Abu Dhabi // The government will step up its efforts to curb the trade in illicit goods such as fake handbags and pirated DVDs, a senior official said yesterday. Mohammed Omar Abdullah, the undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi department of planning and economy, told the official state news agency, WAM, that mechanisms to enforce laws on intellectual property rights will be strengthened across the country.
A framework should be developed to combat counterfeiting and penalties for violations should be raised to deter offenders who hurt the national economy, he said. In 2006, UAE businesses were estimated to have lost about $700 million (Dh2.5billion) in revenue due to counterfeit items in the consumer goods, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and the car part industries, according to a KPMG survey. The impact of counterfeiting lies mainly in reduced sales and profits due to loss of market share, while the impact on the economy is due to the loss of trade revenues and a loss of custom duties through smuggling.
The department of planning and economy has been training its staff to conduct regular inspections at trade centres, markets and factories to ensure that they are not involved in counterfeiting. During 2008, the department uncovered 4,650 cases of counterfeited items - most of which were copies of international brands. Officials sent 821 warnings to shop owners within the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Mr Abdullah stressed that prompt action would be taken against perpetrators and said the department's trade protection division was ready to receive any complaints concerning counterfeiting.
The undersecretary made the comments at the opening of an anti-counterfeiting exhibition at Abu Dhabi Mall, where more than 20 companies displayed their original products, including watches, electrical goods and clothes, alongside fake items in order to raise public awareness. The volume of trade in fake goods within the Arab world is estimated to amount to $50bn annually, while the global figure is around $780bn, according to the international consulting firm KPMG. KPMG estimates that the trade in spare vehicle parts is the hardest hit industry, with counterfeiting accounting for 12.5 per cent of the market.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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The burning issue
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The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Key facilities
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
RESULT
Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')
Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
