Cinema chains in UAE to scrap online booking fee for movie tickets

After holding talks with officials at the Consumer Compliance and Consumer Protection sector in the Department of Economic Development in Dubai, Reel Cinemas, Vox Cinemas and Cinemacity have all agreed to stop charging the fee.

Film fans in Dubai who book their cinema tickets online will no longer face an additional fee. Lee Hoagland / The National

DUBAI // The scrapping of an online booking fee for cinema tickets has been hailed as a victory for consumers and the authority that guards their rights.

Cinema chains have agreed to scrap the fees, worth between Dh2 and Dh3 for each booking, after complaints on Twitter were picked up by Dubai’s consumer compliance and protection division.

After talks with the authority, which is part of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (Ded), Reel Cinemas, Vox Cinemas and Cinemacity have all agreed to stop charging the fee.

“All three cinemas responded to our initiative positively and agreed to stop charging extra fees for online reservations,” said Abdul Aziz bin Hathboor, the director of consumer protection at the department.

“We are especially happy to see that our initiatives to reach out to consumers across all possible channels, including social media, is generating the desired response and helping to enhance consumer awareness.”

Film fans have welcomed the scrapping of the fees.

“It gives you a lot of confidence in the system if people make complaints and the Government can quickly sort out the issue,” said Pete Wilson, from Britain.

The announcement has also met with the approval of Twitter users.

"Thanks for making cinemas waive booking fee. Great job," wrote Anand Bajaj.
"Good on you @Dubai_consumers [the department's hashtag]," tweeted Badi Fattah.

“We work with businesses on protecting consumer rights as laid down in the Federal Law No?24 (2006) on Consumer Protection,” said Mr bin Hathboor. “The Blue Book issued by Ded also has clear guidelines on payments, exchanges and refunds to help consumers and retailers know their rights and find an amicable solution whenever there is a dispute.”

To make a consumer complaint please visit the DED website at www.consumerrights.ae or call Ahlan Dubai on 600 545555.