Dubai Customs Accelerates Deposit Refunds, Bolstering Trade Efficiency
Processing 1.36 million applications in the first half of 2026, Dubai Customs has strengthened its operational capabilities, with automated approvals and streamlined procedures enabling businesses to maintain healthy cash flow and seize trading opportunities.
The machinery of international trade depends on trust, efficiency and the seamless movement of capital. In the first half of 2026, Dubai Customs processed 1.36 million applications for customs deposit refunds, a figure that reflects not merely administrative activity but the economic vitality of one of the world’s most dynamic trading hubs. The volume represents a 3.6% increase from the same period the previous year, demonstrating the organisation’s capacity to meet the expanding demands of the merchant community.
The financial scale of these transactions underscores their significance. Applications submitted reached AED6.9 billion in value, a rise of 13.1% compared with AED6.1 billion in the first half of 2025. Of these, approved applications totalled AED6.2 billion, an increase of 14.8% year on year. These figures speak to the vigour of Dubai’s trading ecosystem and the importance of customs services that respond with agility to global market expansion.
Central to this performance is the deployment of intelligent automation. The Customs Refund Department completed 844,500 applications through smart system approvals in the first half of 2026, compared with 767,500 in the same period of 2025, representing a 10% increase. These automated approvals now account for approximately 62.1% of all completed applications, allowing human expertise to concentrate on transactions requiring specialised assessment and judgment.
Efficiency metrics reveal the operational rigour at work. The department achieved a 99% completion rate within its set timeframe of two working days, reflecting what Ahmed Al Jamri, Director of the Customs Refund Department, described as the effectiveness of continuous procedural development and electronic linkage between services. As we reported in our coverage of Dubai Customs’ cashless payment achievements, the organisation has demonstrated consistent commitment to digital transformation as a foundation for enhanced service delivery.
Recognising that business operations often require flexibility, the department has extended the deadline for submitting supporting documents from 30 to 90 days. This accommodation responds to contemporary geoeconomic conditions and allows companies to complete their documentation without forfeiture of deposits, reducing instances of delay and accelerating settlement of eligible applications.
Rashid Al Sharid, Executive Director of the Administration and Finance Division at Dubai Customs, emphasised that supporting merchants’ competitiveness forms a key pillar of economic growth. By shortening transaction times and accelerating the release of eligible deposits, Dubai Customs enables companies greater flexibility in managing capital and a broader ability to expand operations and seise trade opportunities. These improvements span multiple sectors that the organisation serves: general trade, re-export, express shipping and national industries.
The development roadmap includes further initiatives. Electronic transformation of customs exit and entry certificates, smart approvals for Jebel Ali Free Zone companies, and enhanced linkage between deposit services across the free zone and logistics zone will continue to strengthen the ecosystem. The expansion of risk engines and improved employee authorities according to transaction nature and financial value promise to maintain audit accuracy while accelerating decision making.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
Dubai’s customs efficiency directly benefits the broader UAE economy. As a critical node in the nation’s trade network, the efficiency of deposit refund processing at Dubai Customs creates positive ripple effects across commerce in Abu Dhabi and beyond. When businesses maintain healthier cash flow and face reduced procedural burdens, they possess greater capacity to invest, expand and pursue new opportunities, strengthening the overall competitiveness of the UAE trading ecosystem.
The commitment to technological integration and procedural refinement reflects a strategic vision that positions the Emirates as a destination for discerning international traders. By combining processing speed with audit accuracy and deploying smart approvals, Dubai Customs reinforces the nation’s reputation as a trusted, sophisticated and well-governed hub for global commerce, enhancing the investment attractiveness that benefits enterprises across all seven emirates.
Source: WAM