Big news for global trade: on 9 November 2026, the UAE kicked off its eATA Carnet rollout, becoming the first country outside Europe to adopt the digital system. Dubai Chambers, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and Dubai Customs teamed up to make it happen.
So what changes? The system lets businesses issue and process ATA Carnets electronically. Digital declarations, QR codes, and transaction records now replace paper-based procedures.
As a result, customs clearance speeds up, transparency improves, and international trade and events run more smoothly.
Not sure what a carnet does? ATA Carnets let eligible goods enter participating countries temporarily without customs duties or taxes, provided you re-export them. They stay valid for up to one year.
Consequently, exhibitors, sample sellers, and professionals hauling equipment skip the paperwork and the separate customs guarantees.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has served as the UAE's National Guaranteeing and Issuing Association since 2011. Naturally, it worked closely with national customs authorities and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on technical consultations, training, and pre-launch testing.
Notably, Dubai Chambers is one of only 13 of the ICC's 1,200 member chambers to implement eATA Carnet.
From 2011 through 2025, the UAE issued and received 63,591 carnets covering AED 54.4 billion in goods. In 2025 alone, that meant 5,960 carnets worth AED 5.6 billion, up 11.2% in number and 30% in value.
Looking ahead, the UAE follows June 2026's rollout across 30 European countries, and full global digitalisation is expected by 1 January 2028.
