Dubai - Agencies
Trade between Dubai and Saudi Arabia during the first half of this year amounted to AED 28 billion compared to AED 23 billion during the same period in 2012, an increase of 20%.
Dubai Customs and Saudi Customs, headed by its Director General Saleh Al-Khaliliwi, discussed the development of mechanisms for future cooperation, based on the current strong areas of cooperation, especially with regard to technical aspects, and emphasized the keenness of Dubai Customs to provide all necessary facilities for the business sector in the two countries in order to maintain the distinctive trade and economic partnership between them.
Ahmed Butti Ahmed, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Director General of Dubai Customs, emphasized that the visit will contribute to enhancing areas of customs cooperation and exchange of experiences between the two sides, noting that Saudi Arabia is among Dubai's most strategic trade partners, ranking first in the Gulf and sixth globally in 2012 with trade exchanges worth 44 billion dirhams.
He expressed his hope that the results of the visit will benefit the two brotherly countries and the development of work in each of them.
For his part, Saleh Al-Khaliliwi said that the good relationship between the two brotherly countries is supported by such mutual visits that contribute to increasing trade between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of Dubai, which contributes more than 80% of the UAE's trade volume with the outside world.
The Saudi delegation was briefed on the modern technical systems applied in Dubai Customs, especially the Mersal 2 system, and the subsystems it contains, especially the risk assessment engine and customs clearance.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of Dubai International Airport No. 3, where it toured the sections of the Airport Operations Department of Dubai Customs, and was briefed on the development that has taken place in the customs and airport, as well as the procedures to facilitate the transit of arrivals through the three terminals of the airport and overcome any obstacles they may face.