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Dubai beauty clinics need MoH approval

DUBAI — All beauty clinics in Dubai will now have to acquire permission from the Ministry of Health prior to advertising procedures or products that could affect human health, said a senior health official yesterday.

Dr Abdelkarim Al Zarouni, Director-General of Health Advertisement Department at MoH, while commenting on the recently issued law regulating health advertisement in the country, told Khaleej Times yesterday, "This regulation is particularly for beauty clinics that offer treatments such as Botox, liposuction, weight reduction treatments, skin and laser treatments etc."

He added that though salons are licensed by the Dubai Municipality, the treatments that they offer have to be approved by the MoH.

"They will have to apply for a licence to advertise their establishment, equipment and technical help before they go ahead and claim that they offer certain kind of treatments," said Dr Zarouni.

He, however, clarified that the beauty clinics/salons could advertise for procedures such as hair dyeing, manicure/pedicure, etc.

He also said that the MoH would then carry out checks to verify the claims of the salon. "If the MoH criteria is met, only then will the salon be allowed to print and advertise themselves," he added.

"Penalties including warnings, monetary fines and a closure of the establishment could ensue if the rules are not followed," explained Dr Zarouni.

He explained that the law had been enforced to protect customers. "It is also beneficial for the advertisers as well because they are being forced to promote themselves in an ethical way," he added.

In March, the MoH announced a law regulating health advertisement system in the country. The law number 7 for 2007 aims at controlling the health advertisement system in the country.