Dh100,000 fine for hiking water prices

The Ministry of Economy has warned dealers in the UAE against hiking the price of bottled water, saying that any unilateral move by dealers to overcharge for water could invite a fine between Dh5,000 and Dh100,000.

The Ministry said it had not given its consent for raising the prices of bottled water, warning that it would not tolerate any unilateral move by dealers, newspapers reported on Monday.

The higher consumer protection committee at the ministry said it was reacting to reports that dealers had received the go-ahead to raise the prices of water bottles after making a request to this effect.

“The Committee has not approved any move to raise the prices of water bottles…it has not received any request in this regard and it will not allow any water bottling company to raise the prices since water is an essential commodity and requires official consent for any price rise,” the committee said in a statement carried by local newspapers.

It warned that dealers who undertake a unilateral move in this respect would be fined between Dh5,000 and Dh100,000.

The Ministry also warned traders against hiking prices of other goods in the wake of the recent presidential decision to raise the salaries of the nearly 70,000 federal government employees, following public complaints that the prices of many products have been hiked without official permission.

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