Dubai Customs to make AI a central element in future decision-making

With its future-forward way of thinking and keeping pace with the rapid global developments in the customs ecosystem, Dubai Customs announced it will be updating its five-year institutional strategic plan 2026-2030.

Dr Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, said the project to update the strategic plan comes at a pivotal stage in which the UAE and Dubai are witnessing strong economic expansion driven by innovation, the knowledge economy, and the development of digital infrastructure.

Busenad said: “The 2026–2030 plan reshapes the development of the future of customs work in Dubai. We are working to build an institution capable of anticipating challenges before they occur and able to turn every global opportunity into a national gain.

“This plan will combine efficiency with innovation and transform artificial intelligence from a supporting tool into a central element in decision-making.

“The new plan aligns with Dubai’s D33 economic agenda, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy over the next decade and increase trade levels. At Dubai Customs, we see our role as crucial in facilitating global trade, reducing procedural costs for companies, and enhancing border governance. Our goal is for Dubai to be the most advanced and seamless customs destination in the world.”

The strategic update comes at a time when the global customs landscape is witnessing fundamental shifts – from advancing digitalisation and transitioning toward the new economy, to the reshaping of international supply chains and the growing reliance on artificial intelligence and smart systems in risk control and the management of cross-border trade flows.

Dubai Customs revamps five-year strategy

Dubai Customs recently held an extensive workshop that brought together leaders of customs departments and heads of organisational units with the aim of discussing new global and regional trends and exploring potential future transformations.

The workshop discussed three main themes. The Customs leaders first focused on the global and regional trends shaping the future of customs, during which the results of a comprehensive study carried out by the project teams during the first six weeks were presented. The study identified eight key trends, most notably the digitalisation of operations, the accelerated adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence technologies and strengthening of governance and transparency standards.

The second theme explored the development of strategic initiatives to reinforce Dubai’s leadership and participants were encouraged to propose innovative initiatives aligned with national priorities and Dubai’s economic agenda. The third theme highlighted future indicators, with teams presenting a set of expected global developments to build a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities and to support decision-making in shaping the new strategic plan.

Adel Al Suwaidi, Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department at Dubai Customs, added: “We are preparing for a new phase of customs innovation and maximising Dubai’s economic value. The strategic plan project represents a qualitative leap in the approach to customs strategic planning by adopting future-foresight methodologies and linking initiatives to global economic dynamics.

“We will see broader reliance on advanced technology to improve data quality and develop the smart risk ecosystem, ensuring a balance between facilitating trade flows and protecting borders while supporting security and stability in the community. We are preparing for a transformative shift in customs operations.”