SIM distributors given 3 months

Dubai has directed Etisalat and Du to instruct their distributors of mobile phone SIM cards to obtain permits for selling the cards in the emirate.

“Distributors as well as their subsidiaries and anyone selling SIM cards must comply with the instructions of DED and get the necessary permits. It is a simple process and the permits are issued within a day,” said Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, CEO, Business Registration and Licensing Division, DED.

Omar Bushahab, CEO of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at DED, stated that shops/stores will be given a grace period of three months starting the beginning of February 2012 to comply with the permit system.

He added that it will give store owners sufficient time to modify their license by adding the sale of SIM cards to permitted activities.

“After the grace period, DED’s inspectors will advise unlicensed store owners to visit DED and complete procedures for obtaining the permit. Violators will be fined under item No. (12) for non-compliance with a DED request, and under item No. (7) for practising an authorised activity without the approval of DED or the concerned government body. The fine amount could reach Dh2,000 or could go higher for repeat offence."

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