towards the next 50.. customs vision · and local government authorities and institutions for...

The wise leadership of the UAE has chosen the title “Towards the next 50” to be the slogan of work and the main strategic direction for 2020, which means leadership direction of all federal and local government authorities and institutions for preparing and planning to draw the image of the UAE in its centenary, which corresponds to 2071.The idea itself reflects a unique distinction in the leadership thought related to strategic planning. Planning for 50 years is undoubtedly a new thought, while most countries rely on five-year and ten-year plans that extend from 5 to 10 years in most cases.The wise leadership aims from this long-term thinking to unleash the imagination, ideas, and cre-ative abilities of nationals to build the future of the UAE, and instill hope for a better and happier tomorrow at the long term, as well as stressing the continuous cohesion between the leadership and the people in addition to the active participation of the people of the country in the process of building, development and sustainable development.His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid confirmed these meanings in his speech on this occasion saying: “In the year of 50,we will be one hand to build our UAE. The year of prepara-tion for the next fifty years requires concentration of all societal efforts to advance and sustain development and achieve our ambitions and aspirations for a better future for our UAE.”Since the establishment of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 and during the past fifty years, the UAE has achieved economic, security, commercial and social progress that was not achieved by the countries of the region or even many developed countries that have a history of thousands of years. The UAE has become in the first ranks globally as a model for development, human build-ing, welfare, tolerance and giving. What distinguishes the civilization experience of the UAE is that it uniquely blends the past, the present and the future.Realizing what has been accomplished over the past 50 years can be an accurate compass to define the features of the UAE methodology of development, as well as predicting what the UAE can achieve during the next fifty years. Perhaps one of the most important basic directions of the UAE in the future is to prepare national generations for the post-oil phase. This is what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed, saying: “During the next fifty years ... we will prepare all sectors of the country for the post-oil phase. We will build a real knowl-edge economy that is based on innovation, creativity and modern science.”There is no doubt that achieving this within the framework of preparation for the next fifty years requires a lot of efforts and adopting of creative ideas, in addition to taking science and modern technologies as a scientific and practical path in life and work together.In order to succeed in the test of “the year of preparedness for the next 50”, we must imagine together the image of countries and their borders and mechanisms of their institutions and gov-ernments during the next fifty years, as well as the features of the security, commercial, consumer, societal and humanitarian ecosystem that govern them in light of the amazing technological de-velopment and the outputs of the fourth industrial revolution and beyond, as well as the implica-tions of what is known as artificial intelligence, block chain, etc.At the level of the customs sector in the country, there is an urgent need to perceive, monitor, and predict transformations and changes that may occur during fifty years in a number of important axes that affect customs work. Perhaps the most prominent of these changes is related to the form of borders between countries, the capabilities and elements of the relevant authorities, the mechanisms, axes and tools of the security system, global trade policies and standards, the com-ponents of the supply chain, the features, dimensions and effects of the technological revolution and how to leverage them in upgrading the level of customs performance and other axes that cannot be mentioned.2020 is the year of preparation for the next 50 years, therefore, the customs sector of the country must define its directions and tools and unleash the creative potential of its employees and col-laborators with it, so that at the end of the year it can draw an integrated plan for the position of UAE customs sector after 50 years.Our confidence is limitless in the ability of our wise leadership to achieve miracles. We have great confidence in the ability of the UAE national and members of the customs sector of the country to achieve the required targets and take the customs sector to a new era which is the post-oil era.

Towards the next 50.. Customs vision

Ali Saeed Alneyadi

Manifest

The published articles express the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of

the Federal Customs Authority

General Supervisor: H.E Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi

Commissioner of Customs - Chairman of FCA

Advisory body:

H.H Sheikh Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al NoaimiChairman of Ports & Customs Department - Ajman

H.H Khalid Bin Rashid Al Mu’allaChairman of ports, customs and Free Zone Corporation

- Umm Al Quwain

H.E Rashed Lahej Al MansooriDirector General of General Administration

Customs – Abu Dhabi

H.E Mohammed Meer Abdul Rahman Al SarrahDirector of the Department of Seaports

and Customs- Sharjah

H.E Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al MehreziDirector General of Customs Department - RAK

H.E Rashid Mohammed HammadDirector General of Customs - Fujairah

Editor -in-chief: Mohamed Juma Buosaiba

Deputy Editor-in-chief: Ahmad Abdulla Bin Lahej

Executive Editor-in-chief: Hassan El Kamhawi

Legal Consultant: D. Ahmed Mohamed Albakr

Financial administration: Mohamed Almarzooqi

Marketing and Communication: Asmaa Alawadhi

Designer: Abu Omar

Correspondence:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,

P.O.Box 35000 – TEL: +9712-6979700E-mail: [email protected]

A quarterly magazine specializedin customs affairs,

published by the (FCA) UAE

www.fca.gov.aeSelling Price

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Distribution: Printing:

10

A Suspicious CampaignTargeting the Reputation of the UAE Industry

70Firms Avail the Benefits of “UAEO”

12 14ReportsReportsReports

16

The File

AED 2.6Trillion Emirates Free Zones Trade in 5 Years

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Mohamed Bin Zayed, Bolsonaro Witness Exchange of Agreements

�� Abu Dhabi (WAM) His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahy-an, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil witnessed, on Sunday 27th Oc-tober 2019, the ceremonies of exchanging agreements and memoranda of understanding among number of en-tities and institutions in both Emirates and Brazil.Exchanged agreements and memorandums, in Al Watan Palace, between the two countries incorporated: Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral compre-hensive strategic partnership between the two countries, exchanged between H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E Ernesto Araujo, Brazilian Minis-ter of Foreign Affairs.Agreement on mutual cooperation and administrative assistance in customs matters between UAE Federal Customs Authority and Brazil Customs, exchanged be-tween H.E Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi, Commissioner of Customs - Chairman of FCA and H.E Ernesto Araujo, Brazilian Minister of Foreign AffairsAgreement on cooperation between the ministries of defense in both countries on mutual protection of clas-sified information and materials, exchanged between H.E Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs and H.E Ernesto Araujo, Bra-zilian Minister of Foreign Affairs.Agreement on cooperation between both countries in science, technology and innovation, exchanged be-tween H.E Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Marcos Pontes, Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Com-munications.Memorandum of understanding on preserving bio-diver-sity between the Ministry of Climate Change and En-vironment and its counterpart in Brazil, exchanged be-tween H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Ernesto Araujo, Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs.Memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation and strategic partnership in defense products and their trade, exchanged between H.E Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council and Almir Garnier Santos, Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry of Defense.

Draft memorandum of understanding on establishing and operating UAE-Brazil fund for strategic cooperation and expanding productive capacities of defense sector, exchanged between H.E Abdulrahim Alhosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council and Almir Garnier Santos, Secretary-General of the Brazil-ian Ministry of Defense. Memorandum of understanding on supporting exports and re-exports between Abu Dhabi and Brazil, ex-changed between H.E Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism and Sergio Ricardo Segovia Barbosa, President of Apex-Brazil.

90’s Day of Customs

Customers Unified national Number system implementation authorized by the Cabinet

Executing an agreement on mutual cooperation and administrative support in customs domain with Brazil Customs

UAE, Brazil Reinforce Integration with 9 Agreements and MOFU

2 3Emirates CustomsEmirates Customs January 2020January 2020

Contents

7 Initiatives and 4 Memorandums of Under-standing increase the level of cooperation between the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Mohammed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Salmanchair the second meeting of the Joint Coordination Council

�� ABU DHABI (Emirates Customs)

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, have presided over the second meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council in Abu Dhabi.The meeting comes as part of the efforts by the two countries to activate all aspects of cooperation that leads to full integra-tion in economy, knowledge and human development, and military.All members of the Council, Chairpersons of the Executive Committee and the Gen-eral Secretariat of the Executive Commit-tee participated in the meeting.At the beginning of the meeting, His High-ness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed wel-come Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said, “My dear brother and friend Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is a pleasure to welcome you among your people in the UAE and through you I extend greetings to the fraternal Saudi people and wish further progress, prosperity and stability for the Saudi Arabia’s leadership, govern-ment and people.”Sheikh Mohamed added, “Our joint econ-omy ranks 16th globally and we can work together to become one of the top ten economies in the world. Our overseas in-

vestments currently exceed US$ 250 bil-lion in various economic sectors and our investment funds are ranked first in the world. We will increase our investments to be one of the top ten countries invest-ing globally. Our financial markets exceed US$ 720 billion and we seek to be one of the top ten financial markets globally.”HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed pleasure at attending the 2nd meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordina-tion Council which, he said, represents an ideal platform for realizing the shared vi-sion of the leadership in the two countries for deepening cooperation and integration in various field for the interest of the two brotherly peoples.“I am glad to be here with you while your country is gearing up to celebrate the Na-tional Day. An anniversary that is dear to all of us,” he said.He went on to say that both visions target sustainable progress and prosperity for the two brotherly peoples and seek to build hope and to enhance development in the region.“2020 is the year of international achieve-ments. We are preparing to hosting major international events. The Saudi Arabia taking over the G20 presidency and the UAE playing host to Expo 2020, reflect-ing the rising international stature enjoyed by the two countries.”The meeting reviewed progress of the Council’s works, as well as the proposed initiatives and projects to bolster secu-rity and welfare of the peoples of the two

countries.Also discussed were the achievements mad during the Council’s first session and implementation of the seven strategic initiatives, including issuing of joint visit visa, facilitating traffic between ports of entry, joint food security strategy, cyber security, cryptocurrency, the mega refin-ery project and the Saudi-Emirati Youth Council.Council also reviewed were the latest up-dates on the seven key initiatives: 1. Joint tourist visa: Cooperation between the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage and UAE’s Ministry of Economy to issue a joint visit visa for residents of the two countries to facilitate tourism contribution to the national econ-omy in the two countries 2. Speeding up the flow of traffic at the entry ports: The General Authority of Customs in the Kingdom of Saudi Ara-bia is working with the Federal Customs Authority in the UAE to facilitate the flow of traffic in ports, which will enhance the customs cooperation for the smooth flow of trade traffic at the customs ports between the two countries. One hour in 2018 to 4 hours in 2019 to be reduced in the coming years 3. Joint strategy for food security: This initiative aims at closer work between the two countries in the field of food security to ensure overcoming the food challenges facing the two countries in particular and the region in general, where through joint cooperation will work to provide a safe

and sustainable food, at affordable prices for all and in all circumstances 4. Cyber security: The initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity in both countries and support the provision of a reliable cy-berspace for each country through which to provide secure electronic services and transactions. Cooperation between the two countries will support their efforts in preventing and mitigating cyber attacks targeting the two countries, especially the significant damage that may occur.As a result of cyber attacks and in various areas, such as economic damage, political damage and others. This cooperation is expected to have a significant positive im-pact as a result of avoiding these potential damages. The initiative has contributed during the last phase to reduce cyber at-tacks compared to total cyber attacks on sensitive sectors by 55 percent, which led to the reduction of AED 257 million com-pared to 2018. Reduced response time from cyber attacks from a maximum of 24 hours to 6 hours, a 25% reduction in cyber attacks, saving more than AED 500,000 per day per attack, and increased aware-ness of cyber threats by individuals and organizations by 30 percent 5. Cryptocurrency pilot: A cross-border digital currency which is strictly targeted for banks at an experimental phase with the aim of better understanding the im-plications of Blockchain technology and facilitating cross-border payments. The project will also determine the impact of a central currency on monetary policies

