UAE Energy Ministry and Abu Dhabi Customs Link Systems for Hazardous Petroleum Imports

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi. Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, and Obaid Musallam Al Ameri, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Customs, attended the signing.

Under the agreement, the two bodies will share information, data and services to support approvals for restricted petroleum imports and speed up customs clearance. The cooperation also covers regulating and monitoring restricted import, export and transit shipments, with the stated aim of simplifying procedures while keeping trade in line with applicable laws.

Al Olama said the agreement "will strengthen coordination and improve the procedures of restricted petroleum materials import through digital information exchange." He tied it to the UAE's Government Zero Bureaucracy Programme, which seeks to remove duplicated requirements and simplify procedures without weakening safety and regulatory compliance.

Al Ameri said the agreement reflects Abu Dhabi Customs' push towards government integration and a smart customs system that supports efficient supply chains. He said the collaboration shows "the role of digital solutions and government partnerships in facilitating trade in the energy sector" and supports the continuity of energy supplies.

Why It Matters

Imports of hazardous petroleum materials typically need sign-off from more than one authority, and paper or manual handoffs between agencies can slow clearance. Connecting the ministry's approval process directly to customs systems is intended to cut those delays for energy companies and traders bringing restricted materials through Abu Dhabi. WAM did not give a timeline for when the integration will be fully operational or how many shipments it is expected to cover.

The agreement is one of several government and industry deals announced during ADIPEC week, as UAE authorities pair digital government initiatives with the energy sector's push for faster, more automated operations.