Shopping overseas from Dubai? If you are, be aware that some additional fees have been introduced on goods bought internationally with a value greater than Dh300.
Dubai has introduced new customs duties on international purchases over Dhs300. The threshold was previously set at Dhs1,000. This applies under the guidelines of the Dubai Customs – Notice No 5 of 2022, which came into effect on January 1, 2023.
VAT taxes will also apply on the goods purchased.
This additional fees imposed is industry-wide, meaning it will impact orders from Amazon and other delivery retailers.
Dubai Customs duty on international shopping over Dh300
Customs duty rate has been set at five per cent of the goods if their value exceeds Dh300, except where a rate of zero per cent exemption applies according to the Unified Customs Tariff for the GCC States of 2022.
Residents shopping overseas from Dubai, over the stipulated value will now have to pay the following on their purchases:
- 5 per cent import customs duty
- 5 per cent value-added tax (VAT)
However, goods imported with a value of less than Dh300 will be exempted from customs duties. Tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquid, alcoholic beverages and foods containing alcohol are excluded from the exemption of customs duties.
Also tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping liquids are subject to a higher customs duty at the rate of 200 per cent in addition to the “sin tax” which is applied also to sugary drinks.
Fees for goods above Dhs10,000
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has also just announced a ‘digital attestation fee’ on commercial invoices for imported goods valued at over Dhs10,000.
#MoFAIC#eService #eDas pic.twitter.com/87RxTQHls0
— وزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي (@MoFAICUAE) January 19, 2023
The fee is Dh150 and attestation will take around six minutes and can be done online on mofaic.gov.ae.
Once approvals are done, a reference number will be generated as proof of attestation.
Declarants can either register as a citizen, resident or visitor; or as a private company.
The attestation requirement will come into effect from February 1, 2023. The Ministry added that failure to attest invoices for imports within 14 days will lead to an administrative fine of Dhs500.
Certain categories will be exempted from this requirement. It includes invoices lower than Dhs10,000; personal imports; GCC imports; freezone imports; police and military imports and charity imports; transit imports and B2C e-commerce movements.
For further clarifications, consumers can reach out to The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on 06 506 8888.
You might also like: UAE visa and Emirates ID costs rise as a new fee is imposed
