Improving the Border Agency Cooperation
Among the OIC Member States for Facilitating Trade
77
truck and vessel turnaround time. The aim is to reduce clearance times at ports from around
50 minutes in 2014 to 10 minutes in 2020 and from 30 minutes to eight minutes at land
borders.133
In recent years, all GCC countries have adopted national e-clearance systems. Abu Dhabi and
the UAE are looking for ways to build connectivity between the e-clearance systems of their
trading partners. The Abu Dhabi customs are, for example, negotiating with Jordan, a Middle
East country that sends goods into Abu Dhabi through Saudi Arabia, to receive advance
customs cargo information for customs and security purposes. Customs houses at the Omani
border are under a modernisation process that will enable quick online communications
between Abu Dhabi and Omani customs authorities. At the GCC-level in general, there is a huge
potential for regional Single Window implementation, but so far there have been only tentative
negotiations on this matter. Even so, the customs administrations in the Gulf region have
recently been exchanging quite a lot experiences regarding e-clearance systems.
Towards regional AEO (within GCC)
The Abu Dhabi customs manages a local trusted trader program similar to Authorised
Economic Operator (AEO) initiatives that grant customs simplifications for certified
companies. “We have around 47 companies with the trusted trader status,” an Abu Dhabi
customs specialist explains. “We make customs formalities easier for these companies.” The
UAE has taken some steps towards a national AEO program, but the progress is rather slow.
“We are discussing with local emirates and the Federal Customs Authority,” the specialist
continues. “But the emirates have different criteria for AEO certification, and settling the
differences takes time.” Meanwhile at the GCC level, there have been talks about a regional AEO
program, or mutual recognition of national programs. Establishing a regional AEO scheme,
however, is not going to become operational over the following years.134
4.1.3. Summary and discussions
Abu Dhabi and the UAE have already implemented some important elements of international
BAC. There are some special arrangements to synchronise and coordinate inspections at the
Oman-UAE and Saudi-UAE land border crossings. The GCC countries follow the common
customs law that obliges the member countries to use the same harmonised dataset for
customs declaration. The common customs law also facilitates exchange of intelligence and
deeper collaboration on customs training and education.
At the same time, there is a great potential to strengthen further international BAC in the GCC
customs union. GCC countries could connect their national e-clearance systems for a regional
single window system. The countries could also establish a regional AEO program by
harmonizing their national programs – including the security requirements, audit practices
and granted benefits. More locally at the borders, neighbouring GCC countries could establish
joint customs houses, share inspection equipment, and organize more joint operations as well
as intelligence sharing.
Good news is that the customs union provides a solid legal basis for strengthening the regional
BAC. Three main barriers, nevertheless, hinder further development of BAC in the GCC
133 Abu Dhabi Customs Administration expert interview, 2016
134 Abu Dhabi Customs Administration expert interview, 2016