UAE counterfeit goods withdrawal: 24-hour deadline and notification requirements
Suppliers must remove counterfeit, spoiled or adulterated items from markets and warehouses within 24 hours and notify all points of sale.
Withdrawal deadline and notification obligations
Suppliers in the UAE must withdraw counterfeit, spoiled or adulterated goods from markets and warehouses within 24 hours of receiving notification. The supplier must notify all points of sale and entities that received the goods within the same 24-hour period and order them to remove the products from shelves. Evidence of withdrawal must be submitted within the 24-hour deadline. The obligation applies to goods identified as counterfeit, adulterated or spoiled. Cabinet Decision 107 of 2026 sets out the requirements, effective August 2026.
Cost recovery and shortened timeframes
Where a supplier does not comply within 24 hours, withdrawal will be carried out at the supplier's expense within 48 hours. If the supplier cannot be reached, withdrawal will proceed and costs will be recovered once contact is made. The 24-hour timeframe may be shortened where goods pose risks to human or animal health, safety or the environment. The shortened period applies at the discretion of the notifying authority.
Public announcement and destruction deadlines
A public announcement about the withdrawal must be made within 48 hours of notification, through designated media. The announcement must state the details of the goods and be published in both Arabic and English. Counterfeit goods must be destroyed within 15 working days of a court ruling or decision. The destruction deadline runs from the date of the ruling or decision, not from the date of withdrawal.
Inspection activity recorded in first quarter 2026
Authorities conducted 10,023 inspection tours relating to commercial fraud during the first quarter of 2026, detecting 189 violations across the UAE. The figures were disclosed at a media briefing held on 3 September 2026 at the Dubai International Financial Centre. Inspections were carried out in collaboration with local economic and supervisory authorities.
Sources
- Khaleej Times · 24-hour withdrawal deadline, notification requirements to points of sale, cost recovery procedures, 48-hour public announcement requirement, 15-day destruction deadline, 10,023 inspection tours and 189 violations in Q1 2026, media briefing date 3 September 2026 and DIFC location
- Arabian Business · 24-hour withdrawal deadline for suppliers and 48-hour recall announcement requirement
MENA Review is published by Arabian Media Network. Pieces are produced by the Gazette Desk with AI-assisted synthesis of the cited sources and automated verification against the network's editorial policy. Corrections: corrections page.