In a significant step towards enhancing regional integration, the extraordinary meeting of the Directors-General of Customs in Arab countries has approved the establishment of the Arab Council for Customs Affairs.
The new body is set to strengthen and regulate customs cooperation among member states of the League of Arab States, marking a turning point in joint Arab customs efforts, reports Al-Jarida daily.
Kuwait’s Acting Director General of the General Administration of Customs, Fatima Al-Qallaf, praised the decision, describing it as a “qualitative shift” that will give structure, continuity, and institutional depth to Arab customs coordination.
She emphasized that the council will replace the traditional annual meetings held in the first quarter of each year, offering a more stable and effective mechanism for collaboration.
Al-Qallaf explained that the council’s creation follows intensive preparatory work, including legal deliberations in June, during which customs legal officers reviewed and finalized the council’s bylaws. These discussions paved the way for the approval reached during today’s extraordinary session.
The final decision will now be submitted to the Arab League’s Economic and Social Council for formal endorsement during its September meeting.
Kuwait participated in the meeting with an official delegation led by Fatima Al-Qallaf and included Mohammed Al-Muwaizri, First Legal Officer and researcher at Kuwait Customs. Their involvement reflects Kuwait’s active role in promoting unified customs policies across the Arab world.
