Dubai Customs has established a duty free shop at the Dhow Wharfage near Dubai Creek to cater to the needs of dhow crew members and sailors.

The facility will serve a growing number of sailors and crew, estimated over 21,000 per year. The port serves dhows, boats and country crafts that shuttle goods to other ports in the GCC, Iran and South Asia.

"The shops at the duty free include commodities and foodstuff at competitive price," said Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh, director of the Creek Customs Centre.

During the first quarter, the port served 8,922 boats of different types, including 4,493 incoming and 4,429 outgoing.

January showed the highest traffic with 2,294 voyages, followed by March with 2,262, while in February 2,224 boats anchored at the port. The traffic showed a further decline in April, registering 2,143 voyages, including 1,197 outgoing and 946 incoming.