Dubai Customs is successfully rated with the Capability Maturity Model Integration level 3 from the CMMI Institute

In a firsthand surpassing achievement, the Customs Development Division in Dubai Customs was successfully rated for the  CMMI Development level 3. The CMMI is a process improvement approach that provides organization with the essential elements of effective process to improve ultimately their performance. The assessment encompassed a thorough review of project management, engineering, development, support and process management practices for 18 process areas.

H.E. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Dubai Customs Director received ‘CMMI’ appraisal scores from Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development Division, upon receiving the project’s team comprising Younis Othman, Information Technology Director, Ahmed Al Yaqoubi, Projects Delivery Director, and Bader Al Kharoosi, Systems Delivery Section Manager.

Attaining the third level of the CMMI Model is a clear expression of DC’s maturity level and capability in software system development in line with the international mainstream model. This also reflects Dubai Customs excellence at the corporate management level and delivery of high quality services. The CMMI level 3 accreditation is also useful in helping Customs Development Division further improve software development processes, reduce costs and risks, improve the quality and reliability of software products and services, and maximize customer satisfaction.

Al Ghaith had earlier received the rating results from Dr. Peter Van Zyl, SEI High Maturity Lead Appraiser of ‘demix’. 

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih  praised this achievement for being the first Customs authority in the world and in the UAE to attain this accreditation. He also extended his gratitude to the DC team who realized this new feat.

He said, “We at Dubai Customs uphold the highest levels of global best practices and benchmarks, which comes in line with our smart transformation strategy seeking to fully implement the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; in transforming Dubai into the world’s smartest city. Such endeavors are accommodated by incorporating the latest technologies into the customs procedures and process, while seeking to provide an exquisite service to our clients.” 

The Executive Director of Customs Development Division Juma Al Ghaith stated, “This appraising is a globally recognized attestation of our success in setting an effective model of work at different levels and aspects, such as analysis and resolution, integrated project management, process focus among many other facets.”

He also added, “Dubai Customs is adopting a comprehensive transformational strategy for all technical project as per the world’s latest cutting edge standards and operational models. This achievement is an added building block to our earlier scored successes including the ‘ISO2000’ and ‘ISO27001, as well as the adoption of the best practices in projects development and management such as ‘PMBOK’, and setting ourselves aligned to the Dubai Government Excellence Program ‘DGEP’ criteria. All of which have also contributed to the positioning of Dubai Customs as the first government department within the GCC to be accredited and acknowledged by the ISACA.”  

Dr. Peter Van hailed the witnessed level of advancement within Dubai Customs corporate capability whether in people, process or technology. “ Dubai Customs stands upon a variety of promising projects, enabling it to attain high ratings on international level. This turned out to be eminently tangible for us during the rating phase; I am astonished by the touch upon advancements we came across at the CDD and Dubai Customs in general,” he said.

The external rating team commended Dubai Customs methodologies and initiatives laid down by the CDD, including the Business Architecture initiative aimed at boosting DC’s business capacities and  the BSC- Balance Score Card methodology for measuring key performance indicators (KPIs).