Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai
Customs, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, has confirmed that Dubai
Customs is fully prepared to welcome delegations, participants, and visitors for an extraordinary
period during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 28 hosted
by the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023. He also highlighted the
Dubai Airshow, which brings together over 1400 exhibitors from 148 countries and more than
300 international speakers. This statement was made during his visit, along with the leadership team, to Al Maktoum
International Airport, Al Maktoum Cargo Center, and Dubai Logistics City, as part of the field
visits program to customs centers in Dubai. The visit aimed to assess the progress of customs
services and development, emphasizing the need to facilitate services for clients and travelers,
aligning with Dubai’s economic agenda and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum.
Badr Al Harmoudi, the Inspection Manager at Al Maktoum Airport, presented the procedures to
facilitate the passage of visitors and delegations participating in COP 28 and the Dubai Airshow.
He highlighted coordination with operating airlines and relevant authorities, applying best
practices to ease passenger movement at Al Maktoum International Airport.
Khalfan bin Yado, Senior Inspection Manager at Al Maktoum Cargo Center, reported that the
center successfully processed 29,768 customs transactions in the initial nine months of this
year, indicating a 5.25% growth compared to the 27,832 customs transactions during the same
period last year. The count of customs declarations for imports for the first nine months of the
current year stood at 12,000 declarations, contrasting with 11,787 customs declarations for the
corresponding period last year. Concurrently, the customs declarations for exports amounted to
13,153, in contrast to 12,645 customs declarations. He emphasized that Al Maktoum Cargo
Center offers innovative customs services and procedures, contributing to the enhancement of
air cargo operations for various companies, including those in e-commerce.
The visit also showcased exceptional services provided by Dubai Logistics City Customs Center
for global humanitarian shipments, contributing significantly to the timely arrival of aid and
supplies to crisis-affected countries. Sami Issa, Senior Inspection Manager at the center,
emphasized their commitment to Dubai Customs 2021-2026 strategy, accelerating business
operations and providing smart customs services to save time and costs for companies.
The center completed 234,520 customs transactions from January to October, supporting global
companies, especially those responsible for humanitarian services. The centers efforts, in
collaboration with Dubai South Management, involve expediting customs procedures through
remote inspection. The recent launch of the”Remote Inspection Project”at GITEX, the first of
its kind in the region, aims to shorten customs inspection time. This is achieved by utilizing
advanced technologies and artificial intelligence for clearance agents and clients approved by
the Authorized Economic Operator program, providing an additional advantage for participating
companies.
