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ARTICLE · 22 JULY 2024

Curbing Monopolistic Practices Under The UAE's New Competition Law

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The new law highlights the UAE's commitment to free market principles whilst ensuring that it remains a world class competitive market for its consumers.

United Arab EmiratesAntitrust/Competition Law
Derek Robins
Derek Robins
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The new law highlights the UAE's commitment to free market principles whilst ensuring that it remains a world class competitive market for its consumers.

Recently the UAE Federal Government promulgated Federal Decree Law No. 36/2023 on the Regulation of Competition ("the New Competition Law") which came into effect on 29 December 2023.

The New Competition Law abrogates and replaces Federal Decree Law No 4 of 2012 Concerning Regulating Competition ("the Old Competition Law").

The New Competition Law has made some key changes to the competition landscape in the UAE which need to be carefully evaluated by role players in the market, some of which we highlight below.

The scope and application of the New Competition Law has been widened to include not only Establishments (natural and legal persons) which carry on their activities in the UAE but to include economic activities which are carried out outside of UAE but which effect competition within the UAE.

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