DED’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division launches extensive inspection campaign during Ramadan

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division in the Department of Economic Development (DED) has announced the launch of an extensive inspection campaign across all outlets in Dubai during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The initiative is part of DED's mandate to coordinate and cooperate with retail outlets for the protection of consumer rights, and to maintain transparency during the Holy Month. 

The inspection campaign entails checking prices of goods and their conformity at the cashier, accuracy of promotional offers, matching prices of goods supported by the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, and ensuring that owners of supermarkets, grocery stores, and wholesalers do not resell goods with fixed prices. 

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division’s plan also encompasses executing extensive inspection campaigns in the market to monitor the commitment of retailers and prevent any violation to the resolution of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection on credit card fees on purchases. The resolution instructs retailers to desist from charging additional fees on credit card purchases. The violation of the resolution will entail an initial warning to a fine of AED10, 000 along with refunds of amounts that have been withdrawn from the consumers. 

"Our campaign focuses on implementingg field trips across all retail outlets to inspect prices and other relevant matters on the ground that will reassure consumers that we are monitoring the market closely during the month of Ramadan. DED is the only government department in Dubai responsible for raising awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities. We are always keen to coordinate with retail outlets in the Emirate to provide consumer products and foods to a large segment in society at consistent affordable prices, especially during the month of Ramadan," said Omar Bushahab, CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division, DED. 

The campaign also includes scrutinising all retail outlets in the Emirate to ensure that they are deditcated to the commitment of displaying DED's contact details on their premises, which enables customers to promptly report concerns about consumer rights. The details must be clearly visible behind cash counters in both Arabic and English. Outlets that fail to adhere to this will be fined according to regulations. This initiative underscores DED’s continuous efforts to strengthen awareness on consumer rights among the public. 

Mohammed Lootah, Deputy CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division in DED, said: "This initiative confirms DED's commitment to provide best services to consumers as per Consumer Protection Law. The enforcement of the consumer rights is not to make life difficult for retailers or to favor consumers but rather to promote a healthy trading environment which is transparent and regulated." 

Lootah noted that people's willingness to buy consumer products during the month of Ramadan increase as a general tradition of preparing meals or banquets, whether for themselves or family members, visitors or even to distribute gifts to neighbours and relatives. “Through this initiative, we seek to ensure the availability of goods and products in the market and shopping centres at prices that commensurate with the income of different categories of members of the community”. 

“The Division also cooperates with retail outlets to maintain the stability of prices, especially in the month of Ramadan, and transparency in the provision of promotional offers during the Holy Month,” Lootah added.