Unveils ‘Shahin’ Digital Platform, championing efficiency, security, and prosperity
In line with the theme ‘Committed to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity’, Dubai Customs marked World Customs Day 2025 with a vibrant celebration on 26 January.
This occasion echoed the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) global call for customs authorities to prioritize innovation and collaboration, as part of their 2025 vision, fostering a more efficient, secure, and prosperous future for global trade.
Enhancing efficiency
“This year’s theme emphasizes the need for practical steps to facilitate trade while ensuring security and sustainable growth, embodying the commitment of customs authorities to efficiency, security, and prosperity,” stated Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General. WCO.
Economic development
On this occasion, HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO, DP World, Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, stated that the UAE has excelled in foreseeing the future of the economic sector, thanks to the visionary leadership that has implemented proactive strategies.
Since the launch of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) in September 2021, the country has signed 24 CEPA agreements with strategically important nations and regional blocs, collectively representing approximately 2.5bn people.
This has had a positive impact on the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade, which reached an unprecedented AED 2.8tn trillion dirhams in 2024. Furthermore, foreign direct investments are projected to reach AED 130bn, and industrial exports are expected to hit AED 190bn for the first time.
In the area of collaborative efforts to combat the smuggling of prohibited goods and ensure community safety, Dubai Customs has strengthened its cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and other relevant international organizations.
Shahin platform
During the event, Dubai Customs also announced its new digital platform, ‘Shahin’, designed to track trucks and shipments. This initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Border Security, and the Security Industries Regulatory Authority, aims to enhance the security framework and facilitate trade within the UAE.
The platform provides a comprehensive system for tracking trucks and shipments across Dubai’s customs ports, monitored round-the-clock using the latest satellite tracking technology, from their entry point to their final destination. It offers real-time information exchange, enabling smooth tracking and monitoring, which enhances the efficiency and transparency of logistics operations and fortifies supply chain security.
“Our digital customs services and innovative systems help accelerate logistics operations, assess shipment risks, and improve security for both Dubai and the UAE, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of supply chains,” commented HE Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General, Dubai Customs.
