Directors general of customs departments in Saudi Arabia and the UAE discussed ways to enhance cooperation and reach a joint mechanism to facilitate trade, share experience and address challenges to commercial exchange between the two countries.

This came during their sixth meeting in Dubai in the context of the regular meetings of the Saudi-UAE customs committee, which also discussed points on the agenda and the latest developments in bilateral customs issues.

The UAE side was chaired by Khalid A. Al-Bustani, FCA acting director general, along with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, in addition to the General Authority of Ports Border and Free Zones Security and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah customs and the National Transportation Authority.

The Saudi side was led by Saleh bin Manee Al-Khelaiwi, director-general of Saudi Customs, along with several customs officers. "It was the sixth meeting of the bilateral regular customs meetings to resolve pending issues in trade, exchange of information and coordination over commercial exchange issues and discuss ways to support the inter-trade," said Khalid Al-Bustani, FCA acting director general.

"Customs authorities in the two countries are keen to address all issues in order to facilitate goods transportation across the borders. Bilateral meetings came in response to the directions of the wise leadership of both countries to coordinate and cooperate in application of the obligations of the GCC customs union and take the necessary measures to raise mutual trade rates and develop performance at the customs ports," he said. In the meeting, both sides were informed of the work progress at Al-Ghwaifat and Al-Bathaa border crossings.

The traffic has been flowing very smoothly through the two crossing points, whether individuals or trucks, as a result of the efforts exerted by both sides to remove obstacles and address challenges to traffic.

"Our cooperation and coordination with Saudi Customs spring from the FCA strategic goals of maintaining the security of society, facilitating trade and supporting cooperation with the trade partners of the UAE across the world," said Al-Bustani. Both sides, he said, confirmed the importance of combating the smuggling of counterfeit goods.

"We agreed to continue with the information sharing mechanism and apply the unified customs law to the violations of exporters and importers who are proven to be involved in smuggling these goods," he pointed out.

Each party will provide the other with the judgments passed. "Both sides have reviewed the developments of the Al-Ghwaifat-Al-Bathaa automatic electronic connection.

“The Saudi side appreciated what we have achieved in this regard and confirmed the importance of continuing meetings of the technical committees to complete the connection procedures," he noted.

Al-Bustani revealed that coordination and sharing opinion and advice with the Saudi Customs as well as other GCC countries in international events is a basic pillar of the FCA strategy.

The Kingdom has maintained its position as the first commercial partner of the UAE among GCC countries. It is one of the most important partners in the Arab World and the Middle East according to the UAE foreign nonoil trade data and statistics. The UAE is stated to be the main commercial gate for the Kingdom.