Dubai’s foreign trade in phones totalled Dh163 billion ($44.37 billion) in 2013, representing about 12 per cent of the emirate’s overall foreign trade volume, according to the latest data released by the Dubai Customs.

Trade in telephones amounted to Dh42.5 billion ($11.57 billion) in the first quarter of 2014, up by 126 per cent compared to Dh18.8 billion ($5.1 billion) recorded in the same period four years ago, it said.

Trade in phones ranked first among other commodities traded in the emirate, according to the statistics.

Dubai’s transition into a smart city places it among the top cities with the highest smartphone penetration, a statement said.

The development of smart government applications is underway in line with the approved methodology announced by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and General Supervisor of the project.

 “Dubai Customs (DC) significantly contributes to the rise of Dubai’s trade in telephone devices by offering advanced services and facilitations to traders and investors. Moreover, DC was the first to transform into a fully smart government department delivering its services 24/7 through smart phones in 2013,” said Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs.

“Further, DC’s service offerings are now available on smart watches too, ahead of the emirate’s initiative to become the smartest city in the world within three years,”  he said.

The escalating growth of the emirate’s foreign trade in mobile phones has been bolstered by the Smart Dubai Strategy, which aims at providing the entire city’s services and facilities on smartphones. – TradeArabia News Service