Dubai fines 159 firms for violating telemarketing rules

As many as 159 companies in Dubai have been fined AED 50,000 each for violating telemarketing regulations.

These rules, part of Cabinet Decisions No. 56 and 57 of 2024, aim to protect consumer privacy, reduce cold calls and ensure marketing is done only during acceptable hours through appropriate channels.

Since the resolutions came into effect in August 2024, the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT) issued warnings to 174 companies, and later imposed fines on 159 firms that failed to comply.

The DCCPFT, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has been enforcing the rules in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and the Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

The legislation applies to all licensed businesses in the UAE, including free zones, whose products and services are marketed through telephone calls.

It outlines key rules such as not contacting consumers whose numbers are registered in the 'Do Not Call Registry' managed by the TDRA, only making calls from 09:00 am to 06:00 pm, and notifying customers if a call is being recorded.