Dubai Customs Discusses Means of Growth with Businesses in Dubai

The Director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, has haired the Dubai Customs Consultative Council’s quarterly meeting which was attended by heads of business and trade groups, members of the Council, and in the presence of Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development Division at Dubai Customs, Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Clients Management Division, and Farid Hassan Al Marzouqi, Executive Director, Human Resources, Finance and Administration Division.

Musabih welcomed the members and said the meeting will help engage clients and business groups in achieving the future goals of Dubai Customs which fall in line with the UAE Vision 2020 and UAE Centennial 2071 following the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

"With this in mind, Dubai Government fees have been fixated for three years" Musabih said. Musabih reaffirmed the importance of cooperation and coordination between Dubai Customs and different business groups in Dubai, which helps in improving and facilitating business and customs services. Dubai external non-oil trade in the first half of 2018 totalled AED 645 billion making a AED 5 billion increase from the same period of 2017.

"This reflects the robust and vigorous local economy and its capability of coping with the very fast changes in the global economy. The UAE launches different initiatives that help mobilise and develop the local, regional and global economies.

"Dubai Customs has already succeeded in achieving part of this vision by becoming a leading customs department worldwide in terms of services and logistics which helps the Department top competitiveness indexes. These achievements wouldn’t have happened without the effective cooperation and partnership with the clients and stakeholders, and their fruitful suggestions" he said.

Nadia Abdullah Kamali CEO of World Customs talked about the government efforts in stimulating local economy. "There are always new initiatives in the pipeline in Dubai that will be applied to stimulate different economic sectors. We coordinate with government departments to develop free zones and improve added value provided to investors in the free zones" she explained.

Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim, Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department talked about Dubai external trade in the first half of 2018. "The first half saw a strong growth of 14% in the re-export trade, which increased by AED 24 billion to reach AED 203 billion which reflects the robust and healthy position Dubai leads as a distinctive regional and international re-export hub. Imports touched AED 377 billion and exports totalled AED 65 billion. The emirate’s foreign free zone trade registered a 20 per cent, AED 43 billion increase in the first half of 2018 to AED 257 billion. Re-export activity through free zones touched AED 112 billion; a 31% increase from the same period in 2017, while exports through free zones made a 23% increase to AED 8 billion, and imports through free zones made AED 136 billion; an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year. Direct trade touched AED 383 billion and customs warehouse trade weighed in at AED 6 billion" On his part, Edris Behzad, Client Management Director, talked about Dubai Customs efforts in bolstering its ties with the business groups through the Consultative Council, and confirmed the Department’s readiness to always meet the needs and aspirations of investors and traders".

In the meeting, the Supply Chain and Logistics, Retail, and Electronics Groups discussed their future plans of expansion and growth