Dubai: Dubai Customs has temporarily suspended Mirsal-2, a customs declarations clearance system, for dealers at the Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ) while it makes modifications so trade transactions can go through, top government official said.
"There will be modifications to the application of the system in order to meet some of the requirements related to the car business in particular," Ahmad Mahboob Musabih, Executive Director of Client Management at Dubai Customs told Gulf News on Tuesday.
The modification comes after used-car dealers at DUCAMZ faced problems with the system that brought their trade transactions to a halt.
After meetings with Dubai Customs officials, authorities have promised solutions to make trade easier for the dealers.
Currently, Mirsal-1, the previous way of completing customs clearance in Ducamz has been temporarily reinstated.
"Mirsal-1 will later be decommissioned and they will have to use Mirsal-2. It is the only clearance solution by Dubai customs," Mahboob said.
Meanwhile, business has returned to normal for the dealers at DUCAMZ while they use the old system Mirsal-1.
Advantage
"They [authorities] have resumed Mirsal-1 and we are able to make the documents for our customers," Rizwan ul-Haq, managing director of Haq International Motors told Gulf News. He said that for a month, dealers have been asked to work with the information technology department of Dubai Customs to find a workable solution. "If Mirsal 2 is customised for our trade, we have no problem with it. Any modernization is a good thing for us. It is timeless and paperless, but it should be possible for us to work with," he said.
Ali Asghar, managing director of Cougar Motors, a dealer at DUCAMZ said, "Mirsal 1 is being replaced until Mirsal 2 is made compatible for us. We are happy that we were given a fair and just hearing."
He said that the problems were discussed at length, and the dealers were given a solution for the time being.
Mahboub said the changes that simplify transactions and are tailored to the requirements of the used car industry will be made soon and the switch to Mirsal-2 will be completed by the end of the month.
Both systems are put into place to register information for trade from and to Dubai and managed by Dubai Customs office.
Mahboub said some of the changes are related to the nature of the used-car business and involved parties, mainly the buyer, seller and exit point of the UAE border.
Mirsal-2 has come into effect across all free zones under Dubai Customs and Mahboub said that other companies related to various industries are happy with the system.
"Mirsal-2 is a very sophisticated system, which can cope with the increased volumes of trade in the UAE in general and Dubai in particular. It has the capability and at the same time is a much secure solution to handle trade transactions," Mahboob said.
