Dubai beauty salons ordered to install automated cash tills

Beauty salons operating in Dubai have been told they must install automated cash registers by the end of February 2017 following complaints about price manipulation.

The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) section of the Department of Economic Development (DED) said it has launched a campaign, named ‘e-Cashier’, aimed at enhancing transparency and protecting consumer rights.

It said in a statement that the number of consumer complaints received against beauty salons was more than 80 in 2016 so far, particularly during holiday periods.

Muhammad Rashed Ali Lootah, CEO of CCCP said a number of campaigns are being launched by DED to enhance transparency and eliminate fraudulent practices, eventually strengthening the relations between businesses and their consumers.

“The e-Cashier campaign will enhance neutrality and ease of doing business in line with the competitive and cordial business environment Dubai, and the UAE in general, seeks to promote.

“Many beauty salons were found to manipulate prices, particularly during the holiday season, to increase their profit. The campaign will avoid such manipulation and violations,” Lootah said.

CCCP seeks to protect consumers and improve the level of services provided at the salons and beauty centres across Dubai, which are growing in number, Lootah added.

Abdul Aziz Al Tannak, director of Commercial Control Department in DED, said it is important to eliminate negative practices in order to improve relations between businesses and consumers as well as to protect the health and safety of consumers.

Al Tannak said the DED will soon launch a series of campaigns to increase consumer awareness and educate owners of beauty salons, particularly on the need to maintain price lists and adhere to the highest international standards in customer service as well as to consumer protection laws.

Al Tannak called on consumers to report to DED any violations they notice in beauty salons.