Dubai: From November 11, all UAE businesses must switch to the metric system, replacing the foot-pound or imperial system, as part of a global move to rationalise measurements, according to the latest government directive.
The regulation, which takes effect on November 11, mandates companies to stop using the imperial, US Customary Units and any system of units other than the SI, in their official and commercial activities.
Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director General of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), said: "Esma has been coordinating and conducting meetings with the authorities concerned, especially with the land and property departments and UAE municipalities on the replacement of the foot as a unit of measurement.
"We have distributed questionnaires to the bodies to study the units used in their transactions and the results showed that there is a serious need to standardise the unit of measurements in the UAE."
The regulation to replace feet and yards with the metre, effective 11/11/11, follows the UAE's introduction of the litre in place of the gallon as the unit of fuel measurement last January 1.
All oil companies operating in the UAE have since been using the litre as the standard unit of measurement for fuel, instead of the gallon.
Walid Saraj, a cloth retailer, said: "The switch to the metric system is definitely [makes it] much easier to conduct business and is more user friendly for all retailers.
"About 90 per cent of the world uses the metric system. Standardising measurement units is a good step for business activities across the UAE. Fraction units will be smaller, easier to calculate and will result in fairer transactions."
However, he remarked that this decision required more education among customers.
The decision aims to support the national economy by unifying the measurement units throughout the country in line with international practices.
