Dubai Customs Partners with Binance to Integrate Crypto Payments into Trade and Logistics

Dubai Customs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cryptocurrency exchange Binance to integrate crypto payment solutions into its trade and logistics operations. The agreement was formalized during Binance Week 2025 in Dubai, between Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, and Stephanie Emile, General Manager of Binance FZE in Dubai.

The partnership aims to leverage Binance's payment technologies, including Binance Pay, to enhance trade flow and accelerate investment cycles. The core objective is to reduce friction in the import-export cycle by introducing blockchain-based settlement options, which officials expect will lead to faster customs clearance, lower transaction costs, and more efficient coordination across shipping and regulatory checkpoints.

This initiative is positioned as a strategic step within Dubai's broader digital transformation agenda, specifically its D33 Economic Agenda which seeks to double the emirate's economic output over the next decade. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, framed the agreement as part of a long-term transition toward smarter, faster, and more automated trade processes.

Dubai Customs is not new to blockchain technology. The agency already operates a blockchain platform launched in 2024 for secure, tamper-proof data sharing across the supply chain to expedite customs clearance. In 2023, it also received an intellectual property certificate from the UAE's Ministry of Economy for a Blockchain System for Managing Intellectual Property and Knowledge Assets.

A key beneficiary of this integration is expected to be Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). While large corporations typically navigate cross-border settlements with ease, SMEs often face delays, high wire-transfer fees, and slow processing times. The introduction of digital-asset payments is intended to reduce these barriers, offering SMEs a practical alternative to traditional banking channels for accessing global markets.

Binance CEO Richard Teng stated that the project aims to develop tools that could influence customs systems beyond the UAE, positioning Binance as a global trade technology partner. Dr. Abdulla Busenad described the collaboration as opening "a new chapter in developing digital payments by integrating crypto assets" and moving toward a "faster, more transparent, and more future-ready customs experience."