Strict consumer protection rules enforced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) mandate that vendors give honest product descriptions and forbid false advertising.

UAE Consumer Protection Laws

These rules are intended to guarantee that consumers are not misled while making purchases of goods and services, Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection, later changed by Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2023, and Cabinet Decision No. 66 of 2023, which describes the executive rules for consumer protection, is the legislative framework controlling consumer rights in the UAE.

Prohibition of Misleading Advertisements

The UAE Consumer Law's Article 17 specifically forbids commercial agents, suppliers, and advertising from characterizing goods or services in a way that incorporates erroneous or misleading information. The law seeks to stop misleading consumers about the nature, quality, or condition of a good by means of fraudulent advertising.

Comparably, Article 8 of Cabinet Decision No. 66 of 2023 specifies what qualifies as a false advertisement, This article defines a product or service advertisement as deceptive if it gives consumers erroneous impressions, This could involve distorting the content, look, source, manufacturing date, expiry date, usage guidelines, warranty conditions of a product. Claims regarding the certification, quality standards, trademarks, or predicted advantages of a good also have to be honest. Any effort to deceive consumers in these spheres could be seen as dishonest advertising, against consumer protection regulations.

The legislation also covers sellers of used, rebuilt, or damaged goods, Article 7 of Cabinet Decision No. 66 of 2023 requires suppliers of worn or damaged goods to conspicuously state the state of the product in ads and at their place of business. Consequently, a vendor cannot just promote a used good without mentioning any flaws it could have. Furthermore, when selling used items, the seller has to be very specific about the condition of the object on the contract or invoice sent to the buyer.

This control is especially crucial while buying old vehicles. UAE consumer protection rules would be broken if a vendor mislead the buyer and withhold the real condition of a secondhand car. Under such circumstances, the customer has the right to protest to the vendor for not giving correct information on the good.

Warranty and Supplier Responsibilities

Should a seller provide a warranty for a good, they should make sure it has particular specifics as mandated by Article 12 of Cabinet Decision No. 66 of 2023. This page requires warranties to include details on coverage, repair or replacement terms, and length of time. Article 13 also clarifies suppliers' responsibilities in connection to warranty application. Should a flaw show up during the warranty, the seller must respect the terms of the guarantee and either replace or repair the item as advised.

For instance, the buyer has the right to demand repair or replacement from the seller should a second-hand car sold with a guarantee develop a flaw during that period. Under the broad consumer protection rules, the buyer may still have legal redress, though, should the seller offer no warranty and the buyer subsequently find a fault.

Compensation for Defective Products

UAE consumers have the right to demand reimbursement should faulty goods cause losses. The UAE Consumer Law's Article 24 (1) guarantees customers their right to reimbursement for either personal or financial losses resulting from the usage of a faulty good or service. This clause guarantees merchants responsibility for the quality and safety of their goods.

Should a customer buy a malfunctioning goods, say a second-hand car, they can report it to the Ministry of Economy or the relevant consumer protection agency in their emirate. Should it turn out that the sale misled the consumer or omitted crucial product information, the seller may be subject to legal action.

Financial Penalties for Violations

The UAE penalizes companies and people that break consumer protection rules harshly financially in order to enforce these rules, Addendum No. 2 of Cabinet Decision No. 66 of 2023 states a penalty of Dh100,000 for merchants who provide renovated, used, or defective goods without appropriate disclosure, This important fine discouragement companies and people who may otherwise try to fool customers.

Complaint Filed Against a Seller

If a consumer believes they have been misled or sold a defective product without proper disclosure, they can file a complaint with the relevant authorities in their emirate. The consumer protection authorities will investigate the complaint and determine whether the seller has violated the law.

For instance, someone has rights to complain against the vendor if they purchase a second-hand car and subsequently find concealed flaws not revealed at the time of purchase. Should the car be sold with a guarantee, the buyer can assert repairs or compensation under the provisions of such warranty, Legal action might be brought against the vendor for violating consumer protection rules should there be no warranty and the buyer was purposefully deceived.