Dubai: Almost 3,000 groceries in Dubai are set for a makeover. They will soon sport a uniform identity and a look consistent both in the exterior and interior, as per the new standards announced by the Department of Economic Development (DED) on Saturday.

Although the new standards will be effective from the second half of 2016, groceries currently operating in Dubai will have time until the second half of 2018 to ensure full compliance with the new standards.

The DED is introducing the new standards as part of its efforts to improve the quality of services available to the public in Dubai, particularly in the retail sector, thereby reinforcing the emirate’s position as a preferred shopping destination, regionally and internationally.

The new criteria cover various basic and operational requirements, including unification of logo and business identity; colour scheme; signage; exterior finish; interior (fixtures and display units); storage area, as well as fittings and lighting.

The operational requirements should comply with the standards of the Health and General Safety Department of Dubai Municipality with regard to the design of the store, product display and classification, training, storage, health and personal hygiene, smoking, and prohibited pets.

The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) launched a similar initiative in 2012. More than 1,000 grocery stores in Abu Dhabi and the city’s outskirts were refurbished by January 2013 as per the new food safety and hygiene standards. Stores that failed to implement the new standards by the December 31, 2012 deadline were closed down.

“Through these new standards, DED is seeking to make a quantum leap in Dubai’s renowned shopping experience, and also enabling groceries to reflect the growth attained by the city in terms of infrastructure and service quality. The new concept stems from the emirate’s policy of enhancing competitiveness within various business sectors, and meeting the needs of the local community as well as visitors,” said Omar Bu Shahab, CEO of the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector in DED.

Bu Shahab said there are more than 2,800 groceries in Dubai as per estimates from 2015 and the number is increasing, adding that the diversity of nationalities and the advanced infrastructure in Dubai present a significant opportunity for grocery stores to improve their services.

DED continues to promote development across all vital business sectors to enhance investor confidence and competitiveness in each of these sectors.

The standards now being introduced for groceries mark the first phase of DED’s development strategy and the next phase will see such uniform standards being extended to other important sectors, based on opinion polls and studies conducted by DED periodically, added Bu Shahab.

Waleed Abdul Malek, Head of Business Licensing in DED, said: “The grocery owners can start aligning their stores with the new standards from today onwards, and the Department of Economic Development will facilitate closure of such shops if the owners wish to start the improvement process of their groceries. However, they have two years to complete the necessary changes and ensure full compliance with the new standards. We expect 20 per cent of the grocery stores to comply with the new standards by the end of 2016, and the remaining 80 per cent to complete the transition by 2018,” Abdul Malek explained.

Unification

Unification of logo and business identity; colour scheme; signage; exterior finish; interior (fixtures and display units); storage area, as well as fittings and lighting.

The operational requirements should comply with the standards of Dubai Municipality with regard to the design of the store, product display and classification, training, storage, health and personal hygiene, smoking, and prohibited pets.