Dhs350 million to support Ramadan discounts on commodities: Ministry

Some Dhs350 million in discounts on food will be available throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan, according to the Ministry of Economy.

During a media briefing on consumer protection and Ramadan 2019 preparations, the ministry noted that the value of discounts totalled Dhs350 million, with 50-75 per cent in discounts on some 10,000 items, which will be available for consumers at 650 co-op societies and sales outlets throughout the country.

The media briefing was chaired by Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy.

Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, reviewed the programmes undertaken by the Ministry, in cooperation with its partners from various federal and local governmental authorities and private and cooperative sectors in all emirates of the UAE.

Dr Al Nuaimi explained that the ministry launched two programmes during the Year of Tolerance to ensure the happiness and satisfaction of consumers.

An official of the Ministry of Economy briefs the media persons in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. WAM

The first initiative saw the ministry coordinate the release of vehicles abandoned at maintenance workshops due to the owners’ inability to pay fines and outstanding dues. The Ministry contacted both the agencies and owners of 580 vehicles that were abandoned in various emirates for more than six months due to default payments. They were contacted to find solutions to the issues and to resolve them. The Ministry’s efforts resulted in the release of the vehicles from the workshops.

Al Nuaimi explained that the ministry's second initiative was launched in cooperation with car dealerships and with the approval of the Car Committee, allowing vehicle owners to avail free technical inspections of their cars at the agencies’ workshops during this Year of Tolerance.

Al Nuaimi pointed out that the Competition and Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy received 24,182 consumer complaints between the beginning of Q3 2017 and the end of Q1 2019, which have been resolved, in cooperation with authorities throughout the country.


WAM