Published: 2026-05-10
From 10 May 2026, filing a customs declaration on the Dubai Trade portal changed in a way every importer and exporter needs to understand. Submitting a declaration through Mirsal, the customs clearance system operated by Dubai Customs, now requires authentication through UAE Pass at Advanced or Qualified verification level. Basic UAE Pass accounts are being blocked from this function. The stated goal is to strengthen identity verification and reduce fraud in customs processing. For any business that moves goods across the border, this is a compliance step that cannot be skipped, and the time to prepare is now.
What actually changed
UAE Pass is the national digital identity used to access government and many private-sector services across the Emirates. It comes in different verification tiers. A basic account confirms only limited information, while Advanced and Qualified levels involve stronger identity proofing, typically requiring the holder to verify in person or through a more rigorous process that ties the digital identity firmly to a real, documented individual.
Until this change, a range of account types could interact with the Mirsal system for declarations. From 10 May 2026, that door narrows. Only Advanced or Qualified UAE Pass identities can submit customs declarations on the Dubai Trade portal. If the person who files your declarations holds only a basic account, they will be blocked from completing the submission until they upgrade.
Why Dubai Customs is doing this
Customs declarations sit at a sensitive point in the trade chain. They determine what enters and leaves the country, what duties apply, and which goods are cleared for release. That makes the process a target for fraud, misdeclaration and identity misuse. By requiring a higher level of verified identity to file, Dubai Customs ties every declaration to a properly proofed individual, which raises accountability and makes it far harder to submit under a false or borrowed identity.
This fits a broader direction across UAE government services, where verified digital identity is steadily becoming the default gateway. For legitimate businesses, the change adds a setup step but ultimately supports a cleaner, more trusted trading environment. The friction is front-loaded. Once your team is verified, filing continues as normal.
Who is affected
The requirement reaches anyone who files declarations through Mirsal on the Dubai Trade portal. That includes a wide group of trade participants, and each should check its own readiness.
- Importers bringing goods into or through Dubai who lodge declarations directly.
- Exporters and re-export companies filing outbound and transit declarations.
- Customs brokers and clearing agents who file on behalf of client businesses.
- Freight forwarders and logistics providers handling declarations as part of their service.
- In-house trade or operations staff who personally submit declarations for their employer.
The common thread is the individual identity behind the login. Because the requirement attaches to the person filing, every company needs to know exactly who submits its declarations and confirm that each of those people holds a UAE Pass at Advanced or Qualified level.
How to prepare
The practical response is straightforward but should not be left to the last shipment. Start by identifying every person in your operation who files or may need to file customs declarations. For each of them, check the current UAE Pass verification level. Anyone on a basic account needs to upgrade to Advanced or Qualified through the official UAE Pass process before they attempt to file.
Companies that rely on a customs broker or clearing agent should confirm directly with that partner that its filing staff already meet the requirement, so a shipment does not stall because an agent was caught unprepared. It is also worth reviewing how many people in your team can file. Relying on a single verified individual creates a single point of failure. If that person is travelling or unavailable and a declaration must go out, an unverified colleague cannot simply step in. Building a small bench of properly verified filers protects your operations against delay.
The cost of getting caught out
The risk here is not a penalty so much as a stoppage. A declaration that cannot be submitted is a shipment that cannot clear, and in trade, time held at the border is money lost through demurrage, storage and missed delivery windows. A company that discovers on the day of a critical shipment that its filer holds only a basic account faces exactly this problem, with no quick fix, because identity upgrades take their own processing time. The businesses that handle this change smoothly are the ones that treat it as a scheduled compliance task rather than an emergency.
Fitting this into your wider compliance picture
This UAE Pass requirement is one piece of a larger trend. Digital identity, verified access and traceable filing are becoming standard across UAE trade and government systems. A company that keeps its customs registration, licensing and authorised-user records tidy will absorb changes like this with little disruption. One that treats compliance as an afterthought tends to meet each new rule as a crisis. The lesson from 10 May 2026 is simply to keep your trade identity and access controls current and reviewed.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital helps importers, exporters and re-export businesses keep their customs and compliance setup current, including confirming that the people who file declarations meet the UAE Pass verification requirement and that your customs registration and authorised users are in order. We help you turn changes like the Mirsal update into a routine checklist rather than a shipment emergency. Explore our services or read more in our business guides to keep your trade operations moving without interruption.
The takeaway
From 10 May 2026, customs declarations on the Dubai Trade portal require UAE Pass authentication at Advanced or Qualified level, and basic accounts are blocked from filing. The change strengthens identity verification and cuts fraud, but it demands a simple preparation step: identify everyone who files, confirm their verification level, upgrade anyone on a basic account, and make sure your brokers are ready too. Handle it as scheduled compliance and your goods keep moving. Ignore it and a single unverified login can hold a shipment at the border.
