Just like last year’s Ramadan, the United Arab Emirate government recently launched a massive campaign for placement of discounts on products that are commonly used during Ramadan fasting period. And this has yielded positive outcome as about ten thousand products have already got over fifty percent discount placed on them, according to Emirati Ministry of Economy.
According to Hashim Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Ministry’s Consumer Protection Department and rapporteur of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, discounts will range from 50 to 75 percent on most of the goods, with a few selected commodities being sold at cost price.
Cooperatives and supermarkets across the UAE during Ramadan are expected to implement this temporary discount policy latest on the first day of 2017 Ramadan, which according to the Islamic Crescents Observation Project this year’s Ramadan will fall on Saturday (May 27). Though, the UAE Ramadan Moon Sighting Committee hasn’t confirmed the date.
The discount campaigns, held before and during Ramadan, are valued at $81.74 million (AED300m), an increase of $13.63m (AED50m) compared to similar campaigns held during last Ramadan.
To ensure this policy is implemented, the ministry also disclosed that it will conduct at least 450 field visits during Ramadan, which will cover cooperative societies, outlets, grocery stores, and meat, chicken and fish markets across the emirate. Last year, the ministry conducted 14,468 inspections, of which 11,605 were in related to consumer protection.
Hopefully fasting in the UAE this year’s Ramadan would be less hectic financially and physically compared to the previous year.
