DED honours 6 shopping malls and 3 outlets for successful participation in consumer protection campaign

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) Division at the Department of Economic Development (DED) honoured 6 shopping malls and 3 major outlets for their support to DED’s consumer protection campaign organised during the last quarter of 2011. The honouring ceremony, held in conjunction with the Gulf Consumer Protection Day, was part of DED’s efforts to strengthen customer outreach and consumer awareness on their rights and responsibilities as well as to highlight the UAE Consumer Law No. (24) 2006.   

The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection Division has been running a sustained campaign since 2010 to enhance awareness among retailers and consumers on their rights and the means to redress consumer complaints. The recently concluded campaign was one of the most extensive, attracting 12,000 mall visitors and conducting 5,728 surveys among them during the months of October and November 2011, and also covering 2,732 visitors in major retail outlets during the month of Ramadan. 

Mirdif City Centre, Deira City Centre, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Festival City, Arabian Centre, and the Dubai Mall were the malls honoured by His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED; and Omar Bushahab, CEO of CCCP Division, for contributing to the success of the campaign. The retail outlets honoured were the Union Co-operative Society (Mirdif and Barsha branches), Carrefour (Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates), and Lulu Hypermarket (Qusais and Barsha). 

“Launching consumer protection campaigns in shopping malls and retail outlets is in line with DED's commitment to strengthen interaction and open communication channels with consumers while promoting awareness on their rights and quality of products and services. The campaigns are also part of promoting customer satisfaction and loyalty, and setting exemplary standards in Dubai’s retail sector,” said Omar Bushahab. 

Bushahab praised the efforts of the shopping malls and retail outlets in providing appropriate spaces to set up Consumer Protection Centres where representatives from CCCP were present to receive consumer complaints and provide advice and solutions on the spot to minimise disputes between consumers and traders, thus contributing to a more positive market environment. 

The CCCP team also distributed brochures, leaflets and posters on consumer rights and laws in addition to copies of the Blue Book, which translates the provisions of the Federal Law No. (24) of 2006 regulating refunds, exchanges, warranties, invoices and other aspects of retail into clear policies and guidelines that are easy to understand. 

CCCP also conducted visits in co-ordination with mall managements to interact with the retailers and provide advice on their selling practices and better customer relations. 

The website of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division also acts as a reference guide on consumer protection. The website provides consumers with specific instructions on the directives in the federal Consumer Law No. (24) 2006, responsibilities of consumers, shopping advice, and points to consider before making complaints on purchases. The site also includes steps to help resolve consumers’ problems with a retailer/seller.