In line with the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to free the special needs adaptive equipment from any customs duties or taxes – which comes in an effort to alleviate their burdens – and as per the Cabinet’s decree issued in this regard; Dubai Customs has accordingly exempted all supplies and equipment used by the special needs from customs duties.
Dubai Customs released a memo stating the exemption of eight commodities destined for use by the special needs. The list includes educational and medical supplies, apparatuses and spare parts, motorized and manual wheelchairs, and other customized vehicles for the crippled and paralyzed use, in addition to crutches, hearing aids, speech aids, electronic devices for the blind and visually impaired, and other equipment and supplies used by people with special needs.
H.E. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Dubai Customs Director, commented that “His Highness’s initiative on relieving the adaptive equipment and gears of the special needs is a mere manifestation of his keenness on providing the highest levels of humanitarian care for these persons. In turn, Dubai Customs has sought to take this initiative into effect within our work scope, in a way that these exemptions would bring a great beneficial impact to the special needs. As we are always eager to actively respond to the leadership initiatives and vision, while upholding our organization’s humanitarian role at the social responsibility level.”
He continued, “Our work at Dubai Customs stems out from our devotion towards assuming our humanitarian duties to ease burdens on those segments of the society that are in need of our assistance and support.”
The Director of Dubai Customs further noted that the customs exemptions cover an array of supplies and equipment required by the special needs in their daily lives to become fully integrated in the economic and social activity of our community, in tune with the Dubai strategy to make best use of their efforts and potentials not only as equal citizens but as true contributors to the Emirate’s ongoing progress and development.