6. Mega refinery: An initiative to develop a new mega crude refinery with a capacity of 1.2 million barrels per day, integrated with a modern petrochemical complex at an initial cost of US$ 70 billion in the state of Maharashtra in western India, to secure the supply of at least 600 thousand barrels per day of Saudi crude oil And UAE for Indian market with high conversion rate for chemicals.7. Saudi-Emirati Youth Council: The ini-tiative of establishing the Saudi-Emirati Youth Council is to strengthen the partner-ship between the youth in both countries, exchange ideas between them, and coor-dinate efforts aimed at raising the capaci-ties in order to invest their potential in the development of society. The Council will work to enable young people to contribute and participate actively in the develop-ment of future development perspectives and encourage them to develop develop-ment initiatives to meet the challenges of the future, has been launched an inter-active platform and guide to explain the work and objectives of the Saudi-Emirati

Youth Council, and prepare a quarterly report on the performance of the Council, and communicate the ideas of youth To decision makers in both countries.Meanwhile, the two sides also exchanged four new Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs, in the health, culture, space and food security fields in order to intensify and integrate efforts and find innovative solutions to achieve optimal utilisation of the available resources and accomplish the development objectives of both coun-tries.• The exchanged MoUs between the two sides are as the following: Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention ex-changed a MoU on health field with Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.• Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Min-ister of Culture and Knowledge Develop-ment exchanged a MoU on the Cultural field with HRH Prince Bader bin Abdul-lah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia.• Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Bel-houl Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency exchanged a MoU on space with Moham-med Al Tuwaijri Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia.• Mariam Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food Security exchanged a MoU on food security with Mohammed Al Tu-waijri Minister of Economy and Planning.

Streamlined traffic in outlets reduced the period of customs clearance to 4 hours in 2019 and reduction will continue during the coming years

Strengthening the work between both countries in the field of food security to ensure that they overcome food challenges and provide safe and sustainable food at reasonable prices

Strengthening cyber-security in both countries contributed

to reducing attacks on sensitive sectors by 55% and saving 257

million dirhams



“FCA”: The Flag EmbodiesIndependence and Supremacy

�� Abu Dhabi (Emirates Customs)

In its premises in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Federal Customs Authority cel-ebrated, 3rd November, the Flag Day to embody the spirit of loyalty and giving instilled by the founding fathers and to further the principles of independency and national union among Emirates citizens.H.E. Ahmed Bin Lahij, Customers Af-fairs Managing Director raised the flag in presence of departments directors, staff and customs controllers.On this occasion. H.E. Ali Saeed Matar Al Neyadi, Customs commissioner and Authority Chairman said: “The flag occupies paramount stature to Emirati citizens and the residents on its lands which, as represents an image of history and glory, and designation, he high-lighted that the flag is an icon of state independence and supremacy over its lands, a key element of national identity to which Emirati generations sacrifice every precious and invaluable to main-

tain this flag lofty and waving on each inch of nation lands.H.E. clarified that state’s celebration of the Flag Day on such anniversary is a reflection of the most paramount meaning of social cohesion and synergy between the wise leadership and Emir-ates citizens, and further reflects mutu-alism among its citizens on one hand and among residents on Emirates good lands emphasizing the most prominent meanings embodied by this celebration is the unity of goal and destiny in addi-tion to tolerance, brotherhood and glori-fying national union and values.

H.E. Ali Al Neyadi emphasized that Flag Day is not only national occasion but Arabic occasion as well for glory and pride of Emirates achievements in politics, economy, social and security spheres for decades. He pointed out that state’s celebration of Flag Day takes on special taste after Hazza Al Mansouri made successful history upon reach-ing international space station as the first Emirati astronaut scoring such his-torical achievement to shape new geo-graphic borders of Emirates flag.On this occasion, H.E. the Commission-er and Authority Chairman extended congratulations to the wise leadership and Emirates citizens on this national occasion, renewing loyalty and cov-enant to our prudent leadership saying that: “On Flag Day’s occasion, we take this opportunity to renew covenant and loyalty to our prudent leadership and we take covenant towards nation people to sacrifice our souls and bloods for the nobleness and advancement of this na-tion and to raise Emirates flag ever high and remain lofty”.

Bin Lahij and staff members raising the flag in Authority

premises, Abu Dhabi

Ali Al Neyadi: Flag Raising, a National and

Arabic Occasion of Glory and Pride of Emirates achievements

In Collaboration between the “ FCA” , KSA Counterpart and UAE Automobile and Touring Club,

The First Consignment between UAE & KSA Under “TIR” Cover arrived at Jordan�� DUBAI (Emirates Customs)

Recently, the first consignment launched ac-cording to the International Road Transport Agreement TIR in cooperation with UAE and KSA received at the final destination in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.The consignment which belong to Land Mark Investment contains garments and shoes, was launched at the end of November by M/s ADSO, the carrier who bears the TIR Card in the UAE, from Jebel Ali free Zone in the UAE under cover of Tier Agreement to move through Ghuwaifat Boarder Cross-ing Post in the emirate of Abu Dhabi to AL Batha Boarder Crossing Post in the KSA to exit from AL Haditha Boarder Crossing post to enter the Hashemite Kingdom of Jor-dan through the AL Omari Boarder Cross-ing post, representing the first consignment launched through the TIR Accord in col-laboration with, Federal Customs Author-ity and the UAE Automobile & Touring Club being the effective stakeholder and the sponsor in the UAE and the KSA General Customs Authority.The International Road Transports system “TIR” provides numerous advantages for trade companies and Customs Depart-ments on global level, including reduction of national restrictions for transit Traffic Procedures, decrease necessity for material inspection in counties of transit traffic, as the countries will be satisfied with customs control procedures carried in the country of departure , save suspected instances , the thing which will spare time , effort and cost of manpower and utilities for exporting companies and customs departments. In this regard, H.E. Ali Saeed AL Neyadi , commissioner of customs , Head of Federal Customs Authority stated : “ On basis of vision and directives of our wise leadership , as well as principles and targets of UAE 2021 Vision , the UAE enhance its competi-tive steps and progress as an international and regional trading centre, performing its commitments in full regarding facilitating trade and satisfying requisites of interna-tional accords that enhance package of in-ternational trade”.

H. E. stated that the launch of the first truck under cover of TIR in coordination between UAE & KSA confirm the deep trade rela-tionship liaising the two countries, and the bilateral economic integration plans is in affirmed progress towards achieving ambi-tions of the wise leadership and communi-ties of the region, leading to enhance and support local, regional and international land transport system , and increase turn over rate of interstate and international trade, as well as increasing level of compe-tition between the two countries on global level.H.E. demonstrated that facilitation of trade and simplifying customs procedures board-ers crossing posts and implementation of the international agreements form one of the major objectives of the Federal Customs Authority and custom sector in the UAE. Certainly the international Road Transport System “ TIR “ substantially contributes to achieve such objective , through expe-diting cargo carriage and protecting State

returns , by ensuring payment of custom duties and levied imposed taxes as per the International accords.H.E. Ali AL Neyadi assured Federal Cus-toms Authority and Local Customs Depart-ments concern to take all required actions , in cooperation with UAE Automobile and Touring Club, to recognize requisites of “ TIR “ System and to satisfy the State Com-mitments in this scope in cooperation with the International stake holders .HE Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE, adds “We are delighted with the support and cooperation of National & International stakeholders with a com-mon interest to develop the trade corridors, implement and operationalize the TIR sys-tem par excellence. The start of TIR trans-port between the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan trade corridors marks significant importance to enhance trade and security, which will start and end with the TIR transit regime. The customs duties and taxes are guaranteed by the TIR carnet with the mutual recognition of customs controls; that saved time and money along the entire supply chain for the transport operators and traders in UAE. Our partnerships with the esteemed UAE cus-toms authorities and IRU resulted in greater facilitation of trade and ease of doing busi-ness using TIR system, which compliments TIR as a unique tool for customs authorities and the transport industry.”

