Dubai Economy closes travel agency for offering PCR testing services

The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) Sector in Dubai Economy shut down a travel agency in the Business Bay area after the agency was found to have sold PCR testing services for COVID-19 and promoted the same secretly through WhatsApp, both in violation of the commercial activities permitted. Competent medical facilities licensed by the Ministry of Health & Prevention and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) only are allowed to offer PCR testing services in Dubai.

CCCP investigated the travel agency after receiving a consumer note, expressing unhappiness at the quality of COVID-19 home inspection service provided. Field teams from CCCP collected information about the service provider and tracked the channels used to promote the service. The travel agent through a WhatsApp business account asked customers to select an appropriate date, fill in their data, and attach copies of passports via an electronic link provided, before paying online for the test. The travel agency was subsequently shut down and DHA was provided with information related to the laboratories that co-operated with the violator.

Abdulaziz Al Tannak, Director of the Commercial Control Department in CCCP, said: “The inspection teams from the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection Sector monitor the markets and carefully investigate any observations we receive from consumers to ensure that commercial establishments adhere to the laws as applicable, and to preserve consumer rights and safety, particularly during times like these which require concerted efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Added Al Tannak: “We will not hesitate to take action against any commercial establishment trying to exploit the prevailing pandemic situation, and we ask all commercial establishments to abide by the relevant laws and regulations. Our inspection teams continue to conduct intensive field monitoring campaigns across the emirate.”

Dubai Economy also urged the public to report any negative practice or violation of the COVID-19 precautionary guidelines through the Dubai Consumer App available on Apple, Google and Huawei stores, by calling 600545555, or via the Consumerrights.ae website.