Dubai Cracks Down on Unsolicited Marketing Calls : 159 Companies Fined Dh50,000 Each

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT) has imposed fines of Dh50,000 each on 159 companies for breaching the UAE’s newly introduced telemarketing regulations. This move follows the rollout of Cabinet Decision No. 56 of 2024, which aims to protect consumer privacy and curb intrusive sales practices.

Since the regulations took effect in August 2024, DCCPFT issued initial warnings to 174 companies in Dubai, urging them to comply with the new telemarketing rules. However, 159 companies failed to adhere to the guidelines, resulting in the financial penalties.

The regulations, part of the broader consumer protection initiative, seek to regulate telemarketing practices, ensuring they do not disrupt consumers’ daily lives. Some of the core rules include:

• Not contacting consumers listed in the ‘Do Not Call Registry’ (DNCR) managed by the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
• Limiting marketing calls to the hours between 9 am and 6 pm.
• Informing consumers at the start of calls if they are being recorded.
• Prohibiting the disclosure of personal data without consent and preventing the trading of such data for marketing purposes.

DCCPFT, which operates under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), clarified that these regulations apply to all licensed companies in the UAE, including those in free zones.