Modest Consulting Services FZE helps UAE importers and exporters stay compliant with Federal Customs Authority (FCA) regulations through accurate HS code classification, customs audits, trade compliance, duty recovery, and FCA audit support.
Many UAE importers have been applying incorrect HS codes or inaccurate declared values — resulting in significant duty overpayment. We identify overpayments and submit refund and drawback applications to UAE Customs on your behalf.
Result: Recover AED thousands in overpaid duties
A customs compliance review identifies errors in declarations, HS codes, and duty calculations before FCA audits them. Proactive correction is significantly less expensive than FCA-discovered penalties.
Result: Zero customs penalty risk
End-to-end review of import and export documentation — commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and declarations — ensuring everything is complete, consistent, and FCA-compliant.
Result: Clean customs record
If FCA selects your business for an audit, we manage the entire response — reviewing records, preparing submissions, responding to FCA queries, and representing you directly with the authority.
Result: Professional authority management, minimal penalty exposure
Every product imported or exported must be classified under the correct Harmonised System code. The HS code determines the duty rate. Incorrect classification results in duty underpayment — attracting FCA penalties — or overpayment — money left on the table that can often be recovered.
UAE Customs uses the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement to determine taxable value — generally the transaction value plus additional costs. Incorrect valuation is one of the most common areas of customs non-compliance and the most common reason for FCA audit selection.
UAE applies 5% standard customs duty on most goods under the GCC Common External Tariff. Some goods are exempt. Preferential duty rates apply under UAE free trade agreements — many businesses miss preferential rate opportunities or incorrectly claim them without correct certificates of origin.
Goods moving between UAE mainland and free zones are subject to specific customs procedures. Incorrect handling of these movements is a common compliance risk for businesses operating across both jurisdictions.
Full review of customs declarations for a defined period — typically 12–24 months of import and export history. Every declaration reviewed for correct HS classification, accurate value, correct duty, and complete documentation.
Every HS code applied to your imported and exported products verified against UAE Customs tariff schedules and any applicable FCA rulings. Incorrect codes identified and corrected.
How your business calculates customs value reviewed against UAE Customs Law and WTO valuation rules. Overpayments resulting from valuation errors calculated for recovery.
Standard documentation package reviewed — commercial invoice format, packing list requirements, bill of lading details, and certificate of origin — against FCA requirements.
Overpayments identified — refund or drawback applications prepared and submitted to UAE Customs with all required supporting documentation.
Full end-to-end management of FCA customs audits — records reviewed before audit, all submissions prepared, meetings attended where possible, all FCA queries responded to.
Tell us your import-export volumes, HS codes, and current compliance situation. We assess your risk and recommend the right starting point.
⏱ Same day responseCustoms declarations, commercial invoices, and duty payment records collected for the review period. Initial scan identifies highest priority risk areas.
⏱ 2–3 working daysComplete review — HS code verification, valuation check, documentation review, duty calculation analysis. All findings documented with supporting references.
⏱ 5–10 working daysFull written customs audit report delivered — findings, recommendations, recovery opportunities, prioritised action plan.
⏱ Within 2 weeks of engagement"AED 85,000 in overpaid customs duties identified across 18 months of imports. Refund submitted and approved in 6 weeks."
— Hassan Al Muhairi, Dubai Importer"FCA audit with no idea how to respond. Modest Consulting Services managed the entire process — completely resolved without penalty."
— Lakshmi Rajan, Sharjah Trading Company"HS code review identified three misclassified products from over a year. Duty savings going forward are significant."
— Mohammed Naji, JAFZA Free Zone
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Ask a consultantA review of your import and export declarations, HS codes, declared values, and duty payments to ensure compliance with UAE Federal Customs Authority regulations — conducted proactively by a specialist consultant, or by FCA as a regulatory audit of your company.
Any business that imports or exports goods through UAE — particularly businesses with high import volumes, wide product ranges, multiple HS codes, or businesses that have never had declarations independently reviewed.
Yes. Identified overpayments are recovered through refund or duty drawback applications submitted to UAE Customs — including all required documentation and supporting calculations.
Do not respond without professional support. Modest Consulting Services manages the entire response — reviewing records, preparing FCA submissions, attending meetings where possible, and representing your business throughout.
Standard review for 12 months of import history takes 5–15 working days depending on declaration volume and product complexity.
Incorrect HS code classification, incorrect valuation methodology, missing or inconsistent documentation, failure to apply preferential duty rates, and incorrect handling of goods moving between mainland and free zones.
Trade compliance experts. Duty recovery specialists. FCA audit representation.