One of the oldest national organizations in the United Arab Emirates, the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) was established in 1965, with branches in all Emirates. In the year 2012, ATCUAE joined the International Road Transport Union “IRU” (a renowned union under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) as an Active Member and subsequently received its license from the Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime Services as per the provisions of Federal Law No. 9 of the year 2011 and its executive regulations with regard to land transport.

The ATCUAE is recognized as the sole entity acting as a guarantor and issuing authority of the TIR system for domestic and international shipments via Land and sea freight movements across the globe.

Origin

The TIR system was created to facilitate trade and transport whilst implementing an international harmonized system of Customs control that effectively protects the revenue of each Country through which goods are carried. In 1949, shortly after World War II, the first TIR Agreement was concluded between a small number of European countries and led to the elaboration of the TIR Convention in 1954 under the umbrella of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

What is the ‘TIR’ System?

“TIR” stands for Transports Internationaux Routiers (International Road Transport) and is an international Customs transit system. TIR is the only universal transit system that allows the goods to transit from a country of origin to a country of destination in sealed load compartments with Customs control recognition along the supply chain. This minimises administrative and financial burdens and Customs duties and taxes that are due will be covered by an international guarantee system.

• 76 TIR Contracting Countries
• 62 The Operational Countries
• Over 35,000 TIR Operators Worldwide
• Over 1 Billion Euro Customs Guarantee Every Day