The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) announced on Wednesday that UAE's textile trade will implement the International System of Units (SI). All fabric and textile suppliers and merchant as of today will start using metre as a unit instead of the yard under the national system of measurement and calibration.

The shift to metre, followed the UAE’s introduction of litre instead of gallon as a unit of measurement for fuel in 2010. The new move is part of the efforts to build in the UAE infrastructure based on international best practices in order to fulfil the requirements of World Trade Organisation.

Abdullah Al Muani, Acting Director-General of Esma, said that the conversion of unit sales used in textile trade is an important step towards unifying the units of measurement used in the UAE, making these consistent with the SI.

The new system was approved by Cabinet’s Decree No. 31 of 2006, which states in Article VIII that the SI units will be the exclusive basis of the legal units of measurement in the country.

The new system is part of Esma’s efforts to protect consumers’ rights and ensure better practices as per approved standard specifications in order to stimulate economic growth.

Esma, along with other market monitors, will follow up to ensure that textiles suppliers and traders comply with the system.