Dubai: Dubai has reported a massive surge in its foreign trade in mobile and fixed-line telephone devices over the past few years.

Trade in telephones scored Dh42.5 billion in the first quarter of 2014, up by 126 per cent compared to Dh18.8 billion recorded in the same period four years ago. Consequently, trade in phones ranked first among other commodities traded in the emirate according to the latest statistics released by Dubai Customs for first quarter of this year.

Dubai’s phones trade totalled around Dh163 billion in 2013, representing 12 per cent of Dubai’s overall foreign trade volume.

“Because of the emirate’s advanced logistics services and great potentials and business opportunities offered by its markets and free zones, Dubai has become a major destination for regional and international telephones trade activity,” said Ahmad Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs. “Amidst the global information and communications technology boom, Dubai stands as a leading trading hub through which the growing universal demand for latest phone gadgets is met.”

He added that “Dubai Customs significantly contributes to the rise of Dubai’s trade in telephone devices by offering advanced services and facilitations to traders and investors. Due to these streamlined services and expedited customs clearance of consignments, Dubai customs allows traders of phone commodities to respond to the market needs without delay.”