Dubai:Dubai Customs has successfully processed 1.36 million applications for customs deposit refunds in the first half of 2026, marking a 3.6% increase from the 1.31 million applications processed during the same period last year.
According to Wam, the rise in the number of processed applications underscores the growing efficiency of Dubai Customs' services and its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the business community. The acceleration in releasing eligible deposits is aiding businesses in maintaining healthy cash flow, facilitating smoother trade operations, and reinforcing Dubai's position as a desirable destination for investment.
The total value of applications submitted by customers climbed to AED6.9 billion, compared to AED6.1 billion in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 13.1% increase. The value of approved applications reached AED6.2 billion, compared to AED5.4 billion, an increase of 14.8%. These figures highlight the rising volume of financial transactions linked to foreign trade and emphasize the importance of developing financial and customs services that cater to expanding company operations and global market requirements.
Rashid Al Sharid, Executive Director of the Administration and Finance Division at Dubai Customs, emphasized the importance of supporting merchants' competitiveness and enabling trusted trade as key pillars for economic growth and strengthening Dubai's global leadership. He noted that procedural efficiency is being transformed into tangible economic impact by shortening transaction times and accelerating the release of eligible deposits, thereby enhancing companies' flexibility in managing their capital and expanding their activities.
Customs deposits play a crucial role in the trade cycle, enabling customers to benefit from facilities provided under customs duty suspension regimes and recover their deposits once requirements are met. Improvements in these procedures help reduce operating burdens and support companies' ability to deploy financial resources in business development and exploring new opportunities.
Dubai Customs is focused on developing an integrated system of deposit services that combines processing speed with audit accuracy, expanding the scope of smart approvals for applications that meet criteria. This approach allows human expertise to be directed to transactions requiring specialized assessment and improves resource-use efficiency while maintaining service quality.
The Customs Refund Department at Dubai Customs is implementing several development projects, including electronic transformation of customs exit and entry certificates, smart approvals for deposit transactions of Jebel Ali Free Zone companies, and linking deposit services in the free zone and logistics zone. These measures help raise audit accuracy and speed up decision-making, particularly in transactions requiring additional review.
Ahmed Al Jamri, Director of the Customs Refund Department at Dubai Customs, stated that the department completed 99% of applications within the set time, against its target of delivering the service within two working days. The department also completed 844.5 thousand applications through automatic approval via smart systems in the first half of 2026, with automatically approved applications accounting for 62.1% of all completed applications.
In response to customers' needs, the Customs Refund Department has extended the deadline for submitting supporting documents from 30 to 90 days, providing companies greater flexibility and helping speed up the settlement of applications that meet conditions.
Dubai Customs continues to enhance deposit services as a critical component of its system for enabling trusted trade, supporting companies' ability to manage their business cycles efficiently and redirecting the impact of customs development to the economy through more flexible liquidity and broader opportunities for growth and investment.