1
Chapter One General Provisions: General Provisions
Article 1
Article (1) Definitions In applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto, unless the context requires otherwise: State : United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ministry : Ministry of Economy Minister : Minister of Economy Competent Authority : : The relevant emirate's local competent authority responsible for applying the provisions of this Law. Relevant Authorities : The federal or local governmental authorities concerned with supervising and controlling the works of the provider in the sectors they supervise or control. Committee : The Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection Department : The administrative unit concerned with consumer protection affairs at the Ministry. Standard Specifications : Obligatory standard specifications approved by the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority in the State. Consumer : Any natural or legal person obtaining a commodity or service for or without a fee to satisfy their own or another person's needs, or who is dealt with or contracted in this regard. Provider : Any legal person who offers a service or manufactures, distributes, trades in, sells, supplies, exports, imports or plays a part in producing or trading or storing a commodity in order to provide
-- 3 of 19 --
Federal Law of 2020 on Consumer Protection 4 same to the consumer, or who is dealt with or contracted in this regard. Advertiser : Any legal person advertising – by themselves or through a third- party – a commodity, service or information using different means of advertising and publicity, whether the advertiser is the provider themselves or a person licensed to do so. Commodity : Any natural substance or industrial, agricultural, animal, manufactured, intellectual or technological product, including the primary elements of the substances and the components that go into the product. Labelling : The labels or any written, printed, drawn or engraved information showing the commodity's components or its maintenance, storage or date of expiry. Price : The price of the commodity or the service, or the usage fee, as the case may be. Service : Everything offered to the consumer whether for or without charge. Defect : A lack in the quality, quantity or efficiency or a difference in the outer appearance, size or components of the commodity or service resulting from an error in its design, manufacturing, production or its being supplied to the consumer, leading to their harm or to preventing them totally or partially from using it; provided the defect does not result from an action of the consumer. Flaw : Anything that befalls the commodity after its production or to the service after its provision, which causes harm to the consumer or prevents them totally or partially from using it; provided the flaw does not result from a misconduct from an action of the consumer.
-- 4 of 19 --
Federal Law of 2020 on Consumer Protection 5 Commercial Fraud : Deceiving the dealer by any means, whether by replacing or changing the commodity's nature, amount, type, price, fundamental nature, origin, source, validity or any other matter related thereto, or providing false or misleading commercial data on the promoted products including defrauding, imitating and cheating the service by not complying with the existing legislation in the State or containing false or misleading data. Discounts : Offering to sell the commodity for discounted prices or providing the services for lower prices during a specified period using whatever means. Promotion : Marketing the commodities or services via a prize draw, or by distributing gifts or advertising and publicising the commodities or services through special offers or any other means. Warranty : A written or implicit declaration from the provider or the representative thereof that the commodity or the service of the warranty is free from defects or flaws and complies with the standard specifications, and that they undertake to repair any flaw or defect occurring to the commodity, re-provide the service or replace the commodity within a specific period. After-Sales Services : Taking care of the commodity or the service by maintaining its quality, including spare parts, maintenance and technical support. Recovery : Withdrawing the defected or dangerous commodity through the provider, or via the concerned authority or relevant authority in the State, or the country of origin or any other state. Misleading : Advertising a commodity or service based upon misleading
-- 5 of 19 --
Federal Law of 2020 on Consumer Protection 6 Advertising information or omitting fundamental or core information related to the commodity or the service, which affects the consumer and leads them to contract whereas they would not have contracted were it not for such information. Advertising fake or untrue prizes or discounts is considered misleading advertising. Invoice : Any instrument sufficient by itself to prove the transaction or contracting with the consumer on a commodity or service, provided it contains the data required by this Law or its Executive Regulation.