The UAE government has strengthened its regulations concerning telemarketing through phone calls, introducing new controls and mechanisms. Those who breach these regulations will be subject to administrative penalties, which include warnings and fines reaching up to Dh150,000. Under the updated regulations, violators will face escalating administrative penalties, starting from warnings and culminating in fines of up to Dh150,000. The penalties for violating companies could escalate to partial or full suspension of operations, license revocation, removal from the commercial registry, termination of telecommunications services, and a ban on telecommunications services in the UAE for up to one year. In May, the Cabinet ratified a decision to regulate unsolicited calls. The recent actions by the Ministry of Economy and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TDRA) are designed to shield consumers from intrusive telemarketing tactics and to elevate the standard of marketing practices across the UAE. Companies must secure prior authorization from the relevant authority to engage in telemarketing. It is illegal for individuals to conduct marketing calls using phones registered under their names; such calls must originate from phones listed under the licensed company's name. Marketing calls are restricted to the hours between 9am and 6pm, and it is forbidden to call numbers listed on the Do Not Call Registry (DNCR). If a consumer declines a service or product during the initial call, it is prohibited to call them back, and if they do not answer or end the call, they cannot be called more than once a day. Consumers have the right to lodge a complaint with the appropriate authority regarding any violations of marketing call regulations.
Text: Lara Palmer
11.06.2024
New Controls and Penalties Implemented to Protect Consumers and Enhance Marketing Standards