{
  "id": 1901662,
  "title": "Dubai steps up back-to-school checks with nearly 800 retail inspections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/dubai-steps-up-back-to-school-checks-with-nearly-800-retail",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:41:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/retail/dubai-steps-up-back-to-school-checks-with-nearly-800-retail-inspections-1.500645493"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai is intensifying its back-to-school safety checks, with nearly 800 inspections set to be conducted on stores and online retailers selling school supplies across the emirate. The month-long campaign, part of Dubai Consumer Protection's seasonal monitoring program, aims to ensure retailers comply with regulations and provide clear information to consumers.\n\nAhmad Ahli, Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department, revealed that teams are still completing the inspections, which will span physical and online outlets. \"During the back to school campaign, we are planning almost 800 visits across different outlets,\" Ahli stated.\n\nThe inspections cover various aspects, including verifying advertised discounts, displaying prices clearly, and ensuring promotional terms are properly communicated. Exchange and refund policies will also be monitored, along with practices that may mislead consumers during promotional campaigns.\n\nAhli emphasized that the aim of the inspections is to foster compliance, with the goal of making retailers correct any issues identified during their visits. Minor observations are reported to outlets promptly to facilitate corrective action. Parents are advised to compare prices, consider final price and product quality, and retain receipts and warranty documents before making a purchase.\n\nCustomers are also urged to verify the conditions of multi-buy offers, vouchers, and reward points to ensure they understand their rights before completing a transaction. Dubai Consumer Protection received nearly 65,000 consumer complaints during the first half of 2026, with no specific figure provided for the current back-to-school campaign.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Dubai is planning almost 800 inspection visits during the back-to-school shopping season, covering physical stores and online retailers selling school-related products across the Emirate. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here The month-long campaign comes during one of the busiest shopping periods for families, when parents are buying school…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}