Dubai Customs recently hosted a delegation from the General Directorate of Customs of the Royal Oman Police, underscoring their commitment to global customs collaboration.

During the visit, the Omani delegation, led by Major Khalifa Bin Talib Al-Masqari, Director of Dhofar Customs, and Captain Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Balushi, discussed cooperation with Dubai Customs.

They also explored the advancements made in customs operations.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director-General of Dubai Customs, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, welcomed the Omani delegation and highlighted Dubai’s dedication to sharing practical expertise for mutual economic growth and streamlined passenger movement.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation among GCC customs authorities and recognized Oman as a key regional trading partner.

Musabih also pointed out Dubai’s significant economic achievements, with a remarkable increase in non-oil foreign trade in the first half of 2023. This growth demands ongoing development of customs services to accommodate evolving trade needs. Dubai’s economic agenda aims to double its foreign trade value by 2033, with Dubai Customs already making substantial progress.

Al-Masqari expressed Oman’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with Dubai Customs to boost trade between the UAE and Oman.

He commended Dubai Customs for improving customs services and emphasised the importance of sharing customs-related experiences and expertise among GCC countries to support economic progress.

During the visit, the delegation received an overview of Dubai Customs’ advancements, including the Mirsal 2 system’s role in automating customs transactions. Field visits showcased key customs facilities and their roles, such as monitoring and tracking suspicious shipments and advanced training programmes using modern technologies to prepare customs personnel.

The delegation also toured various customs centres, witnessing their contributions to facilitating trade, and visited Dubai International Airport to learn about streamlined customs procedures. The visit included a stop at the Technical Support Department in Warsan, where the delegation saw equipment development efforts and the K9 Customs Unit’s role in detecting prohibited substances in shipments.

Dubai Customs revealed recently that it has cleared 14 million customs transactions during the first six months of this year, a 10 percent surge from the 12.7 million transactions registered in the same period last year.

The UAE economy is poised to experience further growth and recovery over the second half of 2023, according to forecasts by international banks and organisations, like the World Bank that predicts the UAE’s non-oil economy to grow by 4.8 per cent this year.

Dubai Customs revealed that business registration service transactions went up 7 per cent, recording 143,000 service requests. Customs declarations stood at 12.3 million transactions, accounting for 88 per cent of the total number of customs transactions. The strong performance is a clear indication of the business sector’s mounting recovery and how Dubai has reinforced its stature as a leading global hub for trade, finance and logistics.

Commenting on the solid H1 performance in customs service transactions, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih said, “Trade is among the key sectors that have led the growth of the local economy during last year and this year.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) the UAE is concluding with various countries of the world give a great impetus to trade exchanges and increase the value of non-oil foreign trade thanks to the top-notch facilities and benefits they bring to traders and businesses, strengthening the UAE’s position as a prime global trading hub.

Stepping up its efforts in the fight against counterfeits to ensure protection of businesses’ intellectual property (IP) interests, Dubai Customs handled 194 cases of IP disputes during the first half of 2023, involving 10.7 million counterfeit items with a total value of Dhs53.277 million. The government department also continued to organise recycling operations for counterfeit and IP-infringing goods, which saw the recycling of 176,000 items belonging to 65 global trademarks.

Dubai Customs also made 1,059 seizures and filed 908 customs cases, striving to play its vital role in securing and supporting the national economy by contributing effectively to an attractive investment environment and enhancing the country’s position as a leading global business and trade hub.