Business establishments ranging from restaurants to massage parlours were shut down in Abu Dhabi during the first six months of the year.

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has closed 43 companies for violating different conditions of licences.

The closure decisions are final and cannot be appealed or challenged for any reason as these establishments failed to meet the requirements of this commercial activity.

The restaurants were closed for failing to abide by the tobacco law; massage parlours for employing both male and female masseuses, and spare parts stores were shut over expired licences.

Of the shops, 37 were engaged in veterinary medicine, massage parlours, auto tyres, refreshments, foodstuff trading, spare parts and supermarkets or “Baqala”.

Six firms closed in Al Ain involved in running coffee shops, massage centres and veterinary medicine.

The firms violated the regulations of carrying out commercial activity as per the Law No. 2 of 2009 on establishing ADDED and the Resolution No. 25 on regulating commercial activities and issuing commercial licenses.

“There were tyre stores among those closed down for not complying with the decision to move outside the Island of Abu Dhabi, while veterinary clinics had failed to comply with the provisions and for other violations monitored by authorities,” said Mohamed Munif Al Mansouri, Acting Executive Director of ADDED’s Abu Dhabi Business Centre.

The decisions came after a number of surprise raids were conducted on the commercial firms in response to complaints received from consumers, he said.

The extreme measure was in line with Resolution No. 69 of 2010 on the amendment of the commercial establishments’ violations schedule in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which is attached to Law No. 2 on the establishment of ADDED.

“The Law No. 2 has given it several powers regarding commercial protection, which helped boost the department’s role in enforcing the rules that would curb illegal activities of commercial establishments in the emirate,” said Al Mansouri.

On his part, Ahmed Tarish Al Qubaisi, Acting Executive Director of the ADDED’s commercial protection directorate, said that ADDED is extremely keen on dealing with all reports and complaints it receives by developing inspection procedures and processes to ensure streamlined and fast performance.