Al Jamal said the authority had also strengthened its strategic partnerships with the private sector over the past year, noting that nine additional companies joined the GCC Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program in 2025. The expansion brings the total number of accredited companies to 93 across import, export, and customs-clearance categories.

The AEO scheme offers trade facilitations and benefits to trusted operators across the international supply chain. According to Al Jamal, the authority continues to accept new applicants that meet the program's standards.

As part of broader institutional cooperation, the General Authority of Customs signed several memoranda of understanding aimed at improving customs procedures and organizing trade and logistics activities. The authority also continued to monitor and uphold MoUs concluded in previous years.

On enforcement, Al Jamal said the customs service recorded 3,397 violations up to November 2025, ranging from attempts to smuggle prohibited or restricted items to cases of invoice manipulation and falsified customs data. He said Qatar had also taken part in several international operations targeting illicit trade and organized smuggling networks, working alongside domestic bodies and global organizations. These efforts, he said, resulted in the interception of high-risk narcotics and other banned materials, reflecting the readiness of customs officers and improvements to scanning and monitoring systems.

The authority also sought to increase its engagement with the public through a series of community outreach and awareness initiatives, including digital guides and information campaigns delivered at national events.

Regionally, Al Jamal said Qatar Customs had reinforced its presence in GCC and Arab forums, chairing 138 external meetings this year and participating in sessions held under the World Customs Organization. He described the authority as a "key and active partner" in regional efforts to harmonize customs policies and strengthen integration.

Turning to technology, he said the authority places "great importance" on using digital transformation and artificial intelligence to enhance customs services and speed up procedures in line with the country’s wider digital-government strategy.

Among this year's digital initiatives was the launch of a smart self-service reporting system that enables staff to design and generate detailed reports directly using data from the Al Nadeeb customs clearance platform. The system is intended to speed up access to information, improve analytical accuracy and support data-driven decision-making while reducing reliance on technical teams.

The authority also introduced a new Customs Documents system that automates archiving and builds a central database using AI to analyze key documents, including agreements, MoUs and minutes of Gulf and regional customs meetings.

Other upcoming projects include redesigning express-mail procedures, developing a unified integration platform, expanding robotic process automation, improving customs-valuation practices, and further incorporating AI into operational processes and training.

Looking ahead, Al Jamal said the authority is moving forward with its 2024-2030 strategic plan, which outlines 27 major projects aimed at modernizing customs operations, strengthening national security and supporting the economy. The plan aligns with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy and the broader Qatar National Vision 2030.

The projects span six key areas, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, institutional excellence, data and knowledge management, cybersecurity and risk management, and logistics support. Al Jamal said priority will be given to initiatives that have a direct impact on service development, operational efficiency, and faster processing, with close collaboration between public and private-sector partners.

“These efforts,” he said, "will help deliver the progress we aspire to and ensure sustainable development across all customs domains." (QNA)