Longer transits, alternative routes to ease trade in Dubai

Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said new steps led by Dubai Customs have been put in place to keep trade moving and reduce delays in cargo movement amid recent regional and global disruptions. The measures include faster customs processing, alternative shipping routes through other ports, and longer transit times for goods entering and moving through Dubai.

The changes are meant to reduce pressure on supply chains and avoid delays in the movement of essential and commercial goods. Dubai Customs has introduced a “Green Corridor” to shift shipments through alternative entry points when needed, helping reduce congestion at main ports. Transit time for shipments has been extended from 30 days to 90 days, giving companies more flexibility in managing deliveries. Cargo can also move through Khor Fakkan and Fujairah before being transported by road into Dubai, which helps maintain continuity when certain routes are affected.

His Excellency Abdulla bin Damithan, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said, “In Dubai, rapid response has become an integral part of the government’s operating model. We continuously develop practical solutions and flexible initiatives that ensure the smooth movement of trade and strengthen supply chain resilience, reinforcing the global business community’s confidence in the efficiency and resilience of Dubai’s economic system.”

Officials also held workshops and coordination meetings with logistics firms and traders to identify bottlenecks in clearance and shipping costs. More than 80 operational issues raised by companies were reviewed, and several procedural changes were made. The focus of these steps is to keep supply chains stable, ensure faster movement of goods, and reduce disruption to industries that depend on timely imports, including food and pharmaceuticals.