Dubai Customs Director General checks on Hatta Customs Land Center
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Dubai Customs Director General stressed Dubai Customs keenness to ensure and provide all the facilitations to the users of Hatta Boarder Entry by the individuals and companies in a way it contributes to revitalizing trade movement and tourism as well as reinforcing social interaction between the UAE and Sultanate of Oman.
The statement was made during a field visit made by H.E. Ahmed Butti to Hatta Customs Land Center which was inaugurated in 2008 as a major customs hub in charge of facilitating land trade movement and ensure the legitimacy of the goods transported through it and control over the restricted goods (such as food) after being inspected and checked. H.E. Ahmed Butti had an eye on facilitations provided there and the smooth procedures which help simplify and accelerate passengers’ passage from and to the UAE through the Entry.
From 2008 until August 2011, the border entry has received 7.5 million passengers, and the number of declaration reached 500,000.
During his field visit, H.E. Ahmed Butti commended the fruitful cooperation between Dubai Customs employees operating within Hatta Customs Center and the strategic partners from government authorities at the Entry such as the General Department of Dubai Police, the General Department of Foreigner Affairs in Dubai, Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai Municipality and Hatta Police Center. He pointed out as well the significance of teamwork which reflects positively on the quality services provided and the civilized image of the UAE.
He further noted that the Department gives much attention to customs satisfaction at the different land, air and sea entries through introducing best service delivery standards and facilitation in line with compliance and facilitation policy. H.E. requested from the employees of the Entry to be well-prepared for the huge number of passengers travelling through the Entry in the upcoming period and the advent of winter season and rains across the UAE, besides providing all the necessary help and support to them and facilitate their movement.
HE approved the Hatta Customs building expansion plans and development project of inspection areas and provision of additional cargo and inspection machines and whatever that may facilitate trade.
HE viewed the plans of the new buildings and directed that they be built according to the best practices and international experience to help improve work and ensure provision of high quality customs services.
From January to August this year, the number of passengers and visitors coming into the UAE through Hatta Entry in the same period is 1.9 million passengers and 309 thousand vehicles, 2600 buses and 913 thousand lorries loaded with goods entering the UAE besides transit and empty cargos.
For the same period, 110 thousand customs declarations were processed and 2 million passengers travelled through the Entry, 566 thousand private vehicle into the UAE, 5821 buses, 9588 lorries, 230 seizures that included different types of prohibited fake materials, drugs and ammunition compared to 104 seizures for the same period in 2010.
The Center’s staff enrolled in 37 beneficial training courses including 27 in the field of inspection and 10 in customer service; most highlighted were: goods inspection, passenger inspection, handling hazardous items, containers and vehicles inspection and IPR protection. Whereas in 2010, 70 training courses were held, 51 of which on inspection and 28 on customer service.
In cooperation with its strategic partners, Dubai Customs had earlier this year held events and programs for people in Hatta which comes in line with the Department’s social responsibility and to increase awareness about Customs’ role in protecting the local community and facilitating trade movement.