Dubai, UAE, 21th June 2017:  Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation highly applauded the UAE’s achievement of topping the world’s Efficiency of Customs Procedures Index at the annual report of the Global Competitiveness of 2017.
The book is issued by the Global Competitiveness Centre of the International Institute for Administrative Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is one of the most important specialized colleges in the world in this field. 

Bin Sulayem pointed out that the achievement reflects the UAE wise leaders’ vision of making the UAE the best country in all spheres by 2021. 
He added:” The top ranking the UAE boasts in areas of customs is another accolade added to the country’s record of global achievements in areas of economic efficiency and corporate governance. Innovative thinking is becoming a daily practice and a corporate culture thanks to the wise vision and efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai in fulfillment of the UAE Centennial 2071 project.  

The index gauges the efficiency of customs authorities around the world by developing a survey that includes questions addressed to businessmen and institutions about the services offered by customs authorities in 63 countries around the world in areas of shipping.  The rankings are based on efficiency of resource management, with businessmen accounting for 33.3 per cent of a country’s total ranking and statistics 66.7 per cent, using 346 indices.

“The UAE in general and Dubai in particular has turned into an example of modernity and efficiency. Other countries seek hard to copy our model; we are thriving against all odds. Dubai’s external trade increased 70% between 2009 and 2016; the value of its trade rose from AED 754 billion in 2009 to AED 1.276 trillion in 2016. Dubai Customs delivered 9.1 million transactions in 2016 up from 9 million transactions in 2015 and 8.6 million transactions in 2014,” he explained.  

Bin Sulayem extended thanks and gratitude to the staff of Dubai Customs for their impactful efforts in facilitating and streamlining customs work in spite of the challenges posed by the increasing volumes of passengers and trade crossing Dubai’s borders. He affirmed the management’s commitment to continue innovating  more globally advanced trade and customs solutions to further reinforce Dubai’s reputation as a hub of world commerce. 

On his part, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs expressed his happiness for this renowned achievement and said: “Dubai Customs is a worldwide leading administration in adopting and innovating smart services. This facilitates customs procedures and lessens times and effort needed for operations. I believe other customs administrations can benefit from this rich experience.”  

He added that Dubai Customs is globally recognized at the vanguard of trade facilitators worldwide thanks its sophisticated innovations in customs systems and procedures. “The UAE’s achievement of topmost rank in global customs efficiency index motivates us  to do even better in the years to come to stay ahead in a way that befits the forefront position of Dubai and the UAE at the world trade landscape.”