The number of consumer complaints in Dubai has dropped in recent months, according to the latest data from Dubai Economy. 

From January to September this year, a total of 40,526 consumer complaints were received by the Dubai Economy’s Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP), down by 12 percent from the 46,216 complaints raised during the same period last year. 

The Dubai Economy attributed the decline in consumer complaints to the availability of channels that allow consumers to resolve issues.  

The government has set up smart channels, such as the Dubai Consumer App and Consumerrights.ae website, to assist consumers. These digital tools account for 93 percent of the issues raised this year.

“We engage with consumers across all possible venues and encourage them to raise their complaints on purchases made in Dubai. The smart channels we provide have not only made it easier to raise a consumer complaint and get it resolved, but also elevated the experience of shopping in Dubai to a new level,” said Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, CEO of CCCP. 

Top complaints 

Most of the issues raised during the first nine months of the year were related to refunds, accounting for 25.19 percent of the complaints, followed by failure to comply with purchase agreements (15.8 percent) and defective products (14.57 percent). 

Complaints about commercial fraud accounted for 11.76 percent of the issues raised. 

A smaller number of consumers also griped about non-compliance with after-sales service (5.7 percent), exchange (3.9 percent), as well as shop policies that are inconsistent with the law (2.29 percent). 

(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Mily Chakrabarty) 

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com 

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