The Department of Economic Development, DED, has received five complaints on violating VAT claims made by a number of entities - immediately following up with the affected consumers either directly or via its complaint system linked to its call centre in Abu Dhabi (800555).

Ahmed Taresh Al Qubaisi, Acting Director of DED’s Commercial Protection Directorate, said that the department received the complaints, on the first working day of this year, over the dishonest application of the VAT including suspected exploitation by traders and unjustified price increases.

The department responded by transferring the complaints - with the accompanying evidence - to field inspection teams for investigation.

Al Qubaisi has called on consumers to communicate with the department through its call centre in the event of any suspected violations.