Dubai Customs keeps 8-digit HS codes available until further notice
Dubai Customs Notice 02/2026 confirms that 8-digit HS codes continue to be accepted until further notice. Businesses should prepare for the 12-digit programme without treating August 2026 as a firm deadline.
- Who this affects
- Businesses sending goods through Dubai Customs, particularly into the mainland market.
- What you should do
- Eight-digit codes remain accepted until further notice. Prepare for 12 digits and check the live requirement with your carrier or broker.
- Current status
- Until further notice
- Last checked
- 28 Aug 2026
- Official source
- Open the primary source ↗
Why the earlier deadline changed
Dubai Customs originally published a phased timetable for moving declarations from 8-digit to 12-digit tariff codes. That timetable included a phase covering rest-of-world imports into Dubai's local mainland market from August 2026.
Customs Notice 02/2026 subsequently extended the existing flexibility for 8-digit HS codes. It says Dubai Customs will continue accepting all declarations submitted with those codes during the extended period.
The 12-digit tariff programme remains in place. Businesses should prepare their product data and systems for a future switch, but the current filing requirement should be checked with the carrier, broker or importer responsible for the declaration.
What is the 12-digit programme?
An HS code is the number customs authorities use to identify a product. The first six digits form the international part of the code; countries can add more digits for their own tariff, tax, statistical and regulatory needs.
Dubai previously worked with 8-digit tariff codes. The new GCC Integrated Customs Tariff uses 12 digits, giving customs authorities more detail about the exact type of product being imported.
An old 8-digit line may remain the same and receive four zeros at the end, split into several more specific 12-digit product lines, or be replaced or supplemented by a new tariff line.
Why does this matter to a UK business?
A UK business may know the correct 6-digit HS code for a product, or it may hold a longer UK commodity code. Only the first six digits are internationally harmonised. A UK 8-digit or 10-digit commodity code is not automatically the correct tariff code for Dubai.
The person completing the Dubai customs declaration may need to map the product to the relevant local tariff code. They can only do that reliably if the sender provides accurate product information. Descriptions such as “clothing”, “parts”, “samples” or “phone accessories” may be too vague.
Clearer descriptions include a men's knitted T-shirt made from 100% cotton, a plastic protective case for a mobile phone, a stainless steel machine coupling for industrial use, or a printed paper product catalogue not for resale. Useful details can include material, composition, function, intended use, model and whether the item is finished or a component.
Who could be affected?
- UK e-commerce businesses sending orders directly to customers in Dubai
- Marketplace sellers, wholesalers and other B2B exporters
- Manufacturers sending machinery, spare parts or components
- Companies sending stock, samples, promotional goods or replacements
This update focuses on declarations handled by Dubai Customs. Goods entering a free zone, moving in transit, being re-exported or clearing through another UAE emirate may follow a different process.
What should UK businesses do now?
- Continue using the code format your carrier or broker currently accepts. Eight-digit declarations remain accepted by Dubai Customs until further notice.
- Keep the international 6-digit classification accurate. An incorrect first six digits cannot be repaired by adding a local extension.
- Prepare for 12 digits. Map priority products using the official correlation table and check that relevant systems can store destination-specific codes.
- Improve product descriptions. Record the material, composition, function and intended use needed to distinguish each product.
- Check before shipping. Ask the carrier, broker or importer who completes the final local classification and what data it needs today.
The dates that matter
- 30 January 2026: Customs Notice 02/2026 was issued.
- Current position: 8-digit HS codes continue to be accepted until further notice.
- Future position: Dubai Customs has not announced a replacement mandatory switch date in this notice.