The world is currently witnessing major developments in today's global markets, including the emergence of challenges brought about by globalization, technical and technological progress and the expansion of negative marketing phenomena. With this in mind, what we previously understand as concepts surrounding consumer protection have now changed--evolving into a broader concept that embodies the process of activating consumer protection within a comprehensive mechanism and an integrated system that takes into account the nature of a free economy and fair legal competition.

Consumer protection is no longer just linked to the issue of price manipulation and price fraud, but rather across all that relates to the consumer, which also includes the goods and services provided that may cause health, economic or social damage.

These variables have helped change the scope of responsibilities for consumer protection. The government is no longer solely responsible for fulfilling this important role, but rather all components of society, including governments, civil society institutions, and even the consumer himself, falls within the system of responsibilities. The consumer's role is no longer limited to consumption only and awaiting protection from the state and society, but now covers the element where protection begins and ends.

Consumer protection, can thus be seen as an integrated system between the parties and all participating parties, in which the roles and responsibilities between each party harmonize in a manner that achieves protection for the consumer and then achieves the interest of society and the economy.

On the part of producers and marketers, there must be a key concern to serve the consumer in the correct way--providing all data and information related to the product or service in an accurate, unambiguous and ambiguous manner, whether those related to quality, qualitive or price, which help him choose the product that meets his requirements and ambitions.

A consumer must then be aware and knowledgeable about the details and data related to the good or the service being provided, which leads to being familiar about his rights and obligation before buying. The consumer must act in a manner directed by these rights and obligations, especially across diversity and development, which proves to be both timely and strategic as the phenomenal growth being witnessed by e-commerce needs control measures to ensure consumer protection.

An important issue here is that the consumer's access to data and information is a right guaranteed by the country's laws and legislation, which also includes international principles covering consumer protection as the UAE has many laws that guarantee consumers their rights and prevent monopoly and graft.

The role of consumer protection remains to be more comprehensive. The two parties must have the mechanisms and means that bind producers and service providers to provide data and information that helps the consumer to build a system of rights and obligations toward the contractual relationship between the producer and the consumer.

The Ministry of Economy has expressed its keenness towards the adoption and support of all initiatives that are aimed at enhancing all consumer rights in addition to ensuring the provision of goods or the provision of services in an easy manner and without exaggeration in prices.

In closing, the protection of consumer and preservation of his rights fall in line with the continuing efforts to achieve a healthy consumer environment.

Government Communications Department 

Ministry of economy