What this guidebook covers
Under the Commercial Agencies Law (Federal Law 3/2022, in force since June 2023), agency activity is reserved for UAE nationals, agencies must be registered with the Ministry, and agents must provide spare parts and after-sales service. An unregistered agency isn't legally recognised.
This guidebook covers the 5 agency standards with 15 checkpoints: registration with MoET, national ownership, spare parts, the after-sales and warranty network, and handling agency changes lawfully.
The 5 agency standards
| Code | Standard | Ideal fix time |
|---|---|---|
| AG-01 | Agency registered with MoET | 30 days |
| AG-02 | UAE national ownership maintained | 30 days |
| AG-03 | Spare parts available | 7 days |
| AG-04 | After-sales and warranty network | 30 days |
| AG-05 | Agency changes handled lawfully | 30 days |
How to run a UAE commercial agency compliance audit, step by step
- Confirm what applies. List every brand and territory the group holds, and check each against the MoET agency register.
- Walk the site, standard by standard. Score each of the 15 checkpoints Pass, Fail or N/A. N/A only where the standard rules it out, with the reason recorded. Compare the register entry with the agency contract, and check parts availability for a sample of models.
- Capture the evidence. A pass counts only with proof captured at the time of the audit: the MoET registration, ownership records, parts availability reports and service network listings.
- Give every fail an owner and a fix time. Record what you saw and who owns the fix. Each standard carries an ideal fix time, from 7 days to 30 days, counted from audit submission (see the table above).
- Fix it, then prove it. The site fixes the cause and uploads proof of closure; the auditor checks the proof before closing the finding.
- Re-check at the next audit. Confirm closed findings stay closed, and look for the same fail at your other sites so one gap doesn't repeat across the network.
Who this guidebook is for
- Dealer principals and GMs
- After-sales and parts managers
- Auditors
A reference document, not legal advice. Fines and rules change: check the current text with the regulator or your legal adviser before acting.
