Common Inquiries
What are the papers and documents required for goods clearance and entry?
Bills of Lading are generally required in addition to invoices, certificates of origin and packing lists.
What are the tariffs due for some imported goods?
The imported goods are subject to tariffs with a percentage of customs value at unified customs tariff of the GCC states. Such percentage ranges between total exemption, 5%, 50% and 100% according to the type of the goods.
What are the required procedures for importing personal effects?
It must not be of a commercial nature
Acquiring a bill of lading by the shipping agent
Filling in Personal Effects Statement on export [Should it not be “import”?] of personal effects
Delivery order
It must not exceed Dhs 3.000 (three thousand) dirhams
What are the required procedures for exporting personal effects?
It must not be of a commercial nature
Acquiring a bill of lading by the shipping agent
Filling in Personal Effects Statement on the export of personal effects
What should I do to avoid using this form in spite of my need for a big sum of money from abroad?
It is preferable to transfer money by way of banks and to use ATM cards and withdraw funds through it, or to use credit cards, “Master Card, Visa, American Express”, and the like – instead of carrying cash abroad – as this is safer, since carrying cash always involves risk.
What is money laundering?
Imparting legality to proceeds acquired through criminal activities, or transferring funds earned through criminal activities to hide it source (transforming it from illegitimate to seemingly legitimate).
What are the conditions and documents needed for exporting and exempting national products from duties when transporting such products to any of GCC states?
The national products should be supported by an undisputable label of origin showing that they are of a UAE origin with a certificate of origin enclosed within and attested by the Ministry of Economy proving the place of origin where it is difficult to fix the label to the products directly.
Are foreign commodities bought from local markets of GCC states subject to customs duties?
No customs duties will be charged for such commodities if they are purchased within full consignments or in parts that had been imported across a first access point in any GCC state after the customs union and are supported by re-export statements sealed by the clearance stamps in the country where such commodities came from.
What are the conditions and mechanisms for duty exemption for Arab products in accordance with FTZ agreements?
Attested certificates of origin in accordance with a defined form. Such certificates should be issued and attested by the competent authority of origin at the Arab country where the goods are produced or manufactured
What are the conditions and procedures needed for passengers to bring pets with them?
A medical certificate from a certified authority at the country of origin should be attached showing that the pets are disease-free.
The pets should be examined and quarantined by the competent bodies before delivery.
Is a citizen involved in the decision of disclosure of amounts when entering or leaving the UAE?
Yes, the decision of disclosure involves citizens, residents and passengers and every person coming or leaving through the UAE ports
Is it necessary to disclose amounts held by passengers when leaving the UAE?
Yes it is, when the passenger leaving has an amount of AED 100 thousand.
How much amounts held by passengers coming to the UAE that must be disclosed?
When the amounts are equal or more than AED 100 thousand
How much amounts that can be let in with visitors to the UAE?
Amounts that may be brought in by visitors are not defined.
Who is liable for paying duties when the goods are imported by mail and express shipping companies?
In general, express shipping companies are liable for such duties and may charge the buyer for such duties as agreed in sale and shipping contract
Are goods bought online and brought by express shipping companies chargeable?
Yes it is chargeable at the customs duties imposed in accordance with unified customs law and effective customs tariffs
What is meant by convertible monetary instruments?
Checks of all types; “traveler’s checks” drawn on a back, personal (checks), payment orders to bearers or endorsees without restrictions for the benefit of an unknown beneficiary, or that in which property right becomes due upon delivery; checks, bonds and payment orders that are signed without stating the name of the beneficiary, and every document which when presented to any authority entails acquisition of specific amounts of money. However, this does not include credit cards “debit”, whether it be Visa, Master Card, American Express or the like.
Is there any limit to exporting and re-exported scrap metal?
The exporting fees is AED 250 per ton
Are re-exports to GCC states from the UAE free zones subject to customs tariffs?
The re-exports are subject to customs duties after issuing a local import statement from exit port at the free zone as a first access point and the duties should be settled in accordance with clearance system among the GCC states.
What are the procedures to export the sold cars from the UAE markets to a GCC state?
A statistical export statement and clearance stamp should be obtained from the department that has collected the fees upon entry as the first access point to the GCC states.
Will cars bought from GCC markets exported from the UAE to GCC states be exempted from customs tariffs?
They will be exempted if they enter the state two years of date of purchase and clearance at the state where the cars are bought, if a statistical export statement and clearance stamp are obtained from the GCC state from which the cars have been .re-exported
Can new cars be imported for citizens or car dealers?
They can only be imported by authorization and approval of the exclusive franchisee in the UAE
Can an immigrant import a car in their name and for their personal use?
One car only.
How many cars that may be imported by and registered for one citizen?
This should be determined by the relevant traffic department
What are the models allowed to be imported?
There is no limit to car models “life” to be imported to the UAE as long as they are usable after technical examination conducted by the traffic department
Why may the Saudi Customs refuse to exempt national products and industries from duties in spite of authentic certificates of origin?
