UAE becomes first country outside Europe to launch eATA Carnet system
The UAE has become the first country outside Europe to run ATA Carnets electronically, activating a digital system for the customs "passport for goods" on November 9 through Dubai Chambers, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, and Dubai Customs, with support from the International Chamber of Commerce.
The paperless shift matters because of the volume it touches. Since the UAE joined the ATA Carnet system in 2011, 63,591 carnets covering goods worth AED54.4 billion have been issued and received through the end of 2025, according to Token Times. Dubai alone accounted for 71 percent of the country's carnet transactions in 2025, Dubai Customs said, with Dubai Chamber of Commerce issuing and receiving 5,960 carnets for goods valued at AED5.6 billion — 11.2 percent more carnets than in 2024 and 30 percent more by value.
Under the new process, holders receive their document through an application, file declarations electronically and generate a QR code for customs officers, who scan it to check validity, verify the goods and confirm the transaction digitally. Carnets remain valid for up to a year and can be used across multiple participating countries without paying duties or taxes on goods that are re-exported, covering everything from exhibition stands and broadcast equipment to jewellery, medical devices and racehorses. Perishable and consumable goods are excluded.
Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej Al Falasi, acting director general of customs at the federal authority, said the system should improve transaction efficiency, cut reliance on paper and reduce the time, effort and cost of temporary admission. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said the transition supports faster, more transparent and secure customs services, while Dubai Customs director general Dr Abdulla Busenad said the value would show in quicker goods movement and lower business costs. The rollout also supports Dubai Customs' 2026-2030 strategy and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The UAE joins a first wave that began with the EU's 27 member states, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on June 1, 2026. Moldova is due to follow on January 1, 2027 and Serbia on February 1, with the ICC expecting carnet procedures to be fully digital worldwide by January 1, 2028. Until then, businesses travelling through countries that have not activated the digital procedure may still need paper carnets alongside the electronic version. Dubai Chamber of Commerce is one of only 13 chambers running the eATA system across the ICC's network of about 1,200 member chambers.
