Businesses caught dealing in counterfeit, adulterated, or spoiled goods in the UAE now have just 24 hours to clear them off the shelves or face swift state intervention, under tough new commercial fraud regulations that have officially taken effect.

The new rules, outlined in Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026 (the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023), significantly ramp up consumer protections. They grant authorities sweeping powers to raid premises, seize stock at the violator’s expense, issue public alerts, and order rapid product destruction.

The 24-hour countdown

Once the Ministry of Economy and Tourism or local authorities flag a non-compliant item, the clock starts ticking immediately. Suppliers must halt sales on the spot and execute four mandatory steps within 24 hours:

• Clear shelves and warehouses: Remove every affected batch from inventory.
• Alert supply chains: Notify downstream retailers and distributors to pull the products within the same 24-hour window.
• Recall active stock: Initiate steps to recover items already in circulation.
• Provide proof: Submit verified evidence to authorities confirming total withdrawal.

Miss the deadline? Expect the bill

Suppliers dragging their feet won’t stall enforcement.

Under Article 8, if a business fails to clear offending stock within 24 hours, government authorities will step in and clear markets and warehouses themselves within the following 48 hours, billing the non-compliant supplier for the entire operation.

Seizures, storage fees, and public name and shame

Authorities now hold expanded legal teeth to intervene early:

• Impounding stock: Suspected goods can be seized, locked in designated storage facilities, and held during lab testing, with all warehousing fees charged directly to the offender.
• Public consumer alerts: Regulators can publicly broadcast warnings naming the product type, description, and trademark to warn shoppers against dangerous goods.

Heavy penalties for violators

Ignorance is no longer an easy defence. Administrative penalties will hit anyone caught knowingly trading fraudulent goods, or anyone who should have reasonably known based on their industry expertise that the product posed a health and safety risk.

Regulators are paying particularly close attention to:

• High-risk goods: Medicines, organic foods, and agricultural supplies.
• Recycled hazards: Goods previously declared unfit for use that were reintroduced into the market.
• Profiteering & tampering: Counterfeit items bought for alteration, repackaging, or unlawful resale.
• Deceptive advertising: Products promoted with false claims regarding origin, ingredients, or quality standards.

Fast-track destruction: 15-day limit

Once a competent court or the Supreme Committee issues a formal ruling, authorities won’t let fake items linger in storage. Under Article 18, confiscated counterfeit and spoiled products must be destroyed within 15 working days, closing the door on unlawful resale.

For consumers, the revamped framework delivers stronger market surveillance and faster removal of hazardous goods. For traders, retailers, and distributors across the UAE, it sends a clear signal: compliance is non-negotiable, and slow reaction times will come with steep financial and legal costs.

Looking for a side hustle? Be careful.

Dubai Police have warned residents not to fall for fake part-time job offers circulating on social media and messaging apps after uncovering a scam that tricked a young man into helping criminals move stolen money.

In a social media post, Dubai Police shared how the scam typically unfolds. The victim responded to an online advert promoting a work-from-home job with flexible hours and quick earnings. After being told he had been accepted, he was instructed to open a new bank account or use his existing one to receive and process what were described as customer payments.

Money was then deposited into his account, and he was instructed to transfer it to other bank accounts in exchange for a commission.

The scammers claimed he was working for an overseas financial services company, but investigators later discovered the transfers were linked to a criminal network.

The victim told police he believed the job was genuine and had no idea he was helping fraudsters.

How the scam works

Police said these scams usually begin with online job ads offering fast cash for simple tasks.

Victims may then be asked to:

• Use their bank account to receive and transfer money.
• Pay registration or activation fees.
• Share personal or banking details.
• Complete financial transactions for a commission.

Authorities warned that scammers often use unsuspecting people’s bank accounts to move illegally obtained funds, which could leave the account holder facing serious legal consequences.

How to stay safe

Dubai Police urged job seekers to:

• Verify employers before accepting any job offer.
• Never share bank details with unknown individuals or companies.
• Avoid jobs that ask you to transfer money on behalf of others.
• Ignore employers requesting upfront payments or registration fees.

Anyone who receives a suspicious job offer is encouraged to report it through Dubai Police’s eCrime platform or by calling 901 for non-emergency assistance.

1. Dubai is setting up a new committee to combat misinformation and fake news while strengthening clear, transparent communication about the emirate’s achievements.

The move follows a directive from Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.

The new Dubai Media Narrative Committee will be chaired by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council.

The committee will shape Dubai’s official media narrative, define key communication priorities for government and private sector entities, and recommend policies and strategies to the Dubai Media Council for approval and implementation.

Sheikh Ahmed said a strong and credible media narrative has become an essential part of Dubai’s development journey, adding that the emirate’s creative and intellectual talent provides a solid foundation for telling Dubai’s story in line with the leadership’s vision.

The initiative aims to ensure accurate communication, counter false information and reinforce public confidence through a unified and transparent approach.