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                                                                   EXHIBIT 31(A)

                                  CERTIFICATION

            PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Arvin Scott, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Universal Automotive
     Industries, Inc.;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
     order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
     which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
     covered by this quarterly report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
     information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all
     material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
     flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
     quarterly report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

     a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
          material information relating to the registrant, including its
          consolidated subsidiaries, (collectively the "Company") is made known
          to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period
          in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

     b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
          and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
          this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

     c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the
          effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our
          evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
     committee of the registrant's board of directors:

     a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
          controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
          record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
          identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
          internal controls; and

     b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
          employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
          controls; and

6.   The registrant's Certifying Officers have indicated in this quarterly
     report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
     or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls
     subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any
     corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
     weaknesses.

Date:  January 28, 2004

/s/ Arvin Scott
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Arvin Scott
Chief Executive Officer

See also the certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of
2002, which is also attached to this report.