Dubai Customs’ Vigilant Efforts Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting
Dubai Custom has consistently shown itself to be a very proactive organization within the Dubai Emirate. It is essential to the nation’s attempts to combat the threat of illegal trade, as evidenced by the discovery of smugglers’ attempts to transport illegal substances in a variety of forms, including restricted and counterfeit goods. This is the outcome of Dubai’s importance in providing cutting-edge instruction and training as well as top-of-the-line technology, which facilitates the effective identification of intricate smuggling strategies.
Financial Statement
If a passenger has more than AED 60,000 in cash when leaving or entering the United Arab Emirates, or if they have an equivalent amount in cash, financial instruments, precious metals, or costly stones, they must disclose it to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP). The Afseh app, which is accessible on Google Play and the App Store, or the official website are the two ways you can disclose the money. The quantity that a passenger under the age of eighteen has in their possession will be added to the maximum that their parent, guardian, or companion is allowed to have.
Goods free from customs duties
According to ICP, travelers are allowed to import the following goods into their country duty-free:
1. telescopes
2. Projectors for movies and related items
3. CDs, radios, and CD players
4. Personal usage video and digital cameras along with their tapes
5. Transportable musical instruments
6. Mobile phones
7. A single TV and receiver; 8. Strollers
9. Individual athletic gear
10. Laptops and printers that are portable
11. Calculators
12. People with special needs who are resolute; wheelchairs and cars; 13. Personal medication used in accordance with applicable requirements
14. Personal luggage, toiletries, and clothing.
15. Individual jewelry.
Passengers who meet certain requirements can have their personal possessions allowed entrance and waived from customs duties.
- Presents, colognes, and personal bags total no more than AED 3,000.
- Gifts and luggage should be purchased in small quantities rather than in bulk.
- The passenger should not be a member of the particular conveyance crew or a frequent traveler who regularly transports products.
According to the Dubai government’s Passenger Custom Guide, the following approved articles are free from customs charges and will be granted entry:
- A total of two hundred cigarettes, fifty cigars, or five hundred grams of tobacco (chopped or crushed for pipes), tumbâk (pure tobacco), or hookah molasses
- Alcoholic drinks not to exceed 4 liters or 2 cartons of beer, each with 24 cans not to exceed 355 milliliters apiece.
In addition to VAT, customs tax will be applied on quantities and values that exceed the aforementioned limitations.
Customs Duty Rates
Five percent of the items’ worth plus the cost of freight insurance is the amount subject to customs duty. 50% is applied to alcohol and 100% is applied to smokes.
Products that are prohibited and restricted:
The UAE government regulates some commodities and forbids the entry of others. The term “banned” or “prohibited goods” refers to products whose import and export are prohibited under the GCC States’ Common Customs law or any other applicable UAE statute or regulation.
The same statute mentioned above and any applicable rules that place restrictions on the import and export of items are known as restricted goods. Before being imported or exported, these goods must have prior approval from the relevant authorities.
Banned goods consist of, but are not restricted to:
- Narcotics and controlled/recreational drugs
- Unauthorised content
- Forgeries of money
- objects employed in witchcraft, sorcery, or black magic
- Works of art and literature that go against or pose questions to Islamic principles and beliefs
Smuggling methods and punishments
Among the smuggling methods are:
- When bringing goods into the UAE, not reporting to the first customs department
- Withholding the existence of any objects they own with a commercial focus.
- Removing goods without declaring them from the customs department
- Submitting fake paperwork or making up indications in order to evade paying customs fees or getting around laws pertaining to prohibited or restricted items.
- Having or shipping prohibited or restricted goods without presenting valid import documentation
- hiding objects.
Smuggling carries penalties that include fines, jail time, and the seizure of tools and goods.
Trade products
Import and export taxes are imposed by the UAE on commercial items.