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29 March 2024

Gold weighing scales in UAE under scrutiny

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By Staff

Beginning this month, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) will start checking weighing scales at jewellery shops in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah. Weighing scales in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will also be verified, reported 'Khaleej Times'.

This move follows a survey by the authority which revealed that 35 per cent of the 540 randomly picked samples of gold weighing scales exceeded the maximum permissible error, as per technical regulation. While differences recorded only a few 10th of gram per transaction, the minuscule inconsistency makes a significant impact in the gold trade, reported the paper.

Cabinet Decree No 31 in 2006 authorises ESMA to verify all legal measuring instruments in the UAE.

Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director-General, ESMA, said: "Gold is an expensive commodity and any small error may have a huge impact on the economy and on the people.”