Abu Dhabi Customs, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, has launched the “Automation of E-Commerce Policy Procedures” project through the unified government services platform “Tamm”, which is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year, during the activities of GITEX Technology Week 2021.
“Automation of E-Commerce Policy Procedures” comes in line with the directives of the wise leadership to facilitate the movement of trade in all its forms, especially e-commerce, in a way that contributes to enhancing the investment environment and attracting more investments to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is a global center for trade.
“Automation of E-Commerce Policy Procedures” contributes to facilitating the practice of business by improving the procedures for the movement of trade for shipments and keeping pace with the requirements of the growing trend towards e-commerce, contributing to increasing business volume through an advanced digital system capable of linking all customs systems in accordance with global best practices.
By “Automation of E-Commerce Policy Procedures” the General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs aims to provide a competitive investment environment that integrates with the private sector, simplify customs procedures and regulate the movement of personal goods through e-commerce channels, taking into account the customs procedures in force and legislation related to this vital sector, which is supported by the overall digital transformation strategy at Abu Dhabi Customs through the launch of several digital projects.
The launch of “Automation of E-Commerce Policy Procedures” came within the framework of Abu Dhabi Customs’ strategy for complete digital transformation in completing transactions and providing customs services through a unified digital platform that meets the requirements of all customers, including investors, traders, suppliers and loyal investors.
E-Commerce Policy has been in effect since August 15, based on the Abu Dhabi government’s digital transformation strategy aimed at enhancing the emirate’s position as a regional and global logistical area and keeping pace with the UAE’s march for the next fifty years.
The provisions of the E-Commerce Policy apply to goods imported and exported by companies, which are the import of goods by companies to distribution centers in the local market and companies in the Free Zone or customs warehouses “Bonded warehouses” in addition to the import of goods for consumption in the local market from goods stored in distribution centers established in the Free Zone or customs warehouses via electronic platforms.
The provisions of the Policy also apply to the exports of goods by companies from distribution centers in the local market to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries and other countries of the world, in addition to exports of goods from the local market to distribution centers in the Free Zone or customs warehouses, as well as exports of goods from the centers of Distribution in the free zone or customs warehouses to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) and world countries.
The E-Commerce Policy requires companies to fulfill the registration requirements, as companies wishing to engage in e-commerce activity must register and add the activity in the registration system at the Customs Licensing Department of the General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs and add the activity in the trade license, while the licensed and registered logistics companies are allowed in the authorized department of companies to clear goods provided that their customers are registered in the Customs Licensing Department.
Also, companies wishing to obtain the privileges contained in this Policy must obtain a customs registration number, while e-commerce companies must establish distribution centres for goods intended for sale through their electronic platforms so that distribution centre requirements are met and companies are required to provide dedicated and separated storage spaces for goods suspended from goods for which customs duties have already been performed in distribution centres.
The E-Commerce Policy has specified a set of controls and provisions represented in the exemption of electronic purchases through sales platforms for companies “goods and imports for personal purposes” whose value does not exceed AED “1,000” in accordance with the provisions and controls contained in the unified guide to customs procedures in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for postal parcels and express shipping companies.
Tobacco and its derivatives, electronic smoking devices and tools, accessories, nicotine liquids, alcoholic beverages and food preparations containing alcohol are excluded from the first item.
Companies are also given the advantage of organizing a unified import declaration for a group of “consolidated data” shipments so that the value of one shipment does not exceed 5 thousand dirhams and not less than AED 1,000, and the total value is 50 thousand dirhams for all shipments for one statement, provided that the number of shipments does not exceed 50 shipments, Restricted goods are excepted from this item.
The new e-commerce policy prohibits the entry of a number of goods into the distribution centers, which are "flammable goods except for fuels, in addition to radioactive materials, military weapons, ammunition and explosives of any kind".
The policy also prohibits the entry of goods that violate the regulations related to the protection of intellectual, commercial, industrial, literary and artistic property, in addition to drugs of all kinds and their derivatives, in addition to goods originating in a country that has been decided to be economically boycotted, as well as goods prohibited from entering the customs union or in the country of final destination and transit.