Ali Al Neyadi: The Commercial Partnership

between the two countries is deep and the Economic Integration

moves on wards in affirmed steps



Customs Strategies to Combat Counterfeit and Fake Goods

The country seeks to protect creativity and innovationand safeguard intellectual property rights

tabase of registered trademarks that are recorded for customs control purposes.Border servicesAl-Bakr said that the third strategy in-cludes providing special border services to protect intellectual property, includ-ing registration with customs authorities in the Trademark Registry, submitting a report on violating shipments (coun-terfeit goods) with infringement of the trademark and conducting the necessary investigations by the Customs Depart-ment. He indicated that customs depart-ments seek to facilitate registration and reporting of violating shipments by all available modern means and in record time.The fourth customs strategy is concerned with protecting others from malicious claims. In this regard, Dr. Ahmed Al-Bakr said that the authority and local customs departments in the country seek to achieve balance in protecting rights and fulfilling obligations, and while they are charged with protecting intellectual property rights, they are also charged with ensuring that third parties are not harmed and abused. He also explained that the customs authorities require the applicant to provide sufficient guarantee to stop releasing a concerned shipment. In the event of the validity of the inci-dent, it shall be recovered, otherwise it shall be confiscated.The Legal Adviser of the Authority pointed out that the fifth strategy of the customs sector in the field of intellectual property rights protection provides for that the right holder has the authority to inspect the commodity, explaining that the customs authorities give the right holder the authority to inspect the com-modity subject to the complaint so that he can prove his claim within the limits

of the controls and conditions stipulated in the Common Customs Law. Customs Authority shall also inspect the goods in the presence of the importer, the owner of the goods or his representative. Trade secretsThe sixth strategy relates to the pres-ervation of trade secrets, where Dr. Al-Bakr stressed that the Common Customs Law requires the customs authorities to commit to protecting the secrets of customs data and documents. Despite granting the applicant the pow-er to inspect the goods, import and ex-port data and the names of importers shall remain protected by the force of law until requested by the competent judicial authorities.Al-Bakr added that the seventh cus-toms strategy in the field of intellec-tual property rights protection relates to training customs cadres to detect and identify counterfeit goods through stra-tegic plans for joint customs training, specialized training workshops for cus-toms cadres and holding conferences on intellectual property protection in part-nership with the competent authorities.He pointed out that the eighth strategy includes international cooperation and the exchange of customs information and expertise, noting that the Federal Customs Authority concluded 14 cus-

toms agreements for technical coop-eration and administrative and customs assistance between the UAE and its most prominent trade partners from all commercial regions in the world. Such agreements allow the exchange of in-formation regarding Customs consign-ments, exchange of experiences and knowledge as well as training in all as-pects of customs work, including pro-tecting intellectual property rights and combating counterfeit and fake goods.Legislative AmendmentsAt the end of the session, Dr. Al-Bakr discussed the proposed amendments to the Common Customs Law in order to enhance the role of customs in pro-tecting intellectual property rights and the role of the UAE in proposing these amendments, noting that these amend-ments include two articles related to the protection of intellectual property rights, which is Article 24 bis, where the amendment stipulates that “Subject to the international agreements in force, the customs department shall take the necessary border procedures and mea-sures to protect intellectual property rights,” as well as Article (143/clause 16), where the amendment stipulates that: “Dealt as customs smuggling: 16 – the entry or exit of counterfeit or fake goods.”Al-Bakr stressed that such amendments will have positive effects on the abil-ity of customs authorities to combat counterfeit goods and will contribute to achieving the concept of customs deter-rence among individuals, institutions and organizations that practice fraud and counterfeiting operations in light of considering the entry or exit of counter-feit or fake goods as a crime of customs smuggling.

�� Dubai (Emirates Customs)

On Sunday morning; 8th of December, the activities of the Eighth Regional Conference on Combating Crimes against Intellectual Property in the Mid-dle East and North Africa region kicked off under the slogan “Fighting Intel-lectual Property Crimes - partners in progress X10”, which was held for two days at the Sky View Hotel in Dubai un-der the patronage and presence of His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, Honorary President of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association.The conference was organized by the Emirates Intellectual Property Asso-ciation and the International Criminal Police Organization “Interpol” in coop-eration with Dubai Police GHQ, Dubai Customs, Board of Trademark Owners and Underwriters Laboratories “UL” with the participation of a number of Arab, regional and international figures and personalities.The opening session witnessed the presence of Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, Major General Saif Al Zari, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, and a number of leaders from various security and specialized au-thorities. The session included a speech of Major General Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidli, Assistant Com-mander-in-Chief for Excellence and Entrepreneurial Affairs in Dubai Police, Chairman of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, a speech of Lt. Col. Abdulaziz Obaidullah, Director of the Coordination Office for the Middle East and North Africa, a speech of Dr.

Abdul Qadir Sankari, founder and pres-ident of the Sankari Investment Group, and a speech of Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mo-hammed Al-Suwailem Chief Executive of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.Customs strategiesDuring the conference, Dr. Ahmed Mo-hamed Al-Bakr, Legal Adviser of the Federal Customs Authority, reviewed during a session a working paper on the customs strategies in protecting intel-lectual property rights.Al-Bakr indicated at the beginning that customs constitute the first line of de-fense for the country against the risks of goods imported from abroad and that threaten its security and economy, in-cluding counterfeit goods, pointing out that the Common Customs Law of the Arab Gulf Countries defined the goods as every natural material or animal, agricultural, industrial or intellectual product. Whereas the Anti-Commer-cial Fraud Law 19 of 2016 defined the counterfeit product as the commodity bearing without permission an identical mark or a mark similar to the trademark legally registered.In his paper, Dr. Al-Bakr discussed 8 strategies adopted by the Federal Customs Authority and local customs departments in addressing the file of

intellectual property rights protection based on the powers granted to them within the framework of the Common Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council, pointing out that the first strat-egy includes preventing entry of coun-terfeit goods to the country according to Article (24) of the Common Customs Law which stipulates that “the admin-istration (Customs Authorities) shall ac-cording to the provisions of this law or any other law or decision prevent entry, exit or transit of prohibited or violating goods and prevent entry, exit, or transit of restricted goods unless approved by the competent authorities in the coun-try.”He emphasized that counterfeit goods are prohibited in the UAE under the na-tional laws as well, including the Feder-al Law No. (37) of 1992 on trademarks and amendments thereof, and Federal Law No. (19) of 2016 on combating commercial fraud.The Legal Adviser indicated that the second strategy includes combating counterfeit goods through administra-tive units specialized in customs, point-ing out that customs authorities have established specialized administrative units for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), and specific tasks and responsibilities were set for them, perhaps the most important of which is (Department of Protection of Intellec-tual Property Rights in Dubai Customs).He explained that such departments concerned with the protection of intel-lectual property rights in country’s cus-toms work to implement agreements and laws on intellectual property rights, follow up the implementation of laws, decisions, treaties and the international ranking of trademarks and create a da-

Eighth Conference on Combating Intellectual Property Crimes to Conclude its Agenda in Dubai

a side of the conference

USD 2.3 trillionis the value of counterfeit

goods globally by 2022


Reports

�� Dubai (Emirates Customs)

The competent authorities in the UAE have revealed, several days ago, the falsity of the systematic campaign tar-geting the UAE product and defaming the good reputation that the country’s industries and products have in global markets. These authorities affirmed the UAE’s commitment to the standards and rules stipulated in international agreements concerned with protecting intellectual property rights and com-bating piracy, fraud and counterfeiting, in addition to the commitment of the companies operating in the country to the specifications and production stan-dards adopted within the country and in the world.In this regard, the Emirates Author-ity for Standardization and Metrology “ESMA” confirmed that all products traded in the markets of the United Arab Emirates, which are manufac-tured or imported, conform to the ap-proved UAE and Gulf standards and are subject to the comprehensive qual-ity assurance system applicable in the country, which ensures the conformity of products to specifications and ful-fills consumer rights.The authority clarified, in a statement, the controls of auditing and control over industrialization in the country where it includes manufactured prod-ucts for export to the Gulf Cooperation Council states and some foreign coun-tries, noting that some products may be subject to the regulations, specifica-tions, standards and procedures of im-porting countries and according to the adopted standard specifications.

Refuting RumorsWith regard to recent rumors that were released via social media against the UAE products, the Media Office of Dubai Government refuted such ru-

mors and responded to them as fol-lows:With regard to the arbitrary accusa-tions that indicate the lack of control over industrial establishments when the manufactured goods inside the Jebel Ali Free Zone are for export pur-poses and do not enter the UAE mar-ket, we confirm the falsehood of such misleading information, which quotes the misrepresentation of information without previous verification, especial-ly that Jebel Ali Free Zone is part of the Emirates Government Institutions System, and accordingly is subject to various regulations, standards and leg-islation aimed at preserving health, as well as combating fraud.Accordingly, a long list of entities entrusted with these tasks are located in the heart of Jebel Ali Free Zone, which includes institutions that pro-vide integrated control, examination and response to fraud such as Cus-toms Authority, Ministry of Health and Community Protection, Dubai Mu-nicipality, Department of Security, and Health and Safety Authority affiliating to the Department of Planning and De-velopment (Trakhees), as there is an integrated and permanent coordination with these areas.Jebel Ali Free Zone operates, in coor-dination at the highest level with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), on following up the controls of auditing and con-trol over manufacturing in the UAE, as well as products manufactured for export to the Gulf Cooperation Coun-cil countries and other countries of the world. Production lines of some factories in the UAE are affiliates of big brands and production and manu-facturing operations are carried out ac-cording to controls, standards and stan-dard specifications and are supervised and authorized to practice the activity in light of clear and precise controls in the entire production chain and stagesRegarding the issue of counterfeit goods, which the promoters of such rumors claimed that they are manufac-tured in Jebel Ali Zone from unhealthy materials, this matter is completely false due to intensified control over all products and goods, and it is not pos-sible to judge cases of fraud by refer-ring only to some consumers or those who lead social media campaigns. The unrevealing of cigarette packs of inter-national brands that contain harmful

substances or not labeled by the word (warning), is something that refutes any acceptance of such lies by reason and logic. Eventually, all products and goods are subject to control by official authorities, whether in the UAE or in countries that receive exports from the UAE. Such institutions have high and global levels of supervision, control and response to such crimes.If there are some individual cases or crimes, this should not be generalized to the entire exports of the country and in a systematic manner that aims at un-dermining the reputation of the exports of a country that has an international credibility.Moreover, the product is not necessar-ily indicative of the country of origin, and the first three numbers; the bar-code, do not refer to the country in which the product was manufactured, but rather indicate the country in which the company has its headquarters. For example, the product that is manufac-tured in Switzerland, and is mentioned in the barcode of the UAE, does not mean at all that the product was manu-factured in the UAE, but rather they are trademarks and trade symbols circu-lated and known throughout the world for guidance and identifying the export serial number of the product from the country of origin to the targeted coun-try or market.Misleadingly saying that the manu-factured and traded electrical products referred to are not suitable for use in the UAE, can be refuted by saying that such unsuitability is due to a purely technical reason, because the dual plug and electrical loads are different from local fit-outs. The processes and lines of manufacturing in the UAE for elec-trical products at the same time take into account the variation in techni-cal specifications and electric current power that differ from one country to another. Such specifications are con-sidered as standards and technical re-quirements that needs no introduction, are circulated in all countries of the world and are, at the same time, sub-ject to standards set by the authorities and institutions concerned with speci-fications and conformity in each coun-try of the world. They have nothing to do with commercial fraud operations in the UAE aimed at harming consum-ers in any country that imports UAE electrical products.

