CUSTOMS OPERATIONS IN THE EMIRATE OF AJMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 006881

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS EWWT ECON AE
SUBJECT: CUSTOMS OPERATIONS IN THE EMIRATE OF AJMAN

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CLASSIFIED BY: Paul R Sutphin, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. Summary. On November 8 the director general of Ajman Port and
Customs discussed customs operations in the Emirate of Ajman
with PolEconoffs. Ajman customs has 12 officers who enforce UAE
federal customs regulations and collect Ajman customs duties.
Customs officers are said to inspect nearly 25 percent of the
cargo entering and leaving Ajman, both in containers and onboard
dhows. Ajman's customs officers are trained in Dubai and other
Arab countries. End Summary.

2.(U) Poleconoffs met on November 8 with Sheikh Mohamed bin
Abdullah al-Nuaimi, the director general of Ajman Port and
Customs Department, to discuss customs operations in the Emirate
of Ajman. Al-Nuaimi is also the director general of the Ajman
Free Zone, which is collocated with Ajman Customs.

3.(C) In the UAE, each emirate maintains separate customs
services. Ajman, the smallest emirate has only 12 officers who
cover Ajman port. They are responsible for all inbound and
outbound cargo and also enforce intellectual property rights.
Though Ajman Customs is independent of other Emirati customs
agencies, all emirates apply UAE federal customs regulations.
According to al-Nuaimi, UAE federal customs officials have the
right to inspect and audit each emirate's customs service. His
comments however, suggest federal oversight is not actively
exercised.

Container Traffic and Inspection
--------------

4.(SBU) Al-Nuaimi stated that Ajman port handled 28,000 TEUs
(twenty foot equivalent units) of container cargo in 2005. In
2006 he expected the port to handle 35,000 TEUs, which is the
port's maximum annual container capacity. Al-Nuaimi asserted
that 20-25 percent of the containers are opened and inspected.
When a discrepancy is discovered, the customs officers impound
the container and seek an explanation from the shipper or
consignee. If customs determines criminal intent, the Ajman
police will be given the case for prosecution.

Dhow Traffic and Inspection
--------------

5.(U) According to al-Nuaimi, Ajman handles an average of 30
cargo dhows per month; however, the number of dhows is lower in
the summer due to unfavorable winds. The dhows load and unload
along a quay near the area known as the Iranian market. Most of
the dhows sail to Iran, India, Pakistan, and to a lesser extent
Somalia, and Yemen. Dhows carry a wide variety of goods from
Ajman, e.g., automobile spare parts, tires, rice, and sugar.
Charcoal is the main cargo carried by dhows coming from Somalia.

6.(C) Al-Nuami said dhows entering UAE waters are subject to
inspection by the UAE Coast Guard. He claimed that all dhows are
inspected by Ajman customs officers. The area where the dhows
load and unload is uncontrolled. Commercial and private vehicles
have easy access to the area. Comment: Poleconoffs have never
observed customs or police officers in the vicinity of the dhow
quay. While the dhows may be inspected as they leave port, the
random and dense pack of goods would make it nearly impossible
to confirm what is on board without unloading the vessel. End
Comment.

Training
--------------

7.(SBU) Ajman's customs officers receive their basic training
with Dubai Customs officers in that emirate. Some of the
officers have received additional training in the other Gulf
Cooperation Council states and in Arab countries such as Egypt
and Jordan. Al-Nuaimi was interested in training opportunities
offered by the USG; however, he indicated that the officers have
extremely limited English language abilities.

Future Plans
--------------

8.(C) Al-Nuaimi revealed Ajman's plans to build a new port,
which will be located next to Hamriyah port in Sharjah. The new
port will have a depth of 15 meters. All shipping will be
shifted to the new port when it is completed. Ajman's current

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port area and free zone are slated for redevelopment. Mixed
commercial and residential buildings and a large shopping mall
will replace a mixed cargo loading and industrial area. The new
facilities will remain a part of the free zone, though, the
differentiation between free zone activities and non-free zone
activities is unclear.


9. (C) COMMENT: Although Al-Nuaimi was friendly and relatively
open in the discussion, he did not appear to have in-depth
knowledge of Ajman's port and customs operations. His interests
appear to be with the commercial success of the Ajman Free Zone,
which could be in direct conflict with his duties as head of
customs. His claim that customs inspects 20-25 percent of
containers is quite high, considering the port does not have
x-ray equipment and there are so few officers.
WALL