Dubai – 09 March 2019: Dubai Customs always provides support to the maritime sector towards a more diversified economy in line with the Dubai Plan 2021. This helps in facilitating trade in different ports including Dubai Creek, which may not be the city’s most important trading port anymore but it will always be a very important route of trade for dhows at the heart of Dubai. During his visit to the Coastal Customs Centers Management, Director of Dubai Customs Ahmed Mahboob Musabih highlighted the very important role Dubai Creek plays in the city’s diversified trade and is still shaping the very soul of Dubai, now running freely through the veins of the city, keeping alive its vibrant heartbeat, linking the sea back to the sea.

For centuries, Dubai Creek was the link between Dubai and the outside world. As the city changes so rapidly that it can be difficult to keep up, the port plays an important role in bridging past and present. Yet, remarkably, it still makes its living as a key part of Dubai’s import-export trade.

Dubai Customs is active in the Creek through its Coastal Customs Centers Management which operates Maritime Creek Operations, Deira Wharfage, Dubai Creek Customer Center. The Management has dealt with the traffic of 15,603 incoming and outgoing vessels in 2018 Dubai external trade through the creek made AED 14.54 billion (AED 13 billion in re-exports, AED 1.246 billion in exports, and AED 328 billion in imports).  

During his evening tour to the Deira Wharfage Center, Director of Dubai Customs Ahmed Mahboob Musabih confirmed that Dubai Creek and Deira Wharfage have a capacity to handle vessels of different sizes. The biggest can weigh up to 3,000 tons.

“Dubai Creek is a very important trading port and for that we help in enhancing and facilitating trade through it,” Musabih said. “This will lead to better investment opportunities in fulfilment of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai of turning Dubai into an economic capital as listed in the 3^rd principle, of the eight principles of Dubai.”

The Coastal Customs Centers Management is equipped with advanced devices including inspection smart drones and submarines. Dubai Customs has released a booklet to guide all sailors and dhow captains into best ways of moving around the Creek. It was released in Arabic, English and Persian.