Tuesday, Aug 16, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai: The Ministry of Economy has fined a total of 118 UAE retailers for raising prices since the beginning of Ramadan.
Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, said more than half of the fines were in Sharjah, and a majority of these at the emirates fruit and vegetable market.
The Ministry of Economy has imposed heavy fines against 118 retailers across the UAE for not abiding by the consumer protection law, he told Gulf News yesterday.
But despite the number of fines imposed by the ministry, Al Nuaimi said that prices in the UAE were stable.
It is not [a] big number and the prices in the market are stable, he said. adding that prices were almost 20 per cent lower if compared with the same period last year.
Most of the violations were reported for price increase and manipulations and fines ranged from Dh5,000 to Dh100,000, Al Nuaimi added.
Al Nuaimi said that the priorities of the ministry were limiting price increases, seeking fair competition among retailers and combating monopolies.
Salons, tailors warned
Mystery shoppers will be visiting hair salons and tailors across the UAE to ensure that they are not hiking prices in the run up to Eid.
The Ministry of Economy told Gulf News yesterday that tailors and salon owners who violate the consumer law will face up to Dh100,000 fine.
Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, said: While many salon owners and tailors across the UAE are struggling to make a big profit at Eid, the Ministry of Economy is launching a campaign to prohibit hairdressers and tailors across UAE to increase their prices during Eid.
By Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
