Sustainability and UAE consumer protection law: renewed questions and expected challenges

Purpose This paper aims to examine the current legislation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to assess whether it adequately protects consumers and promotes more sustainable consumption and production patterns. This paper also briefly explores what the law should be to guarantee the consumer rights in accurate information, repair and a healthy environment. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a doctrinal legal research methodology to answer the underlying research question. By analysing legal sources, including relevant legislation, global trends and academic literature, it critically evaluates the effectiveness of the legal framework governing the environmental impact of products in the UAE. Findings A key finding of this paper is that the existing UAE legislation, which was originally designed with a focus on traditional consumer protection rather than sustainability, has made notable progress in recent years towards promoting environmentally friendly practices. However, significant gaps still exist in aligning the law with the principles of a sustainable circular economy. While the UAE law provides consumers with basic protection, it fails to prioritize repair as the primary remedy in cases of product issues, offering repair alongside replacement or refund as equally viable options. Furthermore, the UAE law does not require companies to clarify their sustainability policies or provide information about a product’s environmental impact as part of the “material information” that consumers need to make informed, environmentally conscious purchases. Originality/value This paper presents a novel analysis of consumer protection in the UAE from a sustainability perspective, addressing gaps in existing provisions that hinder effective repair and waste reduction. It also provides an updated perspective on how to protect consumers’ rights while promoting sustainable production and consumption. In doing so, this paper has the potential to influence future research and policy development in the field of consumer protection.