What are the UAE Commercial Fraud Executive Regulations 2026?
The UAE has issued Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026, introducing the Executive Regulations for Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 on Combating Commercial Fraud.
While the 2023 Law established the main legal framework, the new Resolution focuses on how the law will work in practice. It sets out the procedures to be followed when fraudulent, spoiled or counterfeit goods are identified, including inspection, testing, withdrawal and disposal.
The Resolution replaces Cabinet Resolution No. 11 of 2020 and applies across the UAE, including free zones.
What changes under the new Regulations?
Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026 gives the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the competent authorities in each Emirate a clearer process for dealing with suspected goods.
Judicial enforcement officers may inspect commercial premises and other non-residential locations, review relevant documents and electronic records, and take samples where testing is required. Laboratory testing should generally be completed within 15 working days, depending on the nature of the goods.
The Resolution also introduces specific timelines once goods are confirmed to be fraudulent, spoiled or counterfeit.
The supplier must stop selling the goods and begin withdrawing them from the market. The relevant parties in the supply chain must be notified within 24 hours, while a public recall announcement must be made in Arabic and English within 48 hours.
Where the supplier does not take the required steps, the Ministry or the competent authority may carry out the withdrawal directly and recover the related costs from the supplier.
Dealing with seized and withdrawn goods
The Resolution also explains what may happen to goods after they are seized or withdrawn.
Depending on the circumstances, the goods may be returned to their country of origin, recycled or destroyed. Where destruction is required, it must be carried out in a manner that prevents the goods from being placed back on the market and takes public health and environmental requirements into account.
What does this mean for trademark owners?
The new Regulations are particularly relevant to trademark owners because counterfeit goods are expressly covered by the UAE Commercial Fraud Law.
Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 includes within the definition of counterfeit goods products bearing, without authorization, a trademark that is identical or similar to a legally registered trademark.
Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026 does not introduce new trademark rights. Its value for brand owners is more practical. It gives the authorities clearer procedures to follow when suspected counterfeit goods are found in the market.
For this reason, rights holders should make sure their UAE trademark registrations remain valid and that the documents they may need for enforcement are easy to produce. This can include registration certificates, details of genuine products, information on authorized distributors and material showing how counterfeit products differ from genuine ones.
Businesses should also review their own internal procedures. Importers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers may need to act within short deadlines once affected goods are identified. Keeping proper product records and maintaining traceability across the supply chain will therefore become even more important.
Effective date
Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026 was issued on 13 July 2026 and published in UAE Official Gazette No. 827 on 14 July 2026. It repeals Cabinet Resolution No. 11 of 2020 and enters into force 30 days after publication.
For trademark owners, the main change is a practical one. The UAE now has a more detailed process for investigating suspected counterfeit goods, removing them from the market and dealing with them after seizure. This gives rights holders a clearer enforcement framework while also placing greater responsibility on businesses to react quickly when an issue arises.
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