Dubai Customs is very keen to promote partnerships with shipping agents by improving customs services and facilities. For this reason, Dubai Customs Customer Management Division organized a meeting with the companies' representatives and shipping agents. The meeting was headed by Mr. Ahmed Mahboob, Customer Management Division Executive Director.
The meeting was organized in cooperation with DP World and Shipping Agents Association in Dubai, as part of the periodic meetings organized by Dubai Customs with the Association's management and members. The purpose of these meetings is to take counsel, exchange points of view, and investigate developments and updates in marine navigation and shipping to Dubai and other places in the world.
During the meeting, ways to promote coordination and cooperation in order to achieve optimal performance were discussed with shipping companies. Dubai Customs presented the most recent facilities within the new electronic system of customs claims. This electronic system provides a mechanism to electronically refund customs duties and connect with all stakeholders, such as local banks and DC’s Finance Department. The suggestions and points of view posed by members of Shipping Agents Association were discussed as part of the effort to derive benefit from the new system by providing additional facilities for customer and stakeholder contributions.
Mr. Ahmed Mahboob stated that Customs Guarantees/Deposits Claims System has dealt with more than 700,000 claims through 2012 and 2013. These claims were fully implemented according to the applicable controls and procedures.
At the meeting held with shipping agents, the discussion centered on the development of the system for dealing with risky cargos and containers. This system is based on mutual coordination and cooperation with all stakeholders, in order to accelerate the implementation of the procedures for these cargos and containers, in accordance to customs missions and powers.
Dubai Customs seeks, through such meetings, to discuss all customs developments to ensure that continuous improvement of its services and facilities meets the requirements of all partners including shipping agencies as well as traders and companies. This is crucial to promoting the optimal performance of the national economy by attracting external trade to Dubai, which has become an essential international commercial hub by virtue of the competitive advantages it presents in the field of infrastructure development and quality of customs and services presented to customers.