The UAE is leading a regional logistics transformation to enhance the flexibility of supply chains

The Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, chaired a high-level coordination meeting hosted by the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation at its headquarters in Dubai, with the participation of senior officials of international shipping companies and representatives of maritime shipping associations, as part of strengthening joint efforts to confront the current challenges affecting regional supply chains.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Abdullah bin Damithan, and the Director General of Dubai Customs, Dr. Abdullah Bu Sinad, in addition to a number of executive leaders in the logistics and maritime sectors.

During the meeting, Al-Zeyoudi stressed that the UAE continues to implement its commitment to ensuring the continuity of trade flow and enhancing the flexibility of regional supply chains, through joint work with partners and intensifying efforts to develop innovative and sustainable solutions capable of keeping pace with current challenges.

He said that the high-level coordination currently taking place between the various partners concerned with supply chains reflects a consistent Emirati approach based on building companies and enhancing regional cooperation to confront the challenges facing the region by raising the efficiency of regional supply chains and increasing their flexibility and speed of response, which contributes to ensuring the continuous flow of goods and products, especially basic and strategic goods, to ensure the continued availability of the needs of consumers and manufacturers, and to limit any negative effects of the current challenges on the movement of markets. We also continue to work to enhance the efficiency of alternative corridors, expand the scope of regional integration, and adopt advanced customs and operational solutions to support the country’s competitiveness and its position as a reliable global trade and logistics center.

Al-Zeyoudi added: “The UAE will continue its pivotal role in supporting the stability of regional and international trade, through qualitative initiatives and flexible policies that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of supply chains, and consolidate the country’s position as a global platform for trade, business and investment.”

Coordination and cooperation
For his part, Abdullah bin Damithan, in his speech during the meeting, stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation between all partners, pointing to the efforts made since the previous meeting to deal with the repercussions of regional challenges, ensuring the continuity of trade flow to the UAE.

He said that the concerned authorities worked closely to implement a set of strategic initiatives to enhance the flexibility of supply chains, which included improving the efficiency of alternative corridors, such as the port of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, in addition to enhancing regional maritime connectivity to ensure the flow of freight movement and its continuity with high efficiency.

Abdullah bin Damithan added that these efforts were achieved thanks to the close cooperation and commitment of partners from the government and private sectors, stressing that the current stage still requires more joint work in light of the continuing challenges associated with high costs and the complexities of operational processes.

He pointed out that the meeting represents an important platform to review the initiatives that were implemented during the past period, and to discuss opportunities to enhance cooperation during the next stage, in a way that contributes to developing practical and sustainable solutions that support the efficiency and continuity of supply chains.

Abdullah bin Damithan stressed that the priority remains ensuring the continuous flow of basic goods, and strengthening the UAE’s position as a reliable commercial and logistics center at the regional and global levels.

Innovative solutions
For his part, the Director General of Dubai Customs reviewed the most prominent customs initiatives that were implemented to support the flow of trade movement and enhance the efficiency of operations, stressing Dubai Customs’ commitment to developing innovative and proactive solutions in cooperation with partners.

Abdullah Bu Senad said: “During the past period, we succeeded in implementing a number of qualitative initiatives that contributed to facilitating the movement of goods and enhancing the efficiency of supply chains, as Customs Notice No. (6) was issued, which allows the transportation of transit goods through the Green Corridor with the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to adopting letters of pledge as an acceptable guarantee, and organizing a series of workshops with merchants to explain the mechanisms of the Green Corridor and answer their inquiries.”

He added: “We are currently working on implementing a group of pilot projects, including activating the advance shipment declaration (ACI) system through shipping companies for all Green Corridor goods, in addition to operating a new sea feeder route linking the region to India, which will enhance the efficiency of trade connectivity.”

Abdullah Bu Sinad pointed out that there are a number of initiatives under implementation, most notably extending the grace period for re-export goods, developing a framework that allows more land transport companies to join to work within the guaranteed corridors, in addition to working to expand the scope of the Green Corridor to include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and providing multiple options for clearance ports within this corridor.

He stressed that these efforts come within the framework of an integrated vision aimed at enhancing the flexibility and sustainability of supply chains, and consolidating the UAE’s position as a global commercial and logistics center that enjoys high efficiency and readiness.

The meeting witnessed a review of the most prominent work developments since the previous meeting, which included improving vital cargo handling operations, activating alternative transport corridors, enhancing the use of multiple means of transport, including land transport and railways, in addition to developing operational solutions to address challenges related to capacity and costs.