A Suspicious CampaignTargeting the Reputation of the UAE Industry

Competent Authorities of the Country Refute the Allegations

Production and manufacturing operations in the UAE are carried out according to approved standards and specifications and auditing of the entire production chain

UAE specifications, regulations and technical

regulations ensure production outputs

complying with the best standards of product quality

130 countries around the world use food products manufactured in

Jebel Ali Free Zone


Reports


Emirates foreign trade, particularly non-oil commodities, are effected through binding and strict executive constraints and procedures formulat-ed in each country based on the type of commodities and their particularity as to such procedures and constraints based on competent authorities’ requi-site consent according to commodities affiliation like food commodities which require examination, issuing pertinent reports from accredited laboratories within destination countries and other countries prior permitting their handling by competent authorities in these coun-tries. Furthermore, United Arab Emir-ates, represented by all its control and inspection institutions whether customs ports handling the commodities import-ed or designated for local consumption or as inputs for other commodities for export purposes, all are subject to inte-grated and robust measures of examina-tion standards to ensure the compliance with specifications, and consumption in addition to other zero tolerance condi-tions. The same applies also to Emirates production factories given that consid-erable quantities of such production tar-get local consumption.Legislation environment, the custodian of maintaining products and commodi-ties credibility and quality in UAE es-pecially intellectual property laws and combating trade fraud, is prominently apparent. Thanks to these legislations, Emirates products and inbound foreign products whether targeting local con-sumption or re-export, are now sub-ject to stringent punishments in case of fraud or counterfeit and in addition to ongoing inspections and official drag-net operations and chases to destroy counterfeit and fraudulent commodities given that international corporations operating in Jebel Ali and State wide free zones will not accept counterfeit-ing their products based on the fact that Emirates is a hub for neighboring countries markets. These legislations comprise, among others, the federal law No. 37 of 1992 pertaining trademarks and the federal law No. 4 of 1979 on combating fraudulence and cheating in trading dealings to name a few well-established and robust laws. Pursuant to statistics released by the Federal Customs Authority, UAE free zones trade amounted, on last five years span, approximately AED 2.6 trillion

distributed among imports which ac-counts for AED 1.5 trillion, non-oil exports AED 131 billion and AED 1.03 trillion for re-export. Evolving as state foreign trade window, free zones trade accounted for about 32% of foreign trade during 2014 to 2018 representing AED 8.1 trillion. Non-oil national exports and re-exports accounted for about 45.2% of free zones overall trade within 60 months while the remaining goes for imports. Emirates ranked third worldwide in re-export given that re-export trade is such successful competitive and strategic ad-vantage of Emirates economy when it is about world trade as a result of country investments, over last decades, in ports, transport and infrastructure in addition to putting in place attractive legislations and logistics which finally contributed to augmenting trade and economic rela-tions with various partners worldwide.During 2014, Emirates free zones trade amounted AED 538.7 billion of which AED 298.6 billion derived from im-ports, AED 26.3 billion from non-oil commodities exports and AED 213.7 billion for re-exports.In 2015, free zones trade exceeded more than AED 497.1 billion including AED 275.9 billion representing the value of re-exports.

Meanwhile, free zones trade reached AED 485.4 billion distributed among imports, non-oil exports and re-exports amounting AED 274 billion, AED 26.3 billion and AED 185 billion respective-ly.In 2017, free zones trade touched AED 497 billion including AED 280.7 for imports, AED 25.5 billion for non-oil exports and AED 191 billion for re-exports.According to the same statistics, last year witnessed a pace in free zones trade to AED 540.1 billion advanced by AED 323.4 billion from imports, AED 28.4 billion from non-oil exports and AED 240.5 billion from re-exports. In terms of weight, Emirates free zones trade, during 2014 to 2018, amount-ed 203.7 million KG which included 144.28 million KG of imports, 14.9 million KG of non-oil exports and 43.2 million KG of re-exports.Remarkably, non-oil exports and re-exports contributed to 28.5% of Emir-ates free zones trade, in terms of weight, during last five yeas while remaining contribution goes for imports.Statements revealed considerable rise of 45% in Emirates free zones trade, in terms of weigh, during last five years, from 34.01 million KG to approximate-ly 49.3 million KG last year.During 2014, state free zones trade amounted 34.01 million KG comprising 22.6 million KG, 4 million KG and 7.3 million KG for imports, non-oil exports and re-exports respectively.While 2015 witnessed rise in free zones trade, in terms of weigh, to 35.3 million KG including 24.6 million KG of im-ports, 2.7 million KG of non-oil exports and 7.9 million KG of re-exports.Likewise, 2016 witnessed rise of free zones trade to 41.9 million KG includ-ing 29.1 million KG of imports, 3.3 mil-lion KG of non-oil exports and 9.4 mil-lion KG of re-exports.In 2017, free zones trade exceeded 43 million KG, in terms of weigh, which comprised 30.7 million KG of imports, 1.9 million KG of non-oil exports and 10.3 million KG of re-exports.Keeping advancement, last year wit-nessed steady increase in free zones trade, in terms of weigh, to 49.3 million KG including 37 million KG of im-ports, 2.9 million KG of non-oil exports and 8.1 million KG of re-exports.

Subject to binding procedures and strict Control

Cutting-edge legislative environment preserving national products credibility and quality and preventing commercial fraud crimes

Augmented by world class ports, transport and infrastructure, UAE ranked third in world’s largest re-export ports

Trillion Emirates Free Zones Tradein 5 Years

AED


Reports

70 Firms Avail the Benefits of “UAEO”


Authorized firms in United Arab Emir-ates’ Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program increased to 55 firms by the end of 2019, it is anticipated that further 12 firms will join the program to raise the number of authorized firms to 67 firms early 2020, according to the Federal Customs Authority.AEO aims at facilitating trade, simpli-fying customs procedure for compli-ant companies with customs and secu-rity compliance measures within supply chain based on secure framework stan-dards, simplifying supply chain in world trade (SAIF) issued by the WCO. The program provides package of benefits and facilities to compliant firms, which contributes to reducing clearance time, advance procedure completion, reduc-tion of financial costs and time saving. H.E Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi, Com-missioner of Customs - Chairman of FCA, said Emirates is keen to openness to world economies, develop partnership and cooperation with world countries and implement best international prac-tices stemming from the pillars of Emir-ates vision 2021 and national economy strategic direction. He pointed out that the AEO is one of the most significant instruments to bolster national econo-my’s openness to global markets through trade facilitation and further contributes to promoting state competitiveness score in doing business and entrepreneurship index, logistic support and other global competitiveness indices.H.E added that AEO, as a Federal pro-gram, has been implemented across Emirates and supervised by the Author-ity, links the state to world countries in trade and customs. It also enables mem-ber firms facilitate their goods penetra-tion to global markets particularly, the markets of countries concluding mutual recognition agreements as South Korea, KSA, China, to name a few.

H.E the Commissioner of Customs - Chairman of the Authority highlighted that authorizing the firms interested in joining the program and vesting its ben-efits is made against a set of standards adopted by the Authority and local cus-toms departments the most prominent of which; implementing security and customs measures, existence of clear re-cord demonstrating customs compliance that proves firm’s observance of Emir-ates laws, trade and security regulations in addition to acceptable and auditable management as well as accounting sys-tems and financial management includ-ing customs control, transport records, evidence of capability and creditworthi-ness, and implementing security mea-sures in relation to global supply chain.AEO has been officially launched in the United Arab Emirates in 2016. National committee has been formed to assume program implementation and supervi-sion under the presidency of the Federal Customs Authority and membership of local customs departments all over the country as well as authorizing program’s exhaustive policy and instilling the pro-gram on federal and local levels.The program provides many benefits in terms of procedures, security, control,

administration and finance for supply chain firms including the completion of clearance procedure prior actual arrival of shipment to ports or airports, incorpo-rating participants in mutual recognition agreements and conferring them differ-ential custom treatment. The program encompasses various parties in supply chain as importers, exporters, manu-facturers, clearance agents, carriers and their brokers, mediators, ports and air-ports. H.E emphasized the keenness of the Au-thority and local customs departments to maximize authorized firms’ benefit from the program locally and internationally through exchanging advantages and fa-cilitates with the most prominent trade partners worldwide by way of conclud-ing mutual recognition agreements with-in the framework of AEO.Highlighting the prospect of program initiatives and plans, H.E Commissioner of Customs said AEO national commit-tee chaired by the Authority discusses proposed program’s related initiatives and development plans for its develop-ment and augmenting such incentives, facilities and advantages conferred upon the firms based on best international practices.

“FCA” Implements Initiatives for Development of Program in 2020

Ali Alneyadi: The program augments Emirates competitiveness through trade facilitation, procedure simplification and clearance time reduction

The Federal Customs Authority has the pleasure to respond to your customs questions received through the customs inquiries service on the website of the authority, or the Authority’s application on smart phones, or via e-mail of the magazine.

Can I import crushed?It is forbidden to import crashed cars into the UAE based on the in-structions of the Emirates Standard-ization and Metrology Authority. As for cars that are in good condition, there is no objection to import them according to the approved customs procedures provided that the fol-lowing documents are met:Importing a car from the GCC countries as follows:• Original invoice and original cer-tificate of origin.• In the case of cars which are sub-ject to customs duties after the date of 1-1-2003, (the clearance state-ment) can be obtained from the country from which the vehicle is imported, with a maximum of two years from the date of payment of the customs duties due thereon as stipulated in the customs declara-tion.• A customs declaration issued from the country from which the vehicle is exported authenticated by the clearance stamp to transfer the fees to the final destination.• Vehicle export certificate issued from the Vehicle Traffic Depart-ment of the country from which the vehicle is exported.• A valid residence permit issued by the Naturalization and Residency Department in the United Arab Emirates if the importer is not a citi-zen of the GCC countries.• It is advised to approach customs authority and Vehicle Traffic De-partment in the country from which

the vehicle is exported to know the required documents.• If the car is not in the name of the importer, a valid POA empowering its holder the right to dispose and pay the customs duties thereof must be attached.• The Customs Authority issues a vehicle registration certificate di-rected to the Traffic Department.• A valid vehicle insurance.The procedures of importing a car to the country are as follows:• Original invoice and original cer-tificate of origin.• Certificate of the vehicle confor-mity to the standard specifications of the UAE.• Payment of customs duties of 5% including (vehicle value + freight fees + insurance).• A valid residence permit for the importer if he is not a citizen of Gulf Cooperation Council Counties.• After paying the fees, the customs authority will grant a vehicle reg-istration certificate issued for the Traffic Department.• If the car is not in the name of the importer, a valid POA empowering its holder the right to dispose and pay the customs duties thereof must be attached.• A valid vehicle insurance.• It is not allowed to import more than one car per year, unless the im-porter has a commercial register in the activity of selling and importing cars.

