Dubai parents urged to check discounts in final back-to-school shopping rush

Dubai parents are being advised to carefully consider discounts during the final back-to-school shopping rush, with authorities ramping up scrutiny of prices and promotions. Retailers offering deals must clearly display original prices, reduced prices, and the percentage discount, allowing shoppers to assess the true value of an offer.

Dubai's Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, is monitoring compliance with rules governing discounts and pricing. The inspections focus on ensuring that discounts are transparent, displaying both the discounted and original prices. Discounts have averaged around 25 to 30 percent across various products, with some items experiencing reductions as high as 75 percent.

Parents are encouraged to compare prices across different retailers, create a shopping list, and set a budget to distinguish essential supplies from promotional purchases. Receipts and warranty documents should be retained, particularly for electronic items, and shoppers should only purchase from established retailers, understanding return and exchange policies before making a purchase.