Dubai Customs (DC) continues to elevate its efforts in deterring piracy and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringements. The amount of IPR seizures during the first half of 2014 was 139 different products with an estimated value of AED 17.6 million, including apparels, mobile phones and accessories, automotive spare parts, watches and sunglasses.

This success can be attributed to DC’s inspection strategies and techniques. DC uses information technology applications including the in-house developed "Risk Engine" system, which is inputted with data from various resources, enabling it to identify suspected shipments at a high level of accuracy. This system revolutionized DC’s work especially at the inspection level for facilitating legitimate trade while deterring unlawful smuggling of counterfeit goods into the country. The Risk Engine system is regularly updated to overcome adjustments in the practices of counterfeiters. DC also pursues continual training of inspectors, including developments in the field of IPR and collaboration with trademark owners.

More than 84% of transactions that are assessed via the DC system as low-risk are electronically cleared without the need for any Customs officer intervention. This is achieved in less than two minutes starting from the client’s input of their consignment data into the Customs Clearance System via the available interactive channels, such as smartphones, B2G and the internet.

Dubai Customs IPR success also owes to effective partnerships with all concerned government entities via the unified government team which was instigated by Dubai Customs to better align efforts amongst these agencies, as well as through stronger partnerships with trademark owners and their representatives.