How can I get the clearing statement?You must refer to the Local Customs Office to obtain the clearance statement.

How can I get an im-porter number?The local customs de-partments are respon-sible for the importer code issued by the customs to import-ers whose commercial licenses allow them to import and export goods. Kindly contact the customs through which the goods are imported or exported.

Can I import medi-cines?All medicines are restricted and are not allowed to enter unless after obtain-ing the approval of the UAE Ministry of Health and Preven-tion. Accordingly, you can contact the Ministry of Health and Prevention through the avail-able communication channels to ensure that the medicines you wish to import are allowed to enter the country.

Are customs fees charged when shop-ping online?When shopping on-line from outside the United Arab Emir-ates and the value of the goods exceeds one thousand dir-hams or its equiva-lent in other curren-cies, it will be subject to customs duties due thereon according to the Unified Customs Law and the Unified Customs Tariff.

What are the cash amounts that a trav-eler can carry?There is no upper limit for entering money with travelers, however the currencies, bearer-negotiable financial instruments, precious metals, or precious stones equivalent to 60 thousand dirhams or more must be disclosed when entering the cus-toms office, where the customs officer will, in accordance with the risk criteria, check the currencies or bearer-negotiable financial instruments, precious metals, or precious stones with the de-clared information and record them into the au-tomated system, stamp the declaration/ disclo-sure form with the cus-toms stamp, hand over the customer a copy of the form and allow him to enter the country.


Reports Customs Inquiries

�Abu Dhabi (Emirates Customs)

The Federal Customs Authority (FCA) on course for implementing Cabinet resolution number 62 of 2019 pertaining customs unified national num-ber across the State.The system will be officially launched in Febru-ary 2020 in accordance with article 15 of Cabinet resolution which provided for promulgating the resolution in the official gazette and shall be en-forceable three months after promulgation, which has already taken place on 14th November 2019.Third article of the resolution prescribed estab-lishing a system within the Authority cited “State customs customers’ unified national number” with a view to create a database for importers, exporters, customs brokers within State to be

utilized for accomplishing set of objectives the most prominent of which; registering importers, exporters, customs brokers within State, feed-ing risk engine in Authority and customs de-partments, exchanging information among the Authority, concerned federal and local customs institutions or concerned entities within GCC countries. Moreover, the system aims at supporting elec-tronic platforms to contribute to dispatch deci-sion making by government entities, developing statistics of importers, exporters and customs brokers, augmenting trade facilitation strategy and submitting necessary recommendations to concerned entities to facilitate appropriate deci-sion taking.

The Unified national Numbersystem implementation authorizedby the Cabinet

Target categories, Mechanism of Registration, Fines and Grievance Procedures Authorized

Establishing target categories’ database to feed-in risk engine, facilitate trade and exchange information among local departments

System is set to be rolled out officially in February 2020, and to include importers, exporters and customs brokers within the StateFile prepared by: Hassan Elkamhawi


The File

In a press release, the Authority an-nounced system implementation target categories into three key categories and clarified that article (2) of the resolution highlighted that its provision shall apply to all importers, exporters and customs brokers across the State.Authority RolesThe Authority added that in accordance with article (4) of Cabinet resolution, the Authority assumes the responsibility for implementing and overseeing the sys-tem in coordination with local customs departments; Authority mandates under the umbrella of the new system include, inter alia, receiving applications of uni-fied national number information regis-tration, its renewal or update through the system and auditing the same, issuing the unified national number, renew or update its data, developing studies and statistics, defining risk indicators pertaining im-porters, exporters and customs custom-ers brokers registered in the system.Furthermore, the resolution mandated the Authority with the responsibility of coordinating with relevant customs de-partments and government entities per-taining importers, exporters and customs brokers information, notifications and data as well as taking necessary proce-dure in addition to responding to import-ers, exporters and customs brokers when it comes to the unified national number in coordination with customs depart-ments, exchanging information with customs departments on the outcomes of system progress, updates and evalu-ation during implementation phase as well as the extent of compliance among concerned parties with updating data and notifications with system related entities and submitting regular reports.The Authority pointed out that the uni-fied national system incorporates various layers of data including the trade license of importers, exporters and customs bro-kers, information of industrial license (if any), legal representative of importers, exporters, customs brokers and registra-tion in-charge in addition to any other data as required by the Authority.Customers ObligationsIn its statement, the Authority clarified that article (7) of Cabinet resolution ex-plicitly laid down the obligations of im-porters, exporters and customs brokers and highlighted that no export, import or transit activity will be permitted without unified national number, it also obliged all importers, exporters and customs bro-kers to register within the system, renew

registration on annual basis, regularly update their data in accordance with such mechanism and within timeframe set by Authority Chairman in coordination with the Minister of Finance.The Authority emphasized that import-ers, exporters and customs brokers shall notify the Authority upon ceasing their import or export activity whether par-tially or entirely, and provided that data submitted for registration or renewal within the system MUST be correct and not misleading. Registration ProceduresRegarding registration procedures in the system, the Authority said Cabinet resolution stipulated that registration in the system shall be effected in electronic form whereas importer, exporter and customs broker (or their representatives) have to submit registration application in the system electronically, obtain a user name and password, attach all registra-tion requisite documents as indicated in the resolution and pay established regis-tration fees according to Authority’s laid down procedure in this regard.Following this procedure, the Author-ity audits the application and its attach-ments and verify its completeness failing which, importer, exporter and customs broker will by notified thereof by such means set by the Authority to com-plete required information and docu-ments within 15 days from notification date, such term may be renewable for

similar term and failing to comply with such term, application will be discarded. Where an application meets all registra-tion requisites, the Authority issues ini-tial unified national number then notifies local customs departments thereof.The resolution conferred local customs departments the power to audit the uni-fied national number as well as the right to instruct importer, exporter and cus-toms broker complete necessary data and procedures. According to applicable procedures, lo-cal departments shall communicate ap-proving or declining unified national number to the Authority so that, where local customs departments consent the unified national number for a customer, the Authority will issue the final num-ber to customer and notify the applicant thereof then maintain the number in spe-cial registers prepared for such purpose within the Authority, but in case local customs departments decline the ap-plication, the Authority communicates such decision to the applicant without refunding collected fees for such pur-pose while the Authority communicates declining the application to the govern-ment entities concerned with regulating import and export operations within the State along with the causes behind such decline. However, applicant may submit new application to issue another unified national number.According to article (8), the Cabinet per-

mitted customs to register in the system and submit unified national number ap-plication by electronic means through local customs departments platforms integrated with the Authority based on Authority Chairman’s instructions.It is a precedent conditions to register, update or renewal process to attach a number of documents as valid trade li-cense true copy, valid industrial license (if any) true copy, passport or ID copy for company or establishment owners and representatives in addition to any other documents prescribed by the Authority. The system stipulated submitting written or electronic consent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation pertaining diplomatic missions and attaching official and approved letter from the entity for government entities’ applications.

Fines and PenaltiesAs regards to administrative penalties and fines imposed upon anyone violating registration procedure and rules, article (10) of the resolution addressed these issues as it provided that; without preju-dice to any more stringent punishments prescribed by other legislation, the Au-thority may, by a resolution issued from its Chairman or his deputy, impose four categories of fines upon violating im-porters, exporters and customs brokers according to the type of violation.The Authority pointed out that failure

to register importers, exporters and cus-toms brokers in the system will result in a fine amounting one thousand Dirham for the first month following registration term expiry in addition to 100 Dirham for each month following the first month up to no more than 5 thousand Dirham.On the other hand, the fine for not re-newing the unified national number in the system for 60 days from its expiry and also not updating data in the system within 30 days from data variation will entail a fine of 500 Dirham each month up to no more than 2500 Dirham while the fine of submitting misleading or in-correct data in unified national number application shall be 5 thousand Dirham up to no more than 10 thousand Dirham.In its statement, the Authority clarified that, for the purpose of implementing such administrative fines imposed in application of article (10), a fraction of a month will be calculated as a whole month given that the Cabinet may, upon Authority Chairman’s proposal, issue a resolution to determine other admin-istrative penalties and violations to be imposed on anyone violating resolution provisions or any instructions or ordi-nances issued in execution thereof. The Authority will collect imposed adminis-trative fines by such instruments deter-mined by the Ministry of Finance.Regarding government entities and dip-lomatic missions engaged in importing or exporting from and to the country, the resolution exempted such entities from these administrative fines. Grievance MechanismCabinet resolution regulated, in article (12) thereof, the mechanism of submit-ting grievance against administrative penalties where it stipulated forming a grievance committee within the Author-ity to consider grievances raised against administrative penalties. The said com-mittee, its competences and the manner of submitting grievances will be regulat-ed by Authority Chairman’s resolution. Without prejudice to the right to recourse to legal proceedings, anyone sustaining administrative penalty may raise a griev-ance against the resolution before griev-ance committee formed within the Au-thority, within (15) days from claimant’s knowledge of challenged resolution.As well, grievance will be considered within (30) thirty days from its submis-sion provided that non response to the grievance within the said term will serve as declining the grievance and renders grievance resolution conclusive.

10 Mandates to Sys-tem Management CommitteeH.E Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi, Commis-sioner of Customs - Chairman of FCA issued resolution No. 136 of 2019 last De-cember end. The resolution provided for forming a committee on “Managing Cus-toms Customers unified national number”, the committee is chaired by Huda Humaid Balhool, Director of Operations and Cus-toms Control Department and the chair form deputy chairman goes for Halima Al-bloushi, Director of Information Technol-ogy Department.

The committee encompasses Ameera Alserkal, Director of Government Com-munication Department, Tareq Bura-heema, Director of Customs Development Department, Abdulla Albadwawi, Director of Customs Control and Monitoring Divi-sion, Abdualla aljazeeri, Head of Customs Response and Intelligence, Hessa Meeran, Head of Customer Service within Customs Development Department, as committee members in addition to a number of key executives from various departments.

