Q: Is there a law regarding a "cooling period" on an item purchased? We had a problem with a company distributing vacuum cleaners in Sharjah, we have returned the item to them as we felt like being pressured to buy without giving us time to think before buying, and their contract states that I have to pay 4,000 Dirhams as a cancellation if I return the item within 3 days. Is it legal? Where is the 3 day cooling period?

Q: Hi, I just wanted clarification on something. I recently wrote to a clinic where I had a bad experience - in a private email - to complain about the service. The clinic has now threatened me with breach of Federal Law. I haven't published anything on social media but did say in my email that I wouldn't recommend the clinic on platforms where families chat about which clinic they should choose for IVF. How much in trouble am I with the Clinic? What can they do? I was just expressing my personal experience! Thank you.

Q: I had signed up with an immigration consultant for immigration to Canada. According to the contract I would be refunded the full amount if my application did not get through in a year. I had asked for a refund and they have only approved 2560/- out of around Dhs 9500/-. I need help to resolve this issue. Thanks.

Q: I have entered into a written contract with a UAE based race team for the provision of technical and other services to support my 14-year-old son racing in a national karting championship. The championship is run over 6 rounds between September 2017 and March 2018. I was disappointed with the service delivery at the first round as the conditions of the contract were not met. I have decided to join a different team for the remainder of the championship and have advised in writing my decision to do so. In the meantime, the team that I was contracted to has refused to refund any of my money, citing the non-refundable clause in the contract. The contract value is AED27,000. What recourse do I have based on non-performance?

Q: Hi, I have a contract with a moving company to ship my possessions from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne. The moving service is paid in full. There are storage charges of approx AED1200 pending and this is no issue for me to pay. I raised a query about reassembly of furniture at the destination, the contract contradicted verbal advice so before signing the contract I crossed out the parts saying that I do not receive reassembly of my furniture at the destination and highlighted this to the moving company - they did not dispute this. The company have now refused reassembly service so I suggested we remediate the issue by reducing the amount owed for storage fees, as I will need to hire a contractor at the destination to assemble the furniture. Now the moving company is holding my shipment until I pay the storage fees, AND are refusing to approve reassembly service. What are my options? Thank you

Q: Hi, I have a dispute with one immigration consultancy firm in Dubai. I have signed an agreement with them for seeking their services two years ago. However, later I came to know that they have not provided complete information for qualification on the first instance due to which my case does not qualify at all for Canadian immigration. Now, I am asking for cancellation of the agreement, which they refuse claiming it was my mistake. Kindly advise regarding the right forum and the way to proceed legally with my case. Regards, Mudassar Farooq

Q: A holiday tour operator is not refunding me the amount paid because the tour got cancelled due to delayed visa receipt.

س: الأعزاء جميعًا، طاب يومكم أنا مسلم أقيم في دولة الإمارات. لقد اشتريت علبة شرائح مكرونة من متجر هنا. مكتوب على العلبة (مكرونة باللحم البقري) باللغة الإنجليزية، لكن كتبت المكونات باللغة الصينية. بعد أن تناولت قطع قليلة منها، اطلعت صديقتي على المكونات (تستطيع صديقتي أن تقرأ الصينية) وقالت أنه مكتوب أن هناك لحم خنزير في المكونات. هذا ضد ما أدين به بصفتي مسلمًا، وأود أن أطلب تعويضًا. هل تصلح هذه كقضية؟ شكرًا لك. إ.

س: مرحبًا، أدعى س. لقد دفعت 16000 درهمًا لشركة رحلات تدعى "-----" في دبي للحصول على باقة رحلة مدتها 18 ليلة في فنادق 4 نجوم إلى جانب تذكرتين +1 ذهاب وعودة إلى أوربا. لقد تقدمت بطلب لقضاء إجازتي بدءًا من 1 يونيو إلى 12 يونيو 2019، لكنهم عرضوا علي فنادق نجمتين وطلبوا مني تأكيد خيار الحجز. لقد رفضت تأكيد ذلك لأن العقد كان ينص على توفير فنادق 4 نجوم مع تذاكر الطيران. أجابوني بقولهم أنهم قدموا بالفعل خيار الفندق المتاح لنا، وسوف يقومون بالبحث مع مورديهم عن الخيارات الأخرى، وسوف يقدمونها إذا توفرت لديهم. أجبتهم بأنهم ملزمون بالحجز لنا في فنادق 4 نجوم، لذا فإن ردهم غير مقبول. لسوء الحظ، حتى الآن لم يعطوني أي رد أو حجوزات أو تذاكر طيران ... إلخ. شعرت بأنهم يحاولون تأخير خيارات الفنادق والتذاكر من أجل قبول اقتراحهم أو إلغاء رحلتي. يرجى تقديم المشورة بشأن هذه المسألة.

س: مرحبًا، لقد حاولت فتح شركة من خلال إحدى الوكالات ولكنهم تواصلوا معي وأخبروني أنه تم بيع المكان إلى شخصٍ آخر. أخذ المالك السابق أموالي ويتعين عليّ دفعها مرة أخرى إذا أردت فتح الشركة في الوقت الحالي. لقد أخذوا مني خمسة آلاف دولار أمريكي. ماذا يجب عليّ أن أفعل؟

س: أود أن أطلب المشورة. لقد اشتريت تذكرة من وكالة ولكن بسبب عملية جراحية طارئة (جراحة مجازة) لزوجي، لا أستطيع العودة إلى بلدي. قبل يومين من الرحلة، اتصلت بالوكيل وأبلغته بوضعي وأبلغني أنه يمكن إعادة حجز التذكرة. قلت على الفور لإعادة حجز الرحلة وتم تقديم شهادة طبية. كانت الرحلة في 22 يونيو 2023 وحتى هذا التاريخ، لم يتم حل المشكلة بين الوكالة وشركة الطيران. والآن يطلبون نسخة من عقد الزواج والتي قدمتها. أقدر إذا كان بإمكانك تقديم المشورة لي بشأن أفضل طريقة للمضي قدمًا.

The Law sets up the legal framework for the protection of consumer rights in the UAE. The Law establishes the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection and the Consumer Protection Department, and sets up the fines for breach of its provisions.

The provisions of this Federal Law, known as the "New Consumer Protection Law", govern Consumer Protection regulations in the United Arab Emirates. The New Consumer Protection Law repeals the previous UAE Consumer Protection Law (Federal Law No. (24) of 2006 on Consumer Protection).

The provisions of this Cabinet Resolution No (12) of 2007 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No (24) of 2006 on Consumer Protection.