Temporary Admission
Temporary Admission is a customs procedure that allows goods to enter the UAE temporarily without paying customs duty — typically against a deposit or bank guarantee equal to the duty — on the condition that they are re-exported within a set period. It is used for goods that are not being sold into the market: exhibition and event materials, equipment for projects or repairs, professional tools, and similar.
The deposit or guarantee is released when the goods are re-exported and the temporary admission is closed. For goods moving across borders under an international guarantee, the ATA Carnet serves a similar purpose, acting as a passport for temporary admission without a local deposit.
Temporary admission is what lets a company bring in a machine for a project, or a stand for an exhibition, without sinking cash into duty on goods that are only visiting. Managing the deadline and the deposit — and closing the admission on re-export — is what keeps that cash from being forfeited.
How is duty handled under temporary admission?
It is suspended against a deposit or guarantee, which is refunded when the goods are re-exported within the allowed period.
How does an ATA Carnet relate to temporary admission?
An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that enables temporary admission across member countries under a single guarantee, avoiding local deposits.