New 2024-2028 Strategic Plan Announced by Abu Dhabi Customs

The United Arab Emirates handles trade worth over $500 billion each year. This makes customs operations vital to the country’s economic growth. Abu Dhabi Customs has unveiled its 2024-2028 Strategic Plan to boost trade and drive digital transformation. The five-year roadmap will help Abu Dhabi become a leading global trade hub by modernizing customs operations with innovative technologies.

The strategic plan shows Abu Dhabi’s bold vision to modernize its customs operations. It focuses on three main areas: trade facilitation, economic growth and digital advancement. Abu Dhabi Customs has shown its steadfast dedication to adapt to changing global trade patterns and serve stakeholders better. The plan will improve technology, streamline operations and strengthen security measures across the trading ecosystem.

Digital Transformation Vision

Abu Dhabi Customs has begun an ambitious digital transformation that brings major technological advances and innovative solutions. The organization’s digital customs transactions grew by 72% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Proactive and automated transactions now make up 42% of all customs transactions, with a growth of 24.3%.

The organization leads this digital rise through several groundbreaking technologies. Its advanced digital platform “Trade Chain” blends with global blockchain platforms and cuts goods clearance time and effort by 80%. This system boosts monitoring capabilities, predicts delivery times, and gives secure data exchange between customs authorities and connected entities.

The organization has implemented these key technologies:

• The Data Hub And Future Reporting Advancement “DHAFRA” system that uses AI-powered data governance and management
• Smart classification system with artificial intelligence for accurate HS code selection
• Advanced X-ray scanning devices that can scan 100 trucks, 150 tourist vehicles, and 150 buses per hour without stopping

These digital changes have improved operational efficiency substantially. Customs clearance time dropped to 13.86 minutes in the first half of 2024, down from 15.47 minutes in the same period of 2023. Pre-arrival customs clearance transactions now represent 71% of all clearance transactions in customs ports of all sizes across the emirate. This progress shows the organization’s commitment to creating an “Invisible Customs System.”

Trade Facilitation Initiatives

Abu Dhabi Customs shows its dedication to helping legitimate trade through several groundbreaking initiatives that streamline cross-border commerce. The organization has upgraded its pre-arrival clearance system at Al Ghuwaifat border crossing. It now requires advance preparation of customs declarations and features the innovative ‘Truck Crossing Permit’ system.

The Virtual Corridors Cargo Movement System represents a major step forward in the movement of duty-suspended goods between customs ports and free zones. The system uses electronic customs seals and works successfully at Khalifa Port for shipments going to Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD).

These initiatives have delivered impressive results:

• Pre-arrival customs clearance transactions reached 71% of total clearance operations
• Average clearance time reduced to 13.86 minutes in early 2024
• Digital customs transactions increased by 27% across Abu Dhabi’s border points

The Trade Chain platform combines blockchain technology to transform customs operations. It enhances shipment monitoring and improves communication with trade partners. This advanced system has achieved a remarkable 80% reduction in goods clearance time and effort. Abu Dhabi Customs strengthens its position as a world-class authority through these detailed trade measures. The organization works closely with partners to ensure secure and efficient trade operations.

Economic Impact and Growth

Abu Dhabi Customs’ strategic initiatives have delivered impressive results in many performance areas. Digital transactions grew by 27% in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023. This digital shift improved operational efficiency, reducing customs clearance times to 13.86 minutes from 15.47 minutes.

The organization’s economic progress is evident in these performance indicators:

• Pre-arrival customs clearance transactions reached 71% of total operations
• Proactive and automated transactions grew by 28%
• TAMM platform achieved 94% customer satisfaction

Abu Dhabi Customs has become a driving force for economic growth by implementing its strategic plan. This has helped achieve the emirate’s trade goals and strengthened public-private partnerships. The emirate has also become more attractive for import and export activities.

These results line up with Abu Dhabi’s economic vision, reflected in the non-oil economy’s growth of 9.1% in 2023. The customs authority’s initiatives have propelled this development, especially with the construction sector growing by 13.1% and the financial sector expanding by 25.5%. Abu Dhabi Customs continues to encourage economic prosperity through innovation and strategic development, working to remain a world-class customs authority.

Abu Dhabi Customs‘ 2024-2028 Strategic Plan proves their steadfast dedication to excellence and state-of-the-art solutions in trade facilitation. Major accomplishments in digital transformation have yielded measurable results. The organization achieved a 72% increase in digital transactions and reduced clearance times to 13.86 minutes. The Trade Chain platform and Virtual Corridors system showcase the authority’s successful modernization of customs operations.

These strategic initiatives have strengthened Abu Dhabi Customs’ essential role in the emirate’s economic growth. The TAMM platform achieved 94% customer satisfaction rates and recorded substantial increases in pre-arrival clearance transactions. Such results demonstrate the organization’s excellence in service delivery and support Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification goals. The non-oil sector’s 9.1% expansion reinforces this success.

Abu Dhabi Customs establishes new benchmarks in customs operations through state-of-the-art technology and strategic planning. The emirate’s all-encompassing approach to modernization emphasizes digital advancement and streamlined processes. This positions Abu Dhabi as a leading global trade hub ready to embrace future challenges and opportunities.