Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Feb 20: A travel agency in the Business Bay area was shut down by Dubai Economy allegedly selling Covid-19 PCR tests and promoting service secretly through WhatsApp.

Dubai has granted the rights to offer PCR testing services only to competent medical facilities licensed by the ministry of health and prevention (Mohap) and Dubai health authority (DHA).

After receiving a complaint from a consumer expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of the Covid-19 home inspection service provided, authorities investigated the travel agency.

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It was found that the travel agency used WhatsApp business account to carry out Covid-19 PCR tests services asking customers to select appropriate date, provide data, attach copies of passports via an electronic link provided before paying for the tests online. The agency was immediately shut down and DHA was provided with information related to the laboratories that co-operated with the violator.

Abdulaziz Al Tannak, director of the Commercial Control Department at Dubai Economy said, “The inspection teams from the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection Sector monitor the markets and carefully investigate any observations we receive from consumers to ensure that commercial establishments adhere to the laws as applicable."


"We will not hesitate to take action against any commercial establishment trying to exploit the prevailing pandemic situation, and we ask all commercial establishments to abide by the relevant laws and regulations," Al Tannak said. "Our inspection teams continue to conduct intensive field monitoring campaigns across the emirate," he added.