Dubai Customs Celebrates International Customs Day with a Digital Empowerment Focus During Ninth Dubai Customs Week

Dubai Customs organized the International Customs Day Forum as one of the highlights of its ninth Dubai Customs Week. The Forum, organized online, attracted widespread participation from customs officials and staff. H.E. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, delivered a speech expressing gratitude to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security for their involvement in the forum. He also extended thanks to the World Customs Organization for the Secretary-General's contribution, which included a special message applauding the customs of the UAE.

Musabih underscored the significance of annually celebrating International Customs Day on January 26th. The forum was part of the activities during the ninth Dubai Customs Week, organized by the department under the theme "Digital Empowerment: Forging Impactful Partnerships." The aim was to familiarize attendees with the role of customs work, the importance of digital empowerment, and the role of partnerships in enhancing capabilities.

He said, "The United Arab Emirates is at the forefront of countries worldwide achieving significant advancements in customs sector to support the growing trend in foreign trade." He pointed out that Dubai Customs prioritizes digital empowerment as one of the fundamental principles of its strategic plan for 2021-2026. The department has a remarkable record of pioneering achievements in this field, including the development of the "Mirsal 2" customs operations system, which can process 98% of customs transactions within two minutes. Through this technological advancement, the government department was able to clear more than 30.4 million customs transactions in the year 2023, contributing to the achievement of the targets of Dubai's economic agenda, D33, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to double the value of Dubai's foreign trade.

He added, "Digital empowerment has strengthened our ability to support e-commerce by launching a cross-border e-commerce platform using blockchain technology. We also launched the initiative Post Audit Robotic Process Automation (PCA-RPA)' and the smart early disclosure system 'iDeclar' for travelers. Additionally, there is an advanced system for inspecting vehicles using X-rays and the Cargo Status Tracking."

Musabih highlighted efforts to align with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements signed by the UAE with key partners stressing the focus on developing strategic partnerships with government entities through the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding across various domains, citing three such agreements and memoranda signed in the previous year.

His Excellency Ahmed Abdullah Bin Lahej Al Falasi, the Director General of Federal Customs Authority emphasized the role of technology in customs operations, showcasing the sector's digital transformation and the resulting efficiency gains in handling vast amounts of information. He underscored the importance of effective partnerships between customs authorities, emphasizing their ability to amalgamate competencies, skills, and innovations for continuous improvement in service delivery, as customs services are now available 24/7.

During the forum, Ian Saunders, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization, delivered a recorded speech for World Customs Day 2024. He conveyed his sincere greetings to the UAE customs and emphasized the theme " Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose." Saunders urged the global customs community to adapt to the changing world, facing challenges like rapid technological advancements, environmental and health crises, and intricate geopolitical and economic dynamics. He stressed the need for a forward-looking approach, seeking solutions not only based on internal knowledge and resources but also complemented by the support of relevant stakeholders.

He further stated, "The focus for 2024 entails a strategic invitation to action, encouraging us to expand our viewpoints, think innovatively, and adopt creative approaches. This becomes imperative for customs administrations to uphold their role in facilitating global trade and ensuring security within a swiftly evolving environment. Our collaboration this year is centered on aligning all our partnerships with the mission and overarching values of our customs administrations. Our objective is to actively engage them in achieving our goals, encompassing the facilitation of trade, border security, and the adaptability of global supply chains."