Residents in the UAE can now compare prices of more than 8300 essential items sold across 525 retail outlets through the government’s Essential Goods Prices Platform, said the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

The launch forms part of the authority’s digital efforts to enhance market oversight, improve price transparency and strengthen consumer protection in the region.

The ministry said the platform would track market movements by monitoring price fluctuations and providing regular analyses. The system complements conventional field inspections with the latest data, further improving decision-making efficiency.

According to the authorities, the Essential Goods Prices Platform currently provides pricing data across 13 major retailers. The ministry seeks to expand the platform by increasing the quantity of products monitored and the number of participating retail outlets.

Safeya Al Safi, assistant undersecretary for the control and commercial governance sector at the ministry, said protecting consumer prices remains a national priority, with statistics and advanced analytics from the platform being leveraged to support that framework.

“The Essential Goods Prices Platform enables continuous monitoring of market developments, analysis of emerging trends, and identification of patterns or changes that require further review and verification,” she said.

“It has also enhanced the ministry’s ability to respond efficiently to any developments or changes affecting market dynamics.”

As of July, the Essential Goods Prices Platform has attracted around 143,720 visitors, averaging approximately 1451 visits per day, according to the ministry.