Dubai Customs always provides support to the maritime sector for a more diversified economy in line with the Dubai Plan 2021. This helps in facilitating trade in different ports including Dubai Creek, which may not be the city’s most important trading port anymore but it will always be a very important route of trade for dhows at the heart of Dubai. This iconic waterway is not only a bustling trade route but also a touristic attraction.
During his visit to the Coastal Customs Centers Management, Director of Dubai Customs Ahmed Mahboob Musabih highlighted the very important role Dubai Creek plays in the city’s diversified trade and is still shaping the very soul of Dubai, now running freely through the veins of the city, keeping alive its vibrant heartbeat, linking the sea back to the sea.
.JPG)
Recently the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) has launched NAU. It is a smart platform that will help in cargo activity reservation for traditional dhows on Dubai creek which will help in more organization and facilitate the bustling movement of dhows across the creek. NAU project is one of the 10X Initiative projects which sets the Government of Dubai on a mission to be 10 years ahead of all other cities. The new project will boost Dubai’s dhow trade competitiveness by applying new tools to organize this sector and facilitate the business. NAU is expected to open up a world of possibilities, and the potential for this model to be replicated across the globe, especially in countries that have larger inland waterways, rivers, and harbors to transport cargo from one port to another.
During the visit, Musabih viewed the Management’s statistics and figures. They have dealt with around 20,000 vessels carrying different types of imported, exported and re-exported goods, with a value of AED 11.3b and a billion tons in weight.
Musabih said:“We are committed to facilitate trade and traffic of traditional dhows and modern vessels and provide traders and clients with different customs facilities. This ensures hassle-free, smooth trade whilst sustaining and maintain security and safety along this indispensable waterway. We support inspection operations in the Coastal Customs Centers Management by equipping them with the most advanced devices and technologies”.
These advanced devices include a drone equipped with cameras that can capture all the details of the inspection process, and the smart submarine that can go below the dhows and inspect the keels.
The Director of Dubai Customs’ tour covered Hamriyah Port Customs Center and Deira Dhow Wharfage.