For many reasons including:
– That undisputable UAE labels of origin should be imprinted on the national goods. – That certificates of origin should be issued and attested by the Ministry of Economy. – That national value added is less than that may make goods of a UAE origin – That the Saudi Customs doubts the authenticity of the factory place or the attached documents and evidence. – That there is a fraud and false allegation that the goods are of a UAE origin while in fact they are not.
Why are goods sometimes estimated at higher prices than those shown in invoices?
For many reasons including:
– Some charges and commissions incurred by shipping (such as freight, insurance, fees of document attestation and clearance at exporting countries) are not included in purchase bills. – Other contributions (e.g. intellectual property rights, trademarks or material contributions to produce the same goods) are not included in the purchase bill. – The FCA rejects the deal price on legal grounds related to non-fulfillment of competitiveness conditions for sale and purchase or on document authenticity or forgery concerns.
Is it required to pay any customs duties for personal effects?
According to paragraph (b) of Article 103 of the Common Customs Law of the GCC States, “exempted from customs duties are the personal effects and gifts in possession of passengers provided that such items are not of a commercial nature according to the following conditions”:
•The value of such items shall not exceed Dhs 3000 (three thousand) or its equivalent of the GCC States’ currencies.
•The personal effects and gifts shall be of a personal nature and not in commercial quantities.
•Such imports shall not be of the prohibited items provided for in the Common Customs Law of the GCC States and the national legislations of each Member State.
•The passenger shall not be among the frequent passengers of the customs office or a merchant practicing business in the materials in his possession.
How can the value of goods be defined for tariffs?
The goods price should be determined according to the real purchasing price paid for the goods “Deal Price”, shipping cost, insurance and all charges and expenses paid to deliver such goods to the UAE
What are the Import regulations for Books, Music CDs, Cassettes Audio/Video?
The Ministry of Information/Department of Information controls the import of print and visual media articles Like books, CDS, VCDs. The articles/items will be released ONLY after inspecting/censuring it to the importer. Normally anything which contradict with the values, tradition and morality of the land will be banned.
What is the rate of Customs duty in Ras Al Khaimah?
Five per cent of the value in CIF (Cost Freight Insurance) terms except for alcohol and cigarettes. 50% Duty payable for alcohol while 100% for cigarettes.
How to get a clearance certificate motor vehicle?
This is a test answer and its question is mentioned above. Please scroll the page or click the question to see its answer to see the question.
Who may clear cargo through Customs Centers?
Consignees holding a UAE federal or Ras Al Khaimah Economic Department license or any of the four Free Zone licenses.
Agents holding a Ras Al Khaimah Economic Department Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) license may also clear cargo on behalf of consignees.
What are the items passengers are permitted to bring with them from the free zone?
Gifts whose value does not exceed AED 3,000. The Number of cigarettes should not exceed (400) cigarettes, (50) cigars, (500) grams of tobacco (minced or pressed for pipes), minced or pressed tobacco for smoking, tobacco or mild-tasting tobacco. Exceeding the above will be dutiable. The amount of alcoholic beverages and beers should not exceed 4 liters of alcohol beverages, or 2 cartons of beer (each consisting of 24 cans, not exceeding 355 ml for each can or its equivalent). Any amount exceeding the above will be confiscated.
What is the rate of customs duties?
- It is five percent of the CIF (Cost, Freight and Insurance) value of goods.
– There is 50% Duty payable for alcoholic beverages, and 100% for cigarettes (all tobacco products).
What is the procedure followed to clear goods from customs?
- Documentation of customs bills.
– Inspection and checking.
– Customs evaluation, assessment and calculation of customs value of goods.
– Classification and coding of goods.
– Implementation of provisions in relation to prohibited and restricted goods.
– Release of goods
Do all companies need to register with Ras Al Khaimah Customs?
- Any Company that uses customs service’s needs to register with Ras Al Khaimah Customs.
What items that passenger can bring in without paying customs duties?
Passengers are permitted to bring the following items without paying customs duty:
– Gifts whose value does not exceed AED 3,000
– Cigarettes that shall not exceed 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 500 grams of tobacco.
– Alcoholic beverage and beer that shall not exceed 4 liters
What goods are banned or restricted from entry?
- All kinds of Narcotic drugs (Hashish, Cocaine, Heroin, Poppy Seeds, Hallucination Pills, etc..).
– Goods intended to be imported from boycotted countries.
– Goods from Israeli origin or bearing Israeli trademarks or logos .
– Crude Ivory and Rhinoceros horn.
– Gambling tools and machineries.
– Three layers fishing nets.
– Original engravings, prints, lithographs, sculpture and statues in any material.
– Used, reconditioned and inlaid tires.
– Radiation polluted substances.
– Printed publications, oil paintings, photographs, pictures, cards, books, magazines stony sculptures and mannequins which contradict Islamic teachings, decencies, or deliberately implying immorality or turmoil.
– Any other goods, the importation of which is prohibited under the authority of U.A.E. customs laws or any other laws in the country.
– Forged and duplicate currency.
– Cooked and home-made foods.
