Tuesday 21 / July / 2026
Salalah: The Directorate General of Consumer Protection in Dhofar Governorate is stepping up efforts to implement a monitoring and public awareness plan during Dhofar Khareef (monsoon) Season 2026.
The programmes of the plan seek to ensure the establishment of a safe consumer environment for residents and visitors to the governorate, while at the same time augmenting the level of suppliers’ compliance with regulations and legislation governing the markets.
The programmes also include a public awareness campaign, exhibitions, scouting camps and activities that engage children and families. They also include an exhibition of prohibited and contraband goods and a children’s public awareness stage and library.
The Directorate General of Consumer Protection in Dhofar Governorate is cooperating with the Association of People with Disabilities in Dhofar Governorate in delivering awareness messages in sign language.
It also operates an interactive awareness monitor at Salalah Airport, in addition to implementing a digital media plan across various electronic platforms.
To facilitate visitors’ access to the Consumer Authority’s services, the Directorate allocated a special field office in the Itin Plain to receive reports, complaints and queries in order to ensure rapid response and provide aid.
A total of 52 inspectors, divided into 19 field teams, have been deployed to conduct morning and evening inspections, including on public holidays.
Ten teams have been assigned to Salalah and surrounding areas, while each wilayat in the governorate has its own dedicated inspection team.
The inspections target businesses that experience high demand during the Khareef season, including food outlets, traditional markets, fruit and coconut stalls, madhabi restaurants, perfume and clothing stores, sweet shops, fuel stations and vehicle rental offices.
Inspectors are monitoring price displays, invoice issuance, product quality and safety, commercial information accuracy, and any misleading practices or unjustified price increases.
During the first half of 2026, the directorate received 549 consumer complaints, with 95.97 percent of initial actions completed within five working days and 91.3 percent of cases fully resolved within 20 working days.
The authority also handled 25 reports, completing 92.59 percent of initial procedures within two working days and achieving a 100 percent final closure rate within five working days. Over the same period, inspectors carried out 17,778 inspection visits across all wilayats of Dhofar.
Alongside enforcement, the directorate has launched the “Your Awareness is Your Safety” campaign, featuring a main awareness exhibition, mobile information booths in shopping malls, activities at summer centres and scout camps, and programmes for children and families.
The campaign incorporates interactive tools such as virtual reality experiences, digital tablets, a children’s theatre and library, an environmental sustainability corner, and displays highlighting prohibited and counterfeit goods.
To improve accessibility during the Khareef season, the directorate has opened a temporary field office at Itin Plain to receive consumer complaints, reports and inquiries, in addition to its official communication channels, ensuring faster response times throughout the tourism season.
