The 24-hour rule
Under the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 on Anti-Commercial Fraud, issued by Cabinet Decision No. 107 of 2026, suppliers must stop selling and withdraw affected goods from the market within 24 hours of an official notice. They must also tell every point of sale they supplied, recover the goods and give the authorities evidence of the withdrawal. Online sellers face separate Dubai Police warnings, covered in our counterfeit goods guide.
The compliance clock, step by step
| When | What the supplier must do |
|---|---|
| On notice | Stop selling or offering the affected products immediately |
| Within 24 hours | Withdraw the goods from the market and warehouses, notify every point of sale and recipient, and instruct them to withdraw within 24 hours. Keep evidence |
| Within 48 hours | Publish a recall announcement through approved media, in Arabic and English. Authorities can shorten this where health, safety or the environment is at risk |
| Within 5 working days of starting withdrawal | File a report covering affected products, unsold inventory, distributed products, and quantities withdrawn and refunded |
The announcement must carry product details, the supplier’s contact details, refund procedures and return locations. Authorities may also ask for more data, documents or periodic reports.
Who is covered
All retailers and traders, including supermarkets and pharmacies, and online sales and e-commerce platforms. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism can notify platforms about fraudulent products so they remove listings or post warnings. In the first quarter of 2026, inspectors made 10,023 commercial-fraud inspection tours and found 189 violations. A trader who unknowingly receives fraudulent or mismatched goods can report the problem, which is treated differently from a trader who asked for such goods.
If you miss the deadline
| Situation | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Supplier fails to withdraw in time | The authorities can carry out the withdrawal in the following 48 hours and charge the cost to the supplier |
| Supplier cannot be reached | Authorities can proceed once the supplier’s presence in the UAE is established, with costs recoverable |
| Goods are seized | Held at the violator’s expense, then returned to the exporting country, usually within 30 days, or destroyed |
| Destruction is ordered | Generally within 15 working days of a court judgment or Supreme Committee decision |
| Penalties | Applied in steps. The detailed list, with amounts, had not been published at the time of the ministry briefing |
Inspection and enforcement
Judicial officers may enter commercial premises, warehouses and factories, review records, take samples and seize suspected goods, or leave them with the provider under its responsibility. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism can step in directly if goods are spread across several emirates, pose significant health, safety or environmental risks, or a competent authority does not act within 10 working days of notice. During a withdrawal the authority must warn the public against buying or using the affected products.
Compliance checklist
- Stop sales and displays of the affected items the moment you get a notice.
- Clear shelves and warehouses within 24 hours.
- Notify your network of every retailer and downstream partner you supplied.
- Publish the recall in Arabic and English within 48 hours.
- Keep proof of the withdrawal and file the report within five working days.
Conciliation
Traders can request conciliation within 10 working days if they meet the conditions: no penalty for the same violation in the previous 12 months, no bad faith, and the causes of the violation removed. An objection can be submitted within 7 working days under the prescribed procedure. Conciliation does not mean no violation occurred and does not remove civil liability to affected parties.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 24-hour rule apply to online sellers?
Yes. The rules cover online sales and e-commerce platforms as well as physical retail.
What can a shopper do?
Watch for public recall announcements and keep your receipt. The ministry’s consumer line is 800 1222, and our guide to shopping online in Dubai covers what to do when an order goes wrong.
