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.
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.
If you miss the deadline
- Public withdrawal notices must be published in Arabic and English within 48 hours, or sooner if a product risks health, safety or the environment.
- The authorities can carry out the withdrawal in the following 48 hours and charge the cost to the supplier.
- Suspect goods can be seized and held at the violator’s expense, then returned to the exporting country, usually within 30 days, or destroyed.
- Penalties are applied in steps, and the detailed list had not been published at the time of the ministry briefing.
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.
- Keep proof of the withdrawal to show the authorities.
Traders can request conciliation within 10 working days if they meet the conditions, such as no penalty in the previous 12 months, but this does not remove civil liability.
