Dubai Customs set a record by processing over 30.4 million transactions, which is a 17.5% growth compared to the 25.8 million transactions in 2022, a report said.

This success is attributed to the ongoing success of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements programme launched in September 2021, said Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Customer satisfaction for the electronic and intelligent customs services reached an impressive 98%, available 24/7. On an average, Dubai Customs processes 84,000 daily customs transactions through its programmes and systems.

Dubai Customs has introduced digital initiatives and services to expedite business processes and strengthen Dubai's global trade hub status.

The "Cargo StatusTracking" project offers customers an outstanding experience by enabling them to monitor shipments from arrival to release, providing real-time oversight and comprehensive insight into customs clearance across Dubai's borders.

This project aims to boost efficiency, cut costs for customs authorities and traders, and support increased returns for businesses choosing Dubai as their operational base.

This initiative empowers customers to take swift actions based on shipment status, offering rapid support to over 200,000 clients, including importers, customs brokers, shipping companies, and transport firms.

It enhances transparency in the cargo clearance process, contributing to heightened customer satisfaction and striving to reduce the annual volume of inquiries to the call centre regarding shipments, currently totalling 55,000 calls.

Furthermore, the “Post Audit Robotic Process Automation (PCA-RPA)" initiative is a groundbreaking project designed to automate customs audit operations through AI-driven robots. These robots extract, categorise, verify, and identify potential risks from shipment-related documents.

The automation of auditor decisions across various cases is anticipated to cultivate new strategic capabilities focused on analysis, risk management, and decision-making.

The project aims to achieve 100% coverage for audits of completed customs declarations in Dubai Customs annually, particularly for high-value goods, categories, and customs situations, within the next five years.

In collaboration with the Dubai Government's Finance Department, Dubai Customs has automated notifications for customs-imported transactions subject to tax between government entities. This initiative aids in generating precise tax reports and reduces discrepancies in transactions.

Additionally, the government department has integrated customs clearance systems with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's electronic document authentication system. This simplifies interactions for stakeholders, requiring them to input the electronic document authentication reference number issued by the Ministry when organising the customs declaration for import or re-export.

Dubai Customs also focuses on training and developing its officers and customs inspectors across all customs ports. The "Remote Inspection" project, launched by Dubai Customs in collaboration with Dubai South, is a groundbreaking initiative to facilitate inspection procedures and expedite processes for clients.