On 31 January 2026, the Abu Dhabi Government, through the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), announced the launch of a new Art Customs Duty Waiver Programme, aimed at strengthening the emirate’s position as a global destination for art, culture, and long-term collections.
According to the official government announcement, the programme offers a customs duty waiver for qualifying high-value artworks brought into Abu Dhabi, subject to defined eligibility and governance requirements. Participating collectors are required to commit to hosting eligible artworks in Abu Dhabi for a minimum period of three years, supported by clear documentation relating to provenance, valuation, and regulatory compliance.
The initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to integrate cultural policy with trade and customs facilitation, recognising the movement of high-value artworks as both a cultural and economic activity that requires regulatory clarity and trust. By reducing customs-related cost barriers, the programme seeks to encourage the long-term placement, conservation, and exhibition of internationally significant artworks within the emirate.
From a trade compliance perspective, the programme is notable for its emphasis on governance, oversight, and structured eligibility criteria, underscoring the importance of transparency and regulatory assurance in facilitating cross-border movement of high-value assets. It also highlights how targeted customs measures can be used to support strategic policy objectives beyond traditional trade flows.
This development may serve as a reference point for other jurisdictions exploring how customs policy can be aligned with cultural, economic, and institutional priorities in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
The following is the official announcement on this new policy from the media office of Abu Dhabi Government: