However, after a crackdown by Ministry of Economy inspectors this year, their job has become even harder.

One market trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that it was less common to hawk fake watches on the street. “Now I wait until the customer asks me,” he said.

The man, who runs a stand selling seemingly legitimate watches and sunglasses, also has a stack of boxes by 
his feet – each containing dozens of fake Rolex watches carefully wrapped in polythene.

“I have to keep them separate from the main goods,” said the trader.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Economy on Tuesday, in the first nine months of the year some 1059 infringements of copyright were detected. Some 46 cases were referred to the police.

Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul 
Aziz Al Shehhi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy told the Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a press conference, that there were now more undercover inspectors working to catch copyright violators.

“No one dares to sell these fake products on the street openly, like they do in Europe. Instead, they sell it under the counter like thieves,” he said. 

“No one dares to say openly that this or that watch is fake. As soon as 
we find fake goods we close the shop down immediately.”

Traders in Dragon Mart previously told the Khaleej Times how they were aware of Ministry of Economy inspectors wearing pin-hole cameras to 
catch retailers selling fake goods. However Al Shehhi declined to comment 
on the issue.

“I will not give away to the public what methods they use,” he said. “However, our inspectors are extremely effective at working undercover.”

Al Shehhi said that the UAE had a piracy rate of 35 per cent - meaning that one in three of products in the country are counterfeit. However, he said that the figure was in line with that found in Western countries.

“We have the lowest levels of piracy in the Arab world,” he said. “In neighbouring countries the piracy rate is 55 per cent. Our levels are the same as that in European countries,” he said.

“We are the only country in the region to send someone to jail for copyright infringement,” he said.

Abdulla Hasayen, Co-Chairman of the Dubai-based Brand Owners Protection Forum, said that intellectual property representatives from some 33 firms were offering training to Ministry of Economy and Dubai Customs inspectors on how to spot fake goods.

“There is a willingness to tackle the issue head-on,” he said.

The Ministry of Economy has launched a two-week awareness campaign highlighting the work it does in halting the sale of counterfeit goods.

On Tuesday, the Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri told a Press conference that officials would take “firm action” against those selling fake goods.

martin@khaleejtimes.com