The resolution assigned 10 key mandates to the committee including setting a plan detailing the steps and mechanisms of im-plementing and rolling out exporters and importers’ unified national number proj-ect in compliance with cabinet resolution No. 62 of 2019 pertaining customs custom-ers unified national number across State, communicating system implementation to customers and local customs departments and ensuring the readiness of Authority and local customs departments in terms of technical, technological and procedural aspects for electronic integration.

Also, committee mandates include pilot-ing the system after inter-customs depart-ments integration completion, developing registration system mechanism which forms a key requisite of the unified nation-al number project, following up any ad-ditional future developments or variations to achieve its intended goals, laying down firms registration and approval standards and measures, firms registration processes risk management plans in addition to as-sessing registration system progress dur-ing rolling out phase, handling challenges directly, setting necessary corrective ac-tions, laying down project development proposals in par with local customs de-partments requirements in addition to any other mandates designated to the commit-tee by Authority Chairman.

The resolution vested the committee with the right to engage whoever it deems ap-propriate inside or outside the Authority to discharge its mandates provided that it shall fulfill its mission within no more than (one month) from resolution issuance date.

Constraints upon export, import or transit transactions across State without unified national

number and annual renewal


The File


Huda Humaid Balhool Al Falasi, Direc-tor of Customs Operations and Control Department in the Federal Customs Au-thority, Chairman of the Committee of Unified National Number System Man-agement confirmed to the dealers of the UAE Customs Authority that the wise leadership of the UAE and the higher leadership of the Authority are keen that the registration in the system shall be free and without any burdens or financial fees to make it easy for the targeted audience, and within the framework of implement-ing the Cabinet’s resolution not to in-crease the fees of services provided by government authorities of the country.In a special interview with UAE Customs Magazine, she indicated that the new sys-tem aims to facilitate trade and provide an attractive and stimulating business en-vironment with all local customs depart-ments in the country by issuing a unified national number for importers, exporters, customs clearers, as well as diplomatic missions and government authorities that have customs dealings.She explained that the registration in the system is mandatory and that the targeted audience will not be able to exercise their commercial activity including export or import without obtaining the unified na-tional number, pointing out that the fail-ure to register or renew annually in the system shall expose importers, exporters and customs clearers to fines ranging be-

tween 500 and 10 thousand AED accord-ing to the type of violation.Below are the details of the interview:

X At the beginning, what is the Uni-fied National Number System for the dealers of UAE Customs?

The unified national number system is a unified electronic database in which the names and data of dealers including im-porters, exporters and customs clearers in the country are registered. It is called “the unified national number system for the dealers of UAE customs.” The dealer registered in the system shall be granted a unified national number issued by the Authority through the system, and through this number he can practice his commercial activity and without it, he will not be able to do the same.

X What is meant by the dealers of UAE Customs and what are their catego-ries?

The dealers of UAE customs are the natu-ral or legal persons who import or export goods from, to or through the country, in-cluding import and export from the free zones, as well as those customs clearers. Thus, the system is mainly concerned with three main categories: importers, exporters and customs clearers.

X Is the system applied to diplomatic missions and government authori-ties?

The system includes both diplomatic missions and government authorities that have customs dealings. Diplomatic mis-

sions shall provide written or electronic approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UAE, while government authorities in the country shall provide an official letter from the same authority when reg-istering in the system as a prerequisite for obtaining a unified national number.What is the total estimated number of the dealers of UAE Customs targeted by reg-istration in the system?** According to feasibility studies pre-pared by the authority regarding the uni-fied national number system, the number of dealers targeted by the system is ap-proximately 300 thousand companies, in addition to diplomatic missions and rel-evant government authorities.

X What is the goal of applying the sys-tem? What is the return or benefit accruing to the UAE economy from its application? How does the system serve the goals of the UAE Vision 2021?

The authority sought to achieve a set of strategic goals through the application of the unified national number for the deal-ers of UAE Customs in a way that en-hances the competitiveness of the UAE and contributes to facilitating trade and supports the sustainable development process of the national economy and achieves the goals and principles of the UAE Vision 2021 and indicators of the national agenda, in addition to support-ing the security system and customs risks management.

Among the most important goals that the new system aims to achieve are to provide a reference information base to exchange customs data at the level of the country, raise the efficiency of inspec-tion systems, support risk management in the UAE customs, strengthen, monitor and control counterfeit and misbranded goods and combat and detect smuggling crimes.The system also aims to provide the re-quirements of developing customs secu-rity systems for the use of the competent authorities, support efforts purporting to establish systems for self-monitoring of traders at the level of the country, estab-lish an infrastructure for the implementa-tion of the “unified window” project in the future to process import and export procedures to support trade facilitation. In addition, the system will be a corner stone for registering companies at the level of Customs Union of Arab Gulf States.

X You have announced that the system aims to facilitate trade and support the country’s strategy in this field .. How will the system achieve the same?

Trade facilitation is one of the most im-portant strategic goals of the authority for the period from 2017 to 2021. The unified customs strategy of the Author-ity and local customs departments in-cludes achieving a set of goals, includ-ing strengthening the system of customs risks and customs inspection to increase

the level of society security, developing customs work to facilitate trade and the movement of travelers and building stra-tegic relationships and partnerships to support the competitive advantage of the country and ensure that all administra-tive services are provided in accordance with quality, efficiency and transparency standards.From this standpoint, we see that the uni-fied national number system for the deal-ers of the UA customs contributes signif-icantly to achieving such goals through the quality of information provided by the system where it works as a database for all categories of dealers, including importers, exporters, customs clearers, diplomatic missions and government au-thorities. Such information will help the Authority and competent departments in the country to take the right decision re-garding the supply chain. In addition, the system aims to standardize company reg-istration systems and customs procedures at the level of the country and provide faster means of communication with the targeted audience, enabling the author-ity to identify the challenges facing the parties to the business process and de-velop corrective plans thereto, which will achieve the benefit of exporters, import-ers and customs clearers in the first place.

X What benefits will traders or dealers gain from registering and subscrib-ing to the system?

According to the studies that have been prepared, the benefits accruing to the

dealers from registering in the system are many and multiple. The most prominent of which is providing an attractive and stimulating work environment through the organization and establishment of export and import procedures, customs clearance, and standardization of cus-toms procedures, in addition to speeding up the decision-making process regard-ing the approved economic operator, fa-cilitating the process of communication between the dealers and the customs departments at the level of the country by issuing the unified national number for each dealer, as well as enabling the dealers to take the right economic deci-sion based on accurate and correct in-formation, and ensuring transparency in the supply chain and purifying it from procedural impurities. There is no doubt that all of that saves time, effort and cost for the dealers of the UAE customs, in addition to other advantages that can be adopted in the future in light of the actual implementation of the system.

X The categories targeted by the sys-tem are wide and diversified .. What is the plan of the Authority to reach such targeted audience and make them aware of the system? What are the required procedures? What are the features of the media plan to in-crease the awareness of the system?

Indeed, the diversity of the targeted audi-ence in the new system represents a ma-jor challenge for the Authority, especially with the expansion of the map of traders

“Unified National Number”aims at Facilitating Trade and Providingan Attractive Business Environment

Director of Operations Department and Chairman of the SystemCommittee in an interview with UAE Federal Customs Authority

The new system does not impose any burdens on importers,exporters, customs clearers and registration without fees

The number of dealers targeted by registration is about 300 thousand compa-nies in addition to diplomatic missions and relevant government authorities

The system has a very positive impact on Customs

Risk Management System by feeding the risk driver with

data and information

A marketing and media plan was developed to educate the targeted audience using new media techniques and skills and modern communication

technologies


The File

and their geographical spread in all Emir-ates. Understanding this challenge, the Authority prepared a marketing and me-dia plan to educate the targeted audience and reach them in their whereabouts us-ing modern techniques, skills, media and communication technologies.The marketing and media plan of the sys-tem will include publishing news, press releases and periodic announcements in various media means about the system, its requirements and updates, training workshops, developments of registration in the system and launch dates, arranging TV and radio interviews about the sys-tem, its requirements and its mechanism of work and conducting dialogues and press interviews with officials of the sys-tem on different intervals, in addition to preparing briefings or press conferences, intensifying posting and communication via social media websites of Chambers of Commerce, the Authority and local cus-toms departments, launching the system-specific tags on those sites and preparing the introductory videos of the system and other approved media and marketing ini-tiatives.Based on the Authority’s experiences and its human and technical capabili-ties in this field, we expect the success of the marketing and media campaign in achieving effective communication with the targeted audience, as well as the suc-cess of the registration process in the sys-tem during the specified time period.

X What are the stages approved to ap-ply the system?

Currently, according to the approved studies, the system includes 3 basic stag-es; the first stage which is registration in the system, the second stage which is submitting the application of the unified national number to dealers and the third stage which is using the national number in sharing information, news and trade facilitation systems. Here we would like to point out that the system is flexible and accepts development at any stage or adding new stages. In the light of expe-rience, data and information that will be available, other stages may be added in the future serving traders, importers and clearers and enhancing the competitive advantage of the national economy.

X Are there fees for registration in the system paid by dealers upon registra-tion, or is registration free of charge? In the case it is free of charge... why free registration is approved and the proposed registration fees are can-celed?

Out of the Authority’s higher leadership compliance with the resolution of the Honorable Cabinet issued in 2018 not to increase the fees of services for 3 years, and in appreciation of the role of traders, importers and exporters in supporting and promoting the process of sustainable development in the country, the higher leadership of the Authority decided in co-ordination with the Ministry of Finance, based on the directives of the Honorable Cabinet and the Ministerial Develop-ment Council, not to impose any fees for dealers registration in the system during the current period, and to contend only with imposing limited fines to those who are not committed to registration in the scheduled dates to motivate the targeted audience to adhere to and register in the system, where the budget of the authority will incur the cost of establishing and de-veloping the system completely without any charge to the dealers.

X What is the time scheduled for the actual application of the system?

The Honorable Cabinet’s Resolution No. 62 of 2019 regarding the system stipu-lates that the actual work of the system shall begin three months after the date of publishing the decision in the Official Gazette. Since the decision was pub-

lished in the Official Gazette on Novem-ber 14, 2019, this means that the system will enter into official implementation according to the decision on February 14, 2020, according to the plan approved by the Authority in coordination with the Min-istry of Finance. In light of the results of implementation plans currently being prepared, the dates for the various stages of the actual implementation of the sys-tem, including the experimental stage, will be determined and announced in an updated manner to all the targeted audi-ence through the media and the various communication channels.What is the approved period to register in the system? Is there a possibility to ex-tend that period for similar periods?The period currently approved for regis-tration in the system is one year provided that it shall be renewed annually and pe-riodically, with fines being imposed on those who are late in registration or due to failure to renew in the scheduled dates or submitting incorrect data.

