Panel session entitled “Customs and border control” was the highlight

Dubai, UAE, 23 January 2017:  Panelists of 2nd Dubai Customs Week’s panel session highlighted the importance of unifying strategies and develop customs work in the UAE. They also focused on the necessity of coordination and cooperation at the federal level to help better tackle geopolitical challenges. 

“Customs and border control” panel session was organized by Dubai Customs on its 2nd day of activities. Panelists were Mr Ahmed Bin Lahij, Executive Director of customs affairs sector, Federal Customs Authority, Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Clients Management Division, Dubai Customs, Mohammed Al Raisi, Head of Khatm Milaha, Sharjah Customs, and Abdulla Al Zioudi, Director of Cargo Department, Fujairah Customs. The discussion was moderated by Khalil Saqr, Director of Corporate Communication Department at Dubai Customs and head of 2nd Dubai Customs Week organizing committee. 

Bin Lahij talked about the initiatives and programs of customs control department at Federal Customs Authority citing that article (8) in 2015 focused on the necessity of coordination with other customs administrations in control and inspection fields. 

“Federal Customs Authority has done a lot of field visits and studies to specify the needs of ports and provide them with their needs of advanced tools and apparatuses soon”.

 On his part, Al Khaja talked about the integrated security of supply chain.

“At the dawn of the 21st century, the need to control supply chain became more persistent with the rising of many new challenges and turmoil. Securing supply chain became a priority and we, at Dubai Customs, being one of the leading customs administrations in the world, were among the first to realize the importance of supply chain security. The Virtual Corridor, the Authorized Economic (AEO) Program, the Smart Risk Engine and the advanced Container Inspection System were some of the tools we used to secure the supply chain” he added. 

Al Raisi said that Sharjah Customs is fully aware of the risks that may threaten public safety.

“This is why we work hard to continuously develop our systems in order to secure different ports. We have the latest scanning and inspection technologies in the field” he explained. 

Al Zioudi talked mainly about Fujairah Customs’ experience in training its staff and advancing its methods and techniques, which resulted in foiling 1,110 smuggling bids in 2016. 

At the end of the panel session, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs awarded the panelists with the memorial shield in the presence of Mohammad Juma Buossaiba, Director-General of the UAE Federal Customs Authority and senior customs directors in the UAE. 

2nd Dubai Customs Week activities will continue up to 26th January and will include a variety of exhibition, lectures, and workshops, plus educational trips to school and college students to raise awareness around the importance of customs work.  

Dubai Customs will also have some activities on Zayed Family Gathering at Al Khawaneej through its (Customs: past and present) exhibition. Visitors can also enjoy viewing the promotional luxury cars during the week, and the customs dogs show on 24 and 26 January.  The highlight of today will be the panel session entitled “Customs between past and present”.