Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
74
authority over customs operations in their respective territories and jurisdictions. The
directors of the seven emirate customs also govern the Federal Customs Authority in monthly
meetings and in this way contribute to the customs-related decision-making at the UAE-level.
The Abu Dhabi customs, one of the independent emirate customs, manages thirteen customs
houses. The government agencies present at different customs houses depend on the cargo
type, traffic volume, and transport modality of the customs house in question. Customs and
police officers commonly work at every customs house, but often also people from the Abu
Dhabi Food Control Authority, the Immigration Agency and other government agencies are
present (see Table belowfor further details). Land border posts have typically a strong
presence of customs, police and immigration officers. At the Abu Dhabi International Airport,
civil aviation authorities play a key role as does the Abu Dhabi Airport Company, a government
body providing airport services with the private-sector. At the sea ports of Khalifa and Zayed,
the customs and other border control agencies collaborate with the Abu Dhabi Ports Company.
Collaboration between different government agencies is generally effective. Some agencies
have signed memoranda of agreements to facilitate the collaboration, but oftentimes different
agencies work together when needed, without official mandates or protocols.
Table 10. Main government agencies present at the Abu Dhabi international airport
Border agency Role
Abu Dhabi Customs
Administration
Collection of customs duties
Abu Dhabi Airports Company Provision of airport services
General Civil Aviation
Authority
Oversight of aviation security and safety
Abu Dhabi Police Security and safety of the emirate / crime control in general,
including fight against drug trafficking
Abu Dhabi Food Control
Authority
Food quality, animal and plant health
Source: CBRA analysis and expert interview in Abu Dhabi125
The Abu Dhabi customs has some degree of cooperation with the customs of the two
neighbouring countries, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Local managers at both sides of the border
have often personal relations that facilitate operational cooperation and exchange of
information at a border post. The correspondence is, however, often ad hoc and not yet
formalised, let alone automated. The authorities want to exchange information with one other,
to get advance cargo information about goods coming and going out, for example.126 Advance
electronic cargo information helps coordination of cargo inspection and in this way facilitates
cross-border traffic.
To promote customs-to-trade collaboration, the Abu Dhabi customs chairs two important
councils. The brokers’ council convenes two to three times a year, with relevant people from
customs administrations, courier companies and broker agents. The traders’ council meets two
to three times a year, most often at the premises of the chamber of commerce. This council has
125 Abu Dhabi Customs Administration expert interview, 2016
126 Abu Dhabi Customs Administration expert interview, 2016