SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 26 MARCH 2020. Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Str area of Sharjah near the Ajman border. . (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.
SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 26 MARCH 2020. Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Str area of Sharjah near the Ajman border. . (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.
SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 26 MARCH 2020. Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Str area of Sharjah near the Ajman border. . (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.
SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 26 MARCH 2020. Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Str area of Sharjah near the Ajman border. . (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The

Government

Coronavirus: Air fresheners falsely labelled as sanitisers seized in Sharjah

Authorities said those seeking to profit from the coronavirus pandemic will face heavy fines and possible prosecution

The National

April 11, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Rogue traders who tried to dupe customers into buying air fresheners labelled as sanitiser products are to face hefty fines after being caught out by authorities in Sharjah.

Sharjah Economic Development Department seized the counterfeit goods during a series of inspections held across the emirate.

Officials said they were determined to clamp down on offenders exploiting the safety concerns of the public amid the coronavirus outbreak.

  • A member of medical staff carries a swab test at a drive-thru testing facility at Bahrain Exhibition Center, in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters
    A member of medical staff carries a swab test at a drive-thru testing facility at Bahrain Exhibition Center, in Manama, Bahrain. Reuters
  • Truck driver Salim Omrah, 52, walks through a disinfection gate at Ibrahim Al-Khalil complex at Zakho outskirt, Dohuk governoate, Iraq. Reuters
    Truck driver Salim Omrah, 52, walks through a disinfection gate at Ibrahim Al-Khalil complex at Zakho outskirt, Dohuk governoate, Iraq. Reuters
  • A worker disinfects the hands of a woman before she enters a supermarket in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
    A worker disinfects the hands of a woman before she enters a supermarket in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
  • A factory worker packages disposable protective masks along a production line in Morocco's Casablanca. AFP
    A factory worker packages disposable protective masks along a production line in Morocco's Casablanca. AFP
  • A Lebanese Maronite Christian priest leads a prosession in a street on Good Friday, in the dominantly Christian suburb of Dekwaneh, east of the capital Beirut. AFP
    A Lebanese Maronite Christian priest leads a prosession in a street on Good Friday, in the dominantly Christian suburb of Dekwaneh, east of the capital Beirut. AFP
  • Newly-wed Palestinians embrace as they stand inside a beauty salon in the Deheisheh camp for Palestinian refugees near the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    Newly-wed Palestinians embrace as they stand inside a beauty salon in the Deheisheh camp for Palestinian refugees near the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • A Palestinian man reads the Koran alone at the al-Qazazin mosque in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron. AFP
    A Palestinian man reads the Koran alone at the al-Qazazin mosque in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron. AFP
  • The Cairo Tower lights up with text encouraging Egyptians to stay home and safe, in Cairo, Egypt. EPA
    The Cairo Tower lights up with text encouraging Egyptians to stay home and safe, in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Outlets across the Emirates have recorded a surge in sales of hygiene products – such as hand sanitisers – in recent weeks as residents seek to protect themselves against possible infection.

The fake goods were confiscated and withdrawn from sale.

The SEDD said those caught breaching regulations would face heavy fines and could be referred to public prosecution for further punishment.

Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, chairman of SEDD, said the authority would continue to work to protect the public from unscrupulous businesses and individuals seeking to achieve “material gain” during a time of great difficulty for so many.

Members of the public who spot breaches of consumer regulations were urged to contact SEDD on 800 80000 or visit  www.shjconsumer.ae to lodge a complaint.

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While you're here
Virus and the economy
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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