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Dubai Customs organised a direct dialogue on Thursday with traders from the construction materials sector and major players in trade transport and logistics the authority said in a statement. Representatives from Emirates SkyCargo flydubai dnata DP World the Dubai Maritime Authority Dubai Chamber and the Emirates Shipping Association joined the session alongside sector participants. Discussions centred on practical measures to lower overall trade costs accelerate shipment movement and develop more resilient supply chains that integrate maritime air and land operations. The authority noted that such collaborative forums enable stakeholders to convert identified challenges into targeted actionable steps across the full logistics chain.
Dubai Customs data placed the number of customs declarations for construction materials at approximately 1.57 million in 2025 and around 646,623 in the first half of 2026. Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre figures show UAE non-oil foreign trade surpassed 3.8 trillion dirhams for the first time in 2025 marking a 27 percent increase from the previous year. Construction activity expanded 11.1 percent in 2025 and contributed 12.9 percent to non-oil GDP according to the same centre while Dubai-specific data from the Department of Economy and Tourism placed construction growth at 8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026. These volumes highlight the sector’s central importance to sustained urban development and broader trade flows.
Traders raised concerns over rising sea freight expenses and explored more competitive air freight options particularly for shipments originating from China via Emirates SkyCargo the statement said. Participants examined the specific requirements for transporting chemicals and materials classified as dangerous goods by air including the need for accurate material classification UN numbers and material safety data sheets. Airlines indicated that such documentation enables detailed feasibility assessments before carriage. The exchange aimed to align regulatory needs with operational capabilities to expand viable transport modes.
The authority operates a risk management system supported by artificial intelligence that clears 98 percent of declarations without physical inspection while maintaining random inspection rates below 1 percent according to Dubai Customs. This approach minimises unnecessary delays while upholding regulatory standards and societal protections. Officials described the stakeholder meeting as an effective platform for prioritising sector-specific hurdles within the existing clearance framework. Data from the session will inform the next phase of targeted facilitations.
Customs Notice No 12 of 2026 extends suspension periods for customs duties and has already benefited 6,613 companies with a 120-day extension for declarations covering import for re-export temporary admission and various transit operations the statement detailed. Notices 14 of 2026 and 15 of 2026 introduce instalment payment options reduce penalties by 80 percent extend transit periods to 90 days and prioritise clearance at selected ports and borders. Additional measures facilitate entry for essential goods including food and pharmaceuticals. Dubai Customs said these steps support business continuity across the construction materials sector.
In the first quarter of 2026 wholesale and retail trade accounted for 22 percent of Dubai’s gross domestic product while construction generated 8.1 percent according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The emirate’s population reached 4.73 million in 2026 exceeding pre-conflict levels which has driven demand for new housing and infrastructure the Data and Statistics Establishment reported. Completion of 104 real estate projects in the first half of the year added nearly 25,000 units with total investment value hitting 111 billion dirhams up 52 percent year on year per Dubai Land Department statistics. These trends reinforce the need for efficient material supply chains.
The facilitations form part of ongoing efforts to position Dubai as a global trade hub the authority stated. Similar partnerships with entities such as Emirates SkyCargo have previously supported supply chain continuity during regional disruptions with air freight volumes rising 82 percent between January and May 2026 according to earlier Dubai Customs releases. Officials indicated that feedback from the August 28 meeting will guide further refinements to customs procedures and inter-agency coordination.