X Will the authority provide the reg-istration system in the chambers of commerce and local customs depart-ments to facilitate access for traders and dealers to the system and regis-tration therein?

In order to make it easy for the targeted audience and enable them to register in the system at any time easily and con-veniently, an integrated, advanced and simple electronic system has been devel-oped for registration in the system 24/7. The system will be available on Internet and in the Authority and local customs departments.

X What is the role of customs depart-ments in particular in the applica-tion of the system? Are they entitled to accept or reject applications to register in the system?

Cabinet Resolution No. 62 of 2019 speci-fied the competencies of both the Federal Customs Authority and the local customs departments. As per Article (8), the Cabi-net Resolution authorized the dealers to register in the system and submit an application for obtaining the unified na-tional number electronically through the systems of local customs departments which is electronically linked with the Authority according to the instructions issued by the Chairman of the authority.The Resolution also gives the local cus-toms departments the power to check the application of the unified national

number, as well as the right to ask the importer, exporter or customs clearers to complete the necessary data and proce-dures therein.According to the approved procedures, the local customs departments shall notify the Authority of accepting or re-jecting the applications of the unified national number. If the local customs departments approve the unified national number of the dealer, the Authority shall issue the unified national number to him permanently and notify the applicant of approval. The number shall be kept in the relevant records with the Authority and customs departments. In the event that the local customs departments reject the application, the Authority shall notify the applicant of the rejection without re-funding the fees that were collected for that purpose. The Authority shall notify the competent government authorities concerned with organizing import and export operations in the country of rejec-tion of the application and the reasons of the final rejection thereof. The applicant may submit a new application to obtain another unified national number.According to the available information, the system includes the issuance of a uni-fied number for every trader or dealer who registers therein .. Is this number binding in the event that the trader per-forms import or export transactions, and without it the trader cannot perform his work in this regard? What is the validity period of this number?Registration in the system shall be man-datory for everyone involved in import, export or customs clearance activities. To ensure that this purpose is achieved, the system has included the issuance of the unified national number for import-ers, exporters and customs clearers that shall be approved, and customs depart-ments at the level of the country shall be dealt based on that. Without registration and obtaining such number, the importer, exporter or customs clearers shall not be able to perform his activities. Hence, the Authority hopes that all targeted audi-ence comply with registration within the prescribed time period, which will be an-nounced in coordination with the Minis-try of Finance when the new system en-ters into force officially.

X In the event that the dealers or trad-ers fail to register in the system, what are the administrative penalties or fines prescribed in this regard?

The system specified a set of penalties and penal procedures not for the purpose

of financial levy, collection of money or punishment of violators, but to ensure that the targeted audience adhere to the deadlines set for registration and annual renewal or not to provide incorrect data.Article (10) of the Council of Ministers Resolution deals with the administrative penalties and fines on violators of the procedures and rules for registration in the system. It stipulates that the Authority shall impose, by a decision of the Chair-man or his representative, four categories of fines on violators including importers, exporters and customs clearers according to the type of violation.The fine imposed for non-registration of importers, exporters and customs clear-ers in the system is AED 1000 for the first month after the end of the time pe-riod specified for registration, in addition to AED 100 for every month of delay after the first month with a maximum of AED 5000. The fine for not renewing the unified national number in the sys-tem within 60 days from the date of the expiry thereof, and for not updating the data in the system within 30 days from the date of changing the same, shall be AED 500 for each month with a maxi-mum of AED 2500.The value of the fine imposed on submit-ting misleading or incorrect data in the application of the unified national num-ber in the system shall be AED 5000 with a maximum of AED 10000.The Council of Ministers, based on a proposal from the Chairman of the Au-thority, may issue a resolution specifying violations and other administrative pen-alties for anyone violating the provisions of the resolution, instructions or resolu-tions issued in implementation thereof. The Authority will receive the adminis-trative fines imposed through the means

determined by the Ministry of Finance.As for the government authorities and diplomatic missions involved in the pro-cess of importing or exporting to and from the country, the decision exempted such authorities from administrative fines.Is there a clear mechanism for grievance against administrative fines or penalties in the event that it is objected by the trad-ers?According to the Resolution of the Coun-cil of Ministers, a committee shall be established in the Authority to discuss grievances against administrative penal-ties. The formation of the committee and determining the competencies thereof as well as the method of submitting the grievance shall be determined by a deci-sion issued by the Chairman of the Au-thority. Without prejudice to the right to recourse to the judiciary, the person against whom a decision of administra-tive penalty has been issued may file a grievance against the decision before the grievance committee formed in the Au-thority within (15) days from the date of the grievance applicant notification of the decision.The grievance shall also be examined within (30) thirty days from the date of its submission. Failure to respond to the grievance during that period shall be deemed as rejection. The decision issued with regard to the grievance shall be fi-nal.

X Some believe that the system will increase the burdens of traders and dealers with customs ... What is your reply to that?

In light of the directives of the higher leadership and the decision of the Honor-able Cabinet, we confirm that the system will not increase the burdens of traders and dealers and that the opposite is true. The system was designed and its mecha-nism of work was developed to facilitate dealing with the Authority and the local customs departments by various catego-ries of dealers. It is also flexible in terms of the quality or nature of the required data or documents. Above all, the import-er, exporter, customs clearers and other categories will not bear any financial bur-dens or costs in consideration of register-ing in the system. While the registration process is important, it will take only a few minutes as long as the required docu-ments are available and correct. Hence, it can be said that the system does not en-tail any additional burdens on the dealers with the customs of the country.

Fines and penal procedures do not aim to collect

money, but rather to ensure compliance with registration

and renewal procedures within the specified dates


The File

Customers: Natural or legal persons importing or exporting

goods from, to or across the State according to

this resolution including import and export

from free zones.

Importer: Natural or legal

person importing goods to the State, including all

customs forms and status as temporary entry or transit,

import for re-export and other customs import forms as well as all forms of importing from free

zones.

Exporter: Natural or legal person exporting

goods abroad including export from and to State free zones.

Customs broker: Every natural or legal person

licensed to practice customs clearance activity for the favor of

others.

Unified electronic database capturing information and data on customers, as importers, exporters and customs brokers called “State customs Unified National Number system”. The system issues registered customs, through the Authority, a unified national number

• Reinforcing UAE competitiveness worldwide in economic, trade and customs domains.

• Facilitating trade and enabling traders practice their businesses easily and readily.

• Contributing to providing capital attractive environment.• Promoting the efficiency of inspection system and supporting risk

departments within State customs.• Supporting national products and assisting them to open new markets

abroad.• Unified database for customs customers to enrich decision making

process.• Developing, unifying and facilitating customs procedure State wide.• Innovating electronic smart services that enable traders and importers

attain savings in business interactions time and effort.• Augmenting necessary infrastructure to develop the “Single Window”

project, as it forms a backbone to implement the unified national number

• Identifying risks encountered by customers to find root remedies thereof.

• Facilitating information exchange with federal, local or GCC institutions.• Developing statistics and submitting necessary recommendations to

concerned entities.

• Implementing and overseeing the system, in coordination with local customs departments.

• Receiving applications of registering, renewing or updating the unified national number and auditing the same.

• Issuing, renewing or updating the unified national number.• Developing studies and statistics and determining risk indicators.• Coordinating with both customs departments and government entities

on targeted categories relevant information, notifications and data.• Responding to customers inquiries and complaints in coordination with

local customs.• Exchanging information with customs departments on system progress,

updates and assessment.

• To avoid practicing export, import or transit activity without unified national number.

• To observe registering in the system• To renew registration annually.• To update data regularly.• Notifying the Authority upon customer activity

suspension wholly or partially. • Ensuring that data is correct and not misleading.

Trade license data.Data of Industrial license (if any).Customer legal representative data.Any other data required by the Authority.

Cabinet resolution number 62 of 2019 pertaining State customs Customers’ unified national number.

• To audit the unified national number.• To request completing requisite data and procedure.• Communicating accepting or declining the unified

national number to the Authority.

Unified National Number system for Emirates Customs Customers

System Objectives:

• Registering in the system through electronic platforms or local departments integrated with the Authority.

• Obtaining user name and password.• Attaching requisite documents to register and pay fees in compli-

ance with Authority procedures.• Auditing the application and its attachments.• If documents lack completeness, customer will be notified thereof

within 15 days from notification date subject to renewal for similar term where application will be discarded when such term lapses.

• The Authority issues initial unified national number then communi-cates the same to local customs departments.

Registration Procedure:

• Failure to register in the system: One thousand Dirham for the first month following registration term expiry in addition to 100 Dirham for each month following the first month up to a maximum limit of 5 thousand Dirham.

• Failure to renew within 60 days from expiry date: 500 Dirham for each month, up to a maximum limit of 2500 Dirham.

• Failure to update data within 30 days from data variation date: 500 Dirham for each month, up to a maximum limit of 2500 Dirham.

• Submitting misleading or incorrect data in the application: 5 thousand up to a no more than 10 thousand Dirham.

• Fraction of a month will be calculated as one month.• The cabinet may, upon Authority Chairman proposal, issue a resolution

to determine other administrative penalties and violations. • Government institutions and diplomatic missions are exempted from

administrative fines.

• A committee to be formed in the Authority to consider grievances against administrative penalties, a resolution by Authority Chairman will set commit-tee mandates and the manner of grievance submis-sion.

• Anyone sustaining administrative penalty may raise a grievance against the resolution before grievance

Fines and Penalties:

Registration fees:

Registration in the system is free.

Mechanism of Grievance:

Target Categories:

Customers Obligations:

Data Types:

• True copy of valid trade license and industrial license (if any).

• Passport or ID copy of company or establishment’s owners and representatives.

• Any other documents prescribed by the Authority.

• Written or electronic consent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Coopera-tion pertaining diplomatic missions

• Official approved letter from the entity for government institutions.

Requisite Documents:

Authority Roles:

Local Customs Competencies:

Importers

Exporters

Customs brokers

committee within (15) days from claimant’s knowledge of such resolution.

