UAE extends suspended customs duty deadlines by 120 days

• • Relief applies to select suspended customs duty regimes

• • Move aims to support trade flows and ease business burden

Dubai Customs has issued Customs Notice No. 12/2026, granting a temporary 120-day extension for specific suspended customs duty cases. The measure applies to customs duty suspension statuses expiring between 27 February and 31 July 2026 and covers import for re-export, temporary admission, and transit shipments.

According to the notice, the decision is intended to support businesses by reducing financial and administrative burdens while ensuring the continuity of supply chains and facilitating the smooth movement of trade amid current operational challenges.

Move aimed at supporting trade flows:

Under the revised framework, customs declarations falling under the eligible categories will receive a 120-day extension from the original expiry date of their suspended duty status. The extension provides additional flexibility to importers, exporters, traders, and logistics operators managing goods under temporary customs arrangements.

Dubai Customs stated that the measure forms part of its broader efforts to enhance trade efficiency and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub. The authority also noted that it may extend, suspend, or amend the relief period through subsequent customs notices, depending on future requirements.

Market implications:

Market participants view the move as a trade facilitation measure rather than a regulatory restriction. The extension is expected to ease compliance requirements for affected businesses and help maintain uninterrupted trade flows across the UAE’s ports, free zones, and logistics corridors.

The notice came into effect on 18 June 2026, with the relevant departments instructed to implement the provisions immediately within their respective areas of responsibility.