Dubai Customs supports measures taken by the government to ensure prices of foodstuff remain stable in the United Arab Emirates during the holy month of Ramadan. To that end, DC will facilitate smooth and timely flow of food commodities to local markets, in quantities that meet the increasing demand during the holy month.
DC’s facilitation to food trade will reduce the time required for customs clearance, ensuring food consignments reach markets in the least possible time. Customs centres in Dubai enhanced their operations to make sure importers timely receive food materials to meet market demands and thus avoid price hikes. Most food consignments are immediately cleared.
DC ensures fast flow of foodstuff imports to meet the needs of consumers, particularly during the peak consumption season in Ramadan.
Dubai’s foodstuff foreign trade has recorded a clear rise in the first quarter of 2014, as per the most recent figures released by Dubai Customs, amounting to Dh21.5 billion compared to Dh18.3 billion in Q1 2013 with a growth rate of 17%. Imports went up to Dh14 billion, exports to Dh3.4 billion and re-exports to Dh4.2 billion.
This growth reflects the capacity of the local market to accommodate high volume of foodstuff and the increase in demand due to the economic and population growth. Dubai plays a significant role in food trade regionally and internationally, taking advantage of its strategic location amidst major global markets.
Dubai Customs’ services and facilitations enhance this role by reducing the time and effort needed to clear consignments to provide traders and investors with a real added value that increases their returns of Dubai-based operations, bringing in more world trade.