• Grievance will be considered within (30) thirty days from its submission given that non response to the grievance within the said term will serve as declin-ing thereof and renders grievance resolution conclusive.

Diplomatic missions

Government authorities

January 2020 Emirates Customs 25January 2020Emirates Customs24

Customs officers, working on the Moroccan virtual border crossing “Bab Melilla” de-tained a person with significant amount of foreign currency without authorization from cus-toms authorities.The suspect has been detained, based on the efforts exerted by customs authorities aiming at confront money smuggling phe-nomenon and protecting nation-al economy.He was arrested while being in luxury car, after inspection he was found holding significant money amounting 64 million centime in addition to bank cheques. Sources said he was referred to judicial police team at Alnazour for investigating the matter where he was detained under custody pending reporting to justice for attributed charges.

Customs workforce aborted “Cannabis” drug smuggling operation in Tangier-Med early last December heading to Eu-rope. The consignment was concealed with efficiency with-in England-bound truck tires. When customs inspectors in-spected the truck, assigned to transport vegetables, they found 30 kilogram of “Cannabis” drug consignment concealed within rear tires. Truck driver, Moroccan nation-al, has been arrested by secu-rity forces who lead him to the premises of Tanger-Med region under custody pending investi-gation.

Morocco

Attempt to smuggle 64 Million Foreign Currency

Customs of Tangier Thwarts Drugs Smuggling to Europe

Customs officers in Alexandria Port aborted an attempt to smuggle million cosmetics product package, of cus-toms and taxes estimation of LE 5 mil-lion from an Arabic country to Egypt.Criminal Search at Alex. Port re-ceived information that a firm, hav-ing its premises at Alameria first police station, conceals inbound pro-hibited items within container with an intention of smuggling.Investigations validated the incident and ascertained that the said firm im-ported a consignment from an Ara-bic country containing “beverages”

within a container. Investigations revealed that company owners con-cealed prohibited items within con-signment containment for inbound illicit smuggling.After legal formalities, a customs security committee is formed to take inventory of consignment in-clusions, to find million cosmetics packages of anonymous different types and sizes whose customs and taxes fees amount LE 5 million. Incident report has been prepared pending competent prosecution pro-cess for legal action.

Egypt Millions of Cosmetics Products Smuggling AbortedJordanian State Audit Institution’s report

for 2018 revealed that customs and taxes evasion amounted JD 411.8 million for income and sales taxes and Customs

Department. The report highlighted that customs and tax-es evasion amounted JD 23.6 according to the report while achieved financial savings amounted JD 53.8 billion.He clarified that total conferred customs ex-emptions during 2018 amounted JD billion and 98 million indicating that such matter requires con-sidering pertinent legislations. The report highlighted the existence of 32 suits of public fund violations amounting JD 65 thousand in addition to 746 violation of utilizing government vehicles.Furthermore, the report indicated that taxes and customs

evasion and customs violation is attributable to importer cards, inspection procedures carried

out by Customs Department over imported or exported commodities in addition to lack of control in border zones, warehouses (bond-ed) and free and development zones. Causes indicated by report included also ef-ficiency shortfall of audit committee dedi-

cated to conduct visits to audit accounting entries and records on one hand and non ob-

servance of relative importance standard by tax department and high risk profile of public finance in

auditing registered persons.Worth to mention that customs violations in 2018, accord-ing to Jordanian Customs Department, amounted 76815 violations in aggregate representing JD 30522546 out-standing fees according to the report.

Jordan JD 412 Million, Taxes and Customs Evasion

Sudanese Red Sea Anti smuggling forces abort-ed, early December, an attempt to smug-gle (85) camel, (3) lorries loading 1200 flour bag, pick-up vehicle loading 11 jerry can of fuel intend-ed to be smuggled outside the country. In relevant context, Northern State Anti Smug-gling Department, (Kareema) branch could seizure (4) Bedford lorries, ZS vehicles loading (188) gasoline barrel of subsidized gaso-

line without authentication on the route of escaping.

Major General Salah Al Himary, Director of Anti Smuggling General Directorate said that his forces spreading over all states could seizure enormous quantities

of fuel (benzene – gasoline) intended for

outbound smuggling in an activities performed by

weak-spirited individuals aiming at swift gains by smuggling the fuel subsidized by state to serve its citi-zens.

Sudan Smuggling Camels and Subsidized FuelSaudi Customs has recently executed

a contract on awarding new Bathaa shipment Port design project with na-tional firm. It is anticipated to be con-structed within next phase. In details, Saudi Customs said that the project will be located on approx-imately 600 thousand square meter. The design of new Bathaa shipment port copes with the growing move-ment of travelers across the port and will represent significant support to reinforce the magnitude of trade ex-change and economic relations with the brother countries by providing all means to accomplish trucks move-ment.

It pointed out that the new shipment port will bring success in achiev-ing Saudi-Emirates Coordination Council’s most significant initiatives known as “Facilitating streamline

movement in ports”. It said “The design of shipment port will enter-tain all ideal design requirements of land ports established by Customs in accordance with best international practices in this industry after per-forming extensive studies of status quo within land ports, evaluating op-erational procedures, acquaintance of relevant customs government en-tities’ requirements and remarks to further attain Saudi Customs aims to have in place customs ports fitting with Saudi image and position, en-hancing its economy and supporting Saudi’s transition to be international logistic hub.

KSA New Bathaa Port Design Awarded

launching and that achievements represent 48% of its annual operational plan programs, the most initiatives of which is capabilities building to support employing technology and analyzing customs declarations whereby the committee recommended that the Organization would put in place an exhaustive framework on huge declarations, analyzing declarations and utilizing the results of BACUDA search conducted by the Organization by group of experts in data analysis science at Korean Basic Sciences Institute. As well, they discussed the issue of gender equality in customs where Customs Chairman affirmed to the committee that Bahrain Customs, since opening the first airport in early six-teenth of past century, acknowledged the significance of woman’s presence due to prevailing community traditions and customs pertaining interaction with women, since then woman is forming an integral part not only in customs but in various domains. Currently, woman represents 26% of supervisory designations in Customs and recently, first woman has been appointed as Customs Affairs Director such an appointment marking Kingdom of Bahrain celebrations of Bahraini Woman’s Day.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Customs Chairman, Vice President of WCO, Regional Representative of middle and far east region presided working group encompass-ing ten Customs presidents and managers worldwide to discuss world customs organization communication strategies guidelines with an aim from the Organization to support member countries to identify key communication priorities on local and international levels. The group submits its recommendation to WCO policies committee meeting for incorpora-tion within committee’s final report. As well, Bahrain Customs presented a film called “Omar tries to be a Customs Officer for a Day” as a model of communicating with community through social media platform, the film attracted wide reverberate and admiration of the gathering. Events took place during Customs Chairman presided Bahrain delegate within the eighty second session of WCO policies committee convened in Korean capital Seoul during 3-5 of this December.Policies committee exhibited Organization General Secretary report on achieved progress in implementing 2019-2022 strategic plan on the occasion of lapsing six months from its

Woman incumbent 26% of Supervisory positions

Bahrain


Around the World

The Meeting is renewed

Ahmad Abdulla Bin Lahej

On November 27, 2013 A.D, the UAE, specifi-cally the Emirate of Dubai, had been chosen via an unprecedented vote by the representatives of member states of the International Exhibitions Bureau, to host the International Expo in 2020, whereby it became the first Arab country, and the first in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, to win the hosting of this global event.The UAE’s winning of hosting the exhibition in the Emirate of Dubai was the result of an inspiring cooperation between the wise leader-ship of the country and the event’s organizers, where an event or exhibition whose legacy has been planned, designed and operated for gen-erations to come.The international event will be held from Oc-tober 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021 under the slo-gan “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. Expo 2020 Dubai is based on the idea of estab-lishing new cross-sectoral ties and partnerships in order to inspire the solutions that will shape the future.There is no doubt that the UAE customs sec-tor is one of the important sectors that can play an important and strategic role in the success of this global event. Customs is the main gate-way through which the products and goods as well as the individuals participating in the exhibition pass. Therefore, this global event represents an opportunity to highlight the de-velopment witnessed by the customs sector in the country, and the level of urbanization and professionalism that it has reached. The exhibi-tion is also an opportunity to highlight the role of the customs sector in promoting the values and principles of tolerance, sustainability and human fraternity in parallel with its active role in supporting the security system and protect-ing society and preserving its stability.The deliveries and initiatives launched by Dubai Customs as part of its readiness for this important global event confirm that it is well

prepared and has succeeded in unleashing the potential capabilities of customs officials to in-vent new mechanisms and work systems that adopt modern technology and techniques as a methodology for the completion of customs duties and responsibilities.In addition, the Federal Customs Authority and the rest of the local customs departments are fully prepared to provide all aspects of support including devices and inspectors and open the ports to enter goods, visitors and others to sup-port Dubai Customs Authority throughout the exhibition in a unique embodiment of the slogan “the House is United”. We have no doubt that the customs sector’s dealing with this event will be a model for the rest of the global customs de-partments in the dealing and performance of the customs sector in the field of exhibition tourism and important international events.Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to show-case the achievements of the customs sector in the country and it also constitutes a major chal-lenge for the customs sector in the Emirate of Dubai in particular, and the UAE in general.In the light of a turbulent world in which security threats are increasing, the customs sector must take into account the importance of preserving the two sides of the customs equation “a safe society and concessional trade”, and achieving the concept of customs deterrence in parallel with facilitating trade and simplifying proce-dures.The customs sector must also develop its cus-toms tools, strategies and operations, and in-vent new tools that enable it to succeed in deal-ing with the vast amount of goods, companies and information that will be available during the exhibition and use that information and data to strengthen the customs risk manage-ment system and develop smart risk engines.Our confidence in the country’s customs sec-tor is great, and we are sure that the customs sector has a clear vision and plans to employ modern technologies, smart applications, arti-ficial intelligence technologies and the fourth industrial revolution in raising the level of customs performance during the period of this global event. We are completely confident that we are able to achieve the optimal utilization of customs initiatives such as “Economic Opera-tor “ accredited for example in serving the ex-hibition, as well as reducing customs clearance time, removing trade obstacles, enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE, and achieving op-timal employment of energies and human and financial resources, especially young people, in providing an ideal image of the UAE in general and the customs sector in particular during the exhibition period and thereafter.

Customs and “Expo 2020 Dubai”