DUBAI CUSTOMS REORGANISATION
ABOUT
Dubai Customs Department is Dubai's oldest department
Customs Department was formed in 1959 by Dubai's newly appointed Financial Advisor to Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, William (Bill) Duff.
Sheikh Rashid had previously appointed individuals as "Customs Collectors" then later realised this arrangement was open to misuse. Sheikh Rashid believed not all Customs Dues were being collected and not all collected Customs Dues were being paid into Dubai Government's Accounts!
Bill Duff introduced new procedures using Banks as Customs Intermediaries.
Bill Duff became Dubai's first Director General of Customs and remained in that post until early 1970s.
1959-2001
During this period, Dubai grew exponentially!
From dealing only with trade through Dubai Creek in 1959, by 2001 Dubai Customs was managing Customs Operations in two major ports, a minor port, a Major International Airport, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Airport Freezone, a significantly enlarged business community as well as Dubai's border controls.
Some parts of Dubai Customs Department had adjusted to these increased demands but others had not.
2001-2006
Around 2000, Dubai Customs encountered significant management and governance problems.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum resolved these problems by merging Dubai Customs Department with Dubai Ports Authority and Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority to form a new entity, Dubai Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation.
This brought together the three main entities involved in Dubai's trading operations, provided the opportunity to integrate their varied operations to achieve more efficient trade flow.
A preliminary review of Dubai Customs highlighted shortcomings in the organisational structure and operations. In particular, Dubai Custom had a single process which was applied to each and every Customer. There was no Customer segregation or risk management in place.
World Customs Organisation (WCO).
WCO carried out a detailed assessment of Dubai Custom's operations and made recommendations.
In 2003, WCO was engaged to implement a Reform and Modernisation Project. Progress was slow until a new Customs Management implemented the WCO Reform and Modernisation Project recommendations with a clearer understanding of modern Customs rquirements.
By 2015, Dubai Customs had transformed from a primarily paper-based administration into an electronic enabled, paperless, world leading Custom's administration.
DUBAI CUSTOMS ACHIEVEMENT
In 2025, Dubai Customs was named Best Customs Authority in the Middle East at the Transport and Logistics Middle East Awards
To have achieved these significant changes to Dubai Customs organisation structure, its management processes, personel development and development of sophisticated technology in a relatively short space of time is a remarkable achievement.
