Dubai Customs, represented by the Jebel Ali Customs Centres Management, has organised the largest yet public auction, in cooperation with DP World.
As many as 533 containers were auctioned this time, comprising 35 types of new and used goods that went under the hammer at the 3-day public auction.
The auction, overseen by Dubai Customs’ Jebel Ali & Tecom Auction Committee, was held recently at Jebel Ali Port. Goods, which were abandoned, detained or warehoused, were auctioned as they were not removed from the warehouse or cleared by their proprietors at the expiration of the period. The auction of these goods generated a proceeding of AED 12.5 million.
Yousef Al Hashmi, Director of Jebel Ali Customs Centres Management at Dubai Customs, said that “Dubai Customs’ policy concerning sale of goods by public auction is based on articles 166-171 of the Common Customs Law of the GCC States. The customs policy regulates and controls the rules for auctioning goods that are not cleared by their proprietors within the permitted period.
“Dubai Customs follows a highly transparent approach while announcing and carrying out auctions. It allows the general public to view the goods in advance and also announces the auction date and place in the official newspapers, SMS to clients and DC website,” added Al Hashmi.
The Jebel Ali Auction Committee Chairman Naser Al Jumairy said, “This was definitely the biggest auction for Jebel Ali Port, with over 751 bidders. The auction saw the number of attendees soar by 450% over previously-held auctions by Jebel Ali Customs Centres Management,” noted Al Jumairy.
Upon the expiry of the period specified by the concerned customs policy, detained goods, goods placed in public and private Customs warehouses or those left out at the customs offices are sold in a public auction, after obtaining the necessary approvals for restricted goods, according to Al Jumairy.
Dubai Customs’ auctions are open to serious bidders from the UAE, GCC and the rest of the world, without any restrictions.
Al Jumairy further noted that perishable goods - like fruits and vegetables - which are impounded at Customs are displayed fast for public bidding, once their validity is checked by the competent government authority.