Implementing Dubai Customs' strategic plan for 2021, to strengthen competencies and expand the skills and experience of its human resources, the Customs Training Centre at Dubai Customs conducted 160 training workshops in the first quarter of 2021. With a sum of 4,000 training hours targeted at 1,079 workers, the training seminars included 139 customs specialty courses, 19 about administrative skills, and two awareness sessions.

The training program of the year was based on various parameters to meet the matrix of technical and behavioral capabilities and to stay consistent with the government's present and future trends, and the variations in the workplace.

Customs risk assessment, shipment risk indicators, risk indications at airports, sea shipment risk indicators, drug smuggling tactics, security sense, body language, behavioral indicators, Coordinated Border Management (CBM), and cybersecurity were among the subjects covered in the training classes.

“This year's training program seeks to develop theoretical and practical expertise for employees of all groups and specialties, with an emphasis on creating managers for future leadership rules that keep up with international shifting patterns,” said Mohammed Al Ghaffari, Acting Executive Director, Human Resources, Finance, and Administration Division. “Our goal is to achieve a more effective lawful commerce and a more secure future as part of our mission of being the world's top customs agency promoting lawful commerce.” “Dubai Customs is dedicated to its yearly training scheme, and it will introduce new courses every year to stay up with the government's future trends,” Al Ghaffari continued. Asma Ahmed, Senior Manager, Training Program Management, stated that the training centre concentrated on the diversity of themes in the training plan to address diverse self-development and administrative aspects.

The intellectual property rights (IPR) department of Dubai Customs recently held a video conference with trademark proprietors to explore methods to improve collaboration between the two parties, and any future joint projects and programs.

The conference was attended by Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Director of the Department of Intellectual Property Rights, Noura Ahmed, Manager of the IP Recording Section, Mohammed Bin Nasir, Manager of the IP Dispute Section, Eng. Saeed Bin Faris, Team Leader, and Samiha Hasan Albloushi, IP Officer from Dubai Customs.

The opposite side was presented by Malik Hanouf, CEO of Brand Owners' Protection Group, and representatives from 29 legal services and law firms.

Ozair emphasized the significance of good communication between the government and the private sector to exchange information and experience on how to effectively safeguard brand owners' rights. “In the previous 50 years, the UAE has accomplished a lot of success because of the leadership's smart vision, which considers for promoting innovation, preserving intellectual property rights, and promoting trade and investments,” Ozair added.

The two parties spoke on the best ways to deal with all obstacles in protecting intellectual property rights, and to use the knowledge gained from Covid-19 to make preparations for the post-Covid-19 period. Malik Hanouf expressed his gratitude to Dubai Customs for their exceptional efforts in safeguarding trademark owners' rights and combating fake products, and for their excellent collaboration and communication with the business sector.

Dubai's foreign commerce would be valued Dhs1.182 trillion in 2020, with a weight of 100 million tonnes. Despite the difficult obstacles provided by the emergence of COVID-19, exports increased by 8% to Dhs167 billion last year. Imports amounted Dhs686 billion, with re-exports amounting to Dhs329 billion. Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Commerce, paid a visit to Dubai Customs to understand more about their newest projects and efforts aimed at improving international trade.

Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman & CEO of DP World Group and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, acknowledged that COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic and that local market signals in several domains in Q1 were favorable, with trade numbers stronger than those in the pre-pandemic Q1 of 2019.

“The guidelines of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to increase the freezing of Dubai government fees till early 2023 is a fantastic support for firms to enable them to optimize their earnings and draw more foreign investments to the country,” Bin Sulayem said at Dubai Customs' 1st Consultative Council Meeting (DCCC) for 2021.