Dubai Customs records 53% air cargo growth

Dubai Customs’ Air Cargo Centres Management processed about 18.2 million customs transactions in the first half of 2026, up 53% from 11.9 million a year earlier. Shipment weight also increased 47% to around 1.3 million tonnes, highlighting rising cargo and e-commerce activity through Dubai’s air freight gateways.

The growth is supporting faster movement of goods through Dubai, as businesses handle higher shipment volumes and increasingly time-sensitive e-commerce orders. The Free Zone Department recorded 17.7 million customs transactions during the period, up 62% from 10.9 million in H1 2025.

The department also handled more than 6.2 million postal parcels in the first six months of the year, reflecting the growing role of air cargo facilities in cross-border e-commerce. The higher volumes place greater focus on customs efficiency as businesses rely on quick clearance to move goods from airports to markets.

Dubai Customs has also raised the customs duty exemption threshold for eligible goods in cross-border e-commerce shipments to AED1,000, effective August 3, 2026. The measure is expected to reduce costs for eligible shipments and support faster e-commerce operations.

Cargo volumes cleared through the Cargo Village at Dubai International Airport and the Air Cargo Centre at Al Maktoum International Airport rose nearly 82% to 48.26 million kg in May from 26.56 million kg in January, showing the facilities’ increased capacity to handle higher demand.

Abdulla Ahmad Alblooshi, Director of Air Cargo Centres Management at Dubai Customs said,  “We are working to shorten the time between a shipment’s arrival and its entry into the market, because the speed of customs procedures has become a core part of trade competitiveness. As transaction volumes and shipment sizes continue to rise, we are continuing to build the capabilities of our inspectors and staff, and equipping our centers with smart technologies, devices, and artificial intelligence applications that raise the efficiency of examination and inspection and speed up processing — without compromising protection and customs compliance requirements.”