The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) is bracing to implement a new system for length and distance measurement units in all official transactions in the UAE.
Mohammed Saleh Badri, Acting Director-General of Esma, announced the shift of length measurement units from feet and yard to metre.
“A national action committee, made up of representatives of all relevant entities, will be set up to develop a plan for streamlining the shift to the metre,'' he added at the end of a symposium organised by Esma on the replacement of feet and yard with metre in official and commercial activities, especially in the real estate sector.
A media campaign on the merit of the conversion will be conducted, he said.
The UAE introduced litre instead of gallon as unit of fuel from January 1.
All oil companies and corporations operating in the UAE now use litre as a unit of measurement for the fuel, instead of the gallon.
The move is in implementation of the UAE Cabinet Decision No31 of 2006 on the national system of measurement, which mandates the use of international system of units as a basis for the legal units of measurement in the country.
Badri also mentioned that the main aim of ESMA is to build quality infrastructure for the country through traceable and reliable measurements, which enhance our national economy and facilitate the UAE products to compete in global market.