The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) has issued a decision to provide greater transparency of local sea container charges. Administrative Decision No. 2 of 2023 on the Transparency of Local Sea Container Charges in Dubai Directive, which took effect on 1 August 2023, ends the temporary freeze on container charges introduced on 1 May 2023. Local container service providers can now revise local charges by filing an application via the Dubai Trade single‑window platform. They must, however, publish previous charges filed with the DMA on their corporate website within 30 days. Service providers without a website must supply customers in advance with a list of container charges in writing.

The DMA has also introduced a new system enabling service providers to charge for their services directly, with the local port operator to issue invoices separately for services provided, such as terminal handling, and truck loading. Payments will be collected directly using the Dubai Trade platform. Finally, all delivery orders must now be issued online using the Dubai Trade Electronic Delivery Order platform.