Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), a part of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), carried out an extensive series of field and monitoring tours to Dubai markets and commercial establishments in Q1 2024.
The initiative bolstered DCCPFT’s ongoing awareness campaign to highlight the rights and responsibilities of traders and consumers, ensuring a fair experience for all, and ultimately promoting competitiveness within the business sector in Dubai.
During 232 tours, the Consumer Protection Department of DCCPFT engaged with traders and consumers, especially in high-traffic areas during Ramadan, emphasizing the display of consumer protection contact details for easy feedback. They also addressed suppliers on managing complaints transparently. Meanwhile, the Intellectual Property Protection Department monitored intellectual property rights, responding to brand owners' requests and coordinating with the Ministry of Economy. In Q1 2024, they handled 199 trademark requests, collaborating with Dubai Police for 63 campaigns to prevent IP rights violations. Future plans include intensifying efforts to monitor locations selling counterfeit goods in cooperation with Dubai Police to ensure consumer safety and law compliance.
Commenting on these efforts, Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Fair Trade and Consumer Protection, said,
“DCCPFT is committed to conducting field tours to protect the rights of traders and consumers, as well as responding to consumer complaints and raising their awareness of their rights and obligations. In addition to regulating local markets to ensure a level playing field, fairness, equality, healthy competition and consumer protection, we are also committed to protecting intellectual property rights, while educating the business sector on the importance of registering and protecting these rights. Our efforts underline Dubai’s reputation as a safe market for international brands to operate and grow in, and one where consumers can confidently enjoy their retail experience.”
Al Saadi also emphasised DCCPFT’s focus on maintaining market stability, aligned with the vision of the wise leadership, and the goals of the D33 Agenda.
“We call on consumers to report any commercial violations promptly and encourage business owners to protect and register their intellectual rights to avoid any future violations or legal liabilities,”
Al Saaadi explained.
The IPP Department regularly organises programmes and initiatives to educate traders about their rights and obligations under relevant intellectual property laws. Continuous emphasis is also placed on avoiding malpractices, such as selling counterfeit products of certain international brands. Such initiatives are intended to optimise commercial control operations and facilitate market oversight across all economic sectors and fields.
The IPP Department also successfully carried out many monitoring tours during Q1 2024, covering over 10,000 commercial establishments, protecting the rights of local and international brands with ongoing workshops with their representatives, to ensure their IP files with DCCPFT are always up to date and their rights are protected.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
