Index set to gauge consumer awareness

dubai — The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has launched a consumer empowerment index, the first of its kind in the region, to gauge the level of awareness among consumers regarding their rights and responsibilities.

The move is in line with best practices in the European Commission, which was the first to introduce a similar index, and is also part of the DED’s efforts to promote transparency in merchant-consumer relations.

The DED will release the index during the fourth quarter of every year after evaluating consumer awareness based on the following criteria: consumer skills, awareness of consumer protection laws and regulations and consumer engagement.

Sami Al Qamzi, director-general of the DED, said: “The index will have a pivotal role in eliminating negative practices from the local market and improving the business environment in Dubai, particularly the retail and services sectors. When buyers know and assert their rights, malpractices in the purchasing process will come down and corrective action will be fast and efficient.”

Over the past two years, The DED and its Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector has sharpened focus on providing a competitive and healthy environment for traders and trademark owners through a number of initiatives such as ‘Self Inspector,’ which helps businesses to self-evaluate their level of compliance with regulations.

Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, CEO of CCCP, said: “The index will reflect the level of consumer awareness among various age groups, nationalities, income and residential areas. It will help us understand the consumer culture in different areas and design awareness programmes.”

— business@khaleejtimes.com