essential goods across major retailers.

Called the Essential Goods Prices Platform, the initiative is designed to boost transparency and help shoppers find the best deals on daily essentials.

What you can check

The platform covers more than 30 essential items in its first phase, including:

• Cooking oils, rice, sugar, and bread
• Eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish
• Fresh fruits and vegetables

It gives users a clear snapshot of price ranges across supermarkets, making it easier to spot where your money goes further.

How it works

• Prices are updated daily from major retailers
• Users can compare minimum and maximum prices
• Track differences between stores and locations
• Build a custom shopping basket to find the cheapest option

It’s essentially like having a real-time price comparison tool before you even step into a store.

With the cost of living always a concern, this platform puts more control directly in the hands of consumers.

It helps:

• Save money on weekly groceries
• Promote fair competition among retailers
• Prevent unjustified price increases

By making pricing more transparent, the UAE is aiming to protect consumer spending while keeping the retail market balanced.

This launch builds on ongoing efforts by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism to monitor essential goods and ensure price stability.

Now, instead of that data staying behind the scenes, it’s being shared openly, giving residents the power to make smarter, more informed shopping decisions.

In a major boost to Dubai’s road network, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a key stretch of the Hessa Street Development Project, transforming one of the city’s busiest corridors.

The newly completed 4.5 km section connects Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road, with the road now expanded to four lanes in each direction, significantly easing congestion.

Faster commutes, smoother traffic

The upgrade is expected to dramatically improve daily travel:

• Journey time reduced from 15 minutes to just 4 minutes
• Road capacity doubled from 8,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour

Major junctions upgraded include:

• Al Asayel Street
• First Al Khail Street
• Key interchanges at Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road

What’s new on Hessa Street

The project introduces several infrastructure enhancements:

• New slip road above the Dubai Metro Red Line
• Widened bridges at major intersections
• Direct links towards Sharjah and Deira via Al Khail Road

These upgrades are designed to streamline traffic flow and reduce bottlenecks across the corridor.

Supporting Dubai’s growing communities

According to Mattar Al Tayer, the project supports rapid urban expansion across key residential areas like Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

The population served is expected to exceed 640,000 by 2030, highlighting the importance of this upgrade.

What’s next

Phase Two is already underway, extending the project from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

Once complete, it will:

• Cut travel time from 24 minutes to 5 minutes
• Serve around 650,000 residents across 10 communities
• Further expand road capacity

In a strong move to protect consumers and market stability, the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism has referred a group of businesses to the Public Prosecution for unjustifiably increasing poultry prices.

Authorities said the group exploited ongoing regional developments to inflate prices, a practice that directly violates consumer protection laws and threatens both food security and economic stability in the country.

What the law says

Under Article 5 of the Regulation of Competition Law UAE, businesses are strictly prohibited from engaging in practices that distort or restrict competition.

This includes:

• Price-fixing or artificially inflating prices
• Coordinating to limit supply or control distribution
• Colluding in tenders or bids
• Imposing unfair conditions on sales or purchases

The law also bans tactics like hoarding, unjustified stockpiling, or creating artificial shortages to manipulate market prices.

Why this action matters

Officials emphasised that such violations go beyond simple misconduct, they can disrupt entire supply chains and impact everyday consumers.

By taking legal action, the ministry aims to:

• Maintain stable food prices
• Protect consumer rights
• Ensure fair competition in the market
• Safeguard national food and economic security

Ongoing market monitoring

This case is part of wider inspection campaigns being carried out across the UAE to monitor pricing and prevent manipulation, especially in essential goods like food.

Authorities have signalled zero tolerance for businesses attempting to exploit market conditions for unfair gains.