Dubai Customs enhances the flow of trade and consolidates the readiness of the economic system to keep pace with global changes

DUBAI, May 24 / WAM / The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation confirmed that the initiatives and proactive measures implemented by Dubai Customs during the recent period contributed to enhancing the flow of trade movement and ensuring the sustainability of supply chains, in a way that supports Dubai’s competitiveness as a global center for trade and logistics services, and keeps pace with its economic trends aimed at consolidating the concept of “economic security” and raising the readiness of vital sectors to deal efficiently with rapid regional and geopolitical changes.

These efforts come in line with the economic directives adopted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, regarding adopting economic facilities with the aim of enhancing economic flexibility and business sustainability.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Damithan, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, stressed that Dubai continues to develop a flexible economic model based on speed of response, integration between government agencies and the private sector, and proactive readiness to keep pace with regional and international changes. He said: In Dubai, speed of response has become part of the government work model, as we are constantly working to develop practical solutions and flexible initiatives that ensure the continuity of trade movement and enhance the sustainability of supply chains, thus strengthening the confidence of the global business community in the efficiency of the emirate’s economic system.

He added that the corporation continues to adopt supportive policies and procedures that raise the efficiency of the business environment and enhance the readiness of the commercial system, in line with Dubai’s future aspirations and enhance its position on the global trade map.

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Busnad, Director General of Dubai Customs, confirmed that what Dubai Customs has implemented during the recent period reflects Dubai’s approach based on proactiveness and flexibility and transforming challenges into opportunities that support economic growth and business sustainability. He said: Dubai does not wait for challenges. Dubai moves before they impact them, and every hour in trade movement means stability for markets and business continuity. Therefore, we worked from the first moments to implement practical measures in cooperation with our partners and the business community to ensure the smooth movement of goods and the sustainability of supply chains.

He added: What we did was not just an alternative path, but rather an integrated system to ensure the continuity of trade, as Dubai Customs worked in coordination with various concerned parties to develop flexible operational and customs solutions that enhanced the emirate’s readiness and speed of response to changes.

He explained that Dubai Customs organized 12 interactive workshops and more than 98 coordination meetings and business councils under the slogan “Responding to Crises and Innovating Solutions,” with broad participation from representatives of the private sector, shipping and logistics companies, as well as experts and specialists in supply chains and international trade, with the aim of developing practical solutions that support the readiness of the trade and logistics sectors and enhance business sustainability.

He said that during these meetings, Dubai Customs received 141 major clients, private sector companies, and commercial annexes affiliated with a number of consulates and international trade missions, including Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, China, Italy, and Egypt, as part of enhancing direct communication with the business community and listening to operational challenges and development proposals proactively.

He pointed out that these meetings contributed to discussing more than 83 challenges and development proposals, mainly focused on the operational and logistical aspects related to clearance procedures and shipping costs. A number of these observations were transformed into practical procedures and initiatives that were implemented during a record period, reflecting Dubai Customs’ approach based on speed of response and true partnership with the private sector.

He added that a number of initiatives that were implemented recently came in direct response to the observations and proposals of the work teams and business councils, which contributed to enhancing the efficiency of services, accelerating the flow of customs operations, and increasing the flexibility of the commercial system and supply chains in the emirate, thus enhancing Dubai’s position as a flexible global center capable of continuing the movement of trade in various circumstances and changes.

He stressed that the “Green Corridor” launched by Dubai Customs during the first days of the recent events in the region constituted a practical model for the speed of government response, as it contributed to diverting shipments to alternative routes and ports and ensuring the continued flow of goods to Dubai without interruption.

He said: The Green Corridor not only supported the movement of goods, but also supported the confidence of the business community, and consolidated Dubai’s position as a city capable of maintaining the continuity of trade even in light of regional changes.

The measures also included extending the transit period from 30 to 90 days, facilitating the entry of shipments through the ports of Khor Fakkan and Fujairah and transporting them by land under the customs guarantee system, in addition to accelerating the entry procedures for food and medicines, which enhanced the abundance of products and the stability of markets while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

He pointed out that Dubai Customs also continued to develop direct communication channels with the business community through the “Major Customers Council and the Trade and Supply Chain Integration Council,” with the aim of following up on operational challenges and accelerating the processing of comments in coordination with the concerned authorities, in a way that raises the efficiency of services and enhances the competitiveness of the private sector.

The workshops concluded with a set of practical recommendations that support the development of customs procedures, accelerate response to changes, and enhance coordination between government agencies and the private sector, thus consolidating Dubai’s position as a global model in economic readiness and trade sustainability, and reflecting the harmony of Dubai Customs’ efforts with the directives of the wise leadership in enhancing the flexibility of the economy and ensuring the continuity of the flow of trade and supply chains in light of geopolitical changes and challenges.

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