Dubai gives perishable food shipments priority berthing and confirms customs relief measures

Dubai's ports, customs and free zone authority has committed to clear priority handling for perishable food shipments and formed a joint committee with traders to cut vessel waiting times, demurrage and freight charges arising from regional shipping disruption.

At a stakeholders meeting at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) headquarters in Mina Rashid, chaired by PCFC chairman Abdulla Bin Damithan, Dubai authorities met fruit and vegetable traders and logistics partners to review the impact of regional disruption on shipping movements and food supply chains. Bin Damithan said delays in vessel berthing at some regional ports are reducing the remaining shelf life of fresh produce and that PCFC, through Dubai Ports Authority and in coordination with terminal operators, will give perishable food shipments clear priority at Dubai's ports. A Joint Follow-up Committee chaired by Capt. Ibrahim AlBlooshi, executive director of Dubai Ports Authority, will meet regularly on berthing and discharge priorities, shipping charges and trucking issues.

PCFC also reviewed the facilitation measures Dubai Customs has introduced for the movement of goods by land and air. They include a 120-day extension of the customs suspension period, temporary instalment payment of customs duties due on import declarations, an 80% reduction in penalties in customs cases and an adjusted duty exemption threshold for e-commerce shipments. PCFC reported that these initiatives generated AED 134 million in additional trade value and about 60,000 tonnes of additional fruit and vegetable trade in May and June 2026 compared with March and April 2026, and that more than 112,000 declarations were processed through the Green Corridor in March and April 2026.

• Priority handling: perishable food shipments are to be given priority berthing and discharge at Dubai's ports.
• Joint committee: chaired by Dubai Ports Authority, covering berthing and discharge priorities, shipping charges and trucking.
• Customs relief: suspension period extended by 120 days, duty instalments facilitated, customs-case penalties cut by 80%, e-commerce duty exemption threshold adjusted.
• Volumes: food cargo through Mina Rashid reached 25,618 tonnes in 2026 against 20,547 tonnes in 2024, with vessel calls doubling to around 600; Mina Hamriyah handles more than 436,000 tonnes of general cargo and more than 700,000 head of livestock a year.
• Disputed charges: PCFC says it can review contested charges through an independent mechanism and has dedicated Dubai Trade platform channels for charge disclosure and complaints.

For importers, priority berthing helps only if documentation is ready. Halal certificates, veterinary health certificates, certificates of origin and correct labelling need to be complete before the consignment arrives, because the UAE requires at least 50% of a product's shelf life to remain at the port of entry.

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Source: Khaleej Times, 6 October 2026, reporting the PCFC / Dubai Chambers stakeholders meeting at Mina Rashid; PCFC and Dubai Customs facilitation measures.