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ABU DHABI / Emirates Business
Following the Ministry of Economy’s recent announcement of its plan to monitor markets and open channels of communication with consumers during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Ministry conducted an inspection of the Al Jubail Market in Sharjah on Tuesday.
The visit was led by Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Ministry’s Consumer Protection Department, in the presence of Tariq Al Suwaidi, Director of the Ministry’s Sharjah Office. Ali Fadel, Chairman of the Commercial Protection Section at Sharjah’s Economic Development Department, Eng. Ali Al Suwaidi, Director of Al Jubail Market, and various media representatives were present as well.
During the inspection, Al Nuaimi noted the lack of stickers or labels with prices and specifications of some displayed items, emphasizing the need to clarify rates with consumers before they make purchases, pursuant to Article 5 of the Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2006.
Al Nuaimi stated that in cooperation with the specialized departments of ‘Ousoul,’ the company managing the Al Jubail Market, an initiative will be launched to clarify the prices of the mandatory items which will be placed on the entrance of the market. Electronic screens in prominent places will also be installed to indicate item prices. Moreover, a smart application for mobile phones and tablets will be introduced to provide added information aside from the traditional price stickers to disseminate the prices.
By the end of his visit Al Nuaimi said that the Al Jubail market is considered an important center for meeting the needs of the customers of Sharjah and the region in terms of vegetables, fruits, meat, chicken, and fish. He thanked the concerned entities of the Sharjah Government for managing and developing a market that is well-organized, reflective of its management’s commitment to achieving high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.
Al Nuaimi said that the prices at Al Jubail Market did not reflect and abuse amidst increased demand; even the basic prices of fruits and vegetables are still stable and there is no need to recall an excessively priced item. He also noted that meat, poultry and fish are available at stable prices without any decrease in quantity across all species compared to last year.