There are a variety of fines which may be awarded by the DED for non-compliance, such as a fine for not having the DED representative present at the draw (AED10,000) (approx. US$2,700), a fine for using or exploiting a Dubai Shopping Festival without permission (AED20,000) (approx. US$5,400) and a fine for submitting false information to the DED (AED20,000) (approx. US$5,400). Further, the campaign can be cancelled by the DED.
Gambling is forbidden under the Penal Code and the Civil Code. People who operate gambling establishments and participants can be fined and receive custodial sentences of up to ten years. As such it is important to consider the elements of each campaign to ensure it does not fall foul of this legislation.
Announcing fictitious prizes or discounts and promoting adulterated, corrupt or counterfeit products amount to commercial fraud under the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. Businesses that commit commercial fraud risk a penalty of up to two years of prison and up to AED1,000,000 (approx. US$272,000) in fines depending on the type of goods to which the violations relate.
Other penalties may apply such as closure of premises and withdrawal of licences and the penalties may be doubled in case of repeat violations.
Last modified 31 Jan 2019