The Minister of Economy in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, has honoured 16 conformity certificates for major vehicle repair and maintenance service companies.
Al Mansoori is also chairman of the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), which has honoured the certificates in accordance with the system for such requirements at the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection.
In the presence of various partners and officials, ESMA certificates were given out to Emirates Transport, Dubai Government Workshop, the Arab Motors Corporation (Infiniti, Renault and Nissan), and the Suzuki Service Centre (which has two workshops).
Al-Futtaim Motors, which has eight workshops in a number of locations across the UAE, and the Tire Plus workshop also gained certificates.
The system for the requirements that need to be met by vehicle service centres and repair facilities in the UAE is to be fully implemented in November next year.
Vehicle agencies that operate major maintenance and repair workshops have the option of being able to get certificates of choice voluntarily before then.
The director general of ESMA, H.E. Abdulla Al Maeeni, believes that the project is a qualitative shift in terms of the services that it provides to UAE consumers, as well as preserving their rights.
The project is also supportive of the UAE government’s orientations to achieve fair access to services for everyone.
The Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection and ESMA have extensively studied the project in order to ensure the establishment of a fair, practical and structured framework to make certain of the quality of UAE vehicle repair workshops.
The introduction of the new system will ensure that consumers have fair access to the service as well as raising the service provision quality in a way that achieves the provision of integrated information being provided to consumers.
This is a big help to consumers as it allows them to make the appropriate decisions in regard to the repair of vehicles according to clear and transparent controls.
Both the authority and the ministry in the UAE want to raise service levels, and an introductory brochure has already been introduced to help inform consumers about the changes.
All sales outlets and agencies have been asked to have the brochure provided in all showrooms in the UAE, according to Al Maeeni.
ESMA is the federal authority that has been given approval to exercise administrative responsibilities via the unification of management and the coordination of quality control, regulations and standards by the UAE government.
A board of directors drew up the policy of the authority, which is headed by a government minister and includes representatives from relevant local and federal government entities.
ESMA was established as an independent body nearly 20 years ago back in 2001.
Anyone who drives any motor vehicle within the UAE is under a legal obligation to ensure that they are covered by at least a basic form of third-party car insurance.