A new customs law in Qatar requires all shipments coming into the country to be cleared and processed with a National ID or Passport, according to delivery company Aramex.
This means that courier companies such as Aramex, UPS and DHL have to keep customers’ IDs on file in order to get their packages into the country.Â
The global shipping firm has been responding to somewhat irate customers on its @ShopandShip Twitter account, trying to explain why the delivery of packages is being delayed:
As per Qatar’s new customs law all shipments require National ID/Passport copy for clearance. Here are the details bit.ly/ADPtKi
— Shop and Ship (@ShopandShip) February 1, 2012
Aramex is allowing customers to upload their ID or Passport copy online. But while the new customs law is being implemented, it appears all shipments have been put on hold:
@TheJMan you can contact the customs directly, as per the info we have all are shipments on hold both with & without the IDs.thx cc @Aramex
— Shop and Ship (@ShopandShip) February 1, 2012
Although Aramex is assuring customers it shouldn’t take long to get packages moving again, it’s apparently also offering this advice:
@dohanews Customs is holding @ShopandShip packages. An @Aramex employee advised me to not order until this matter is “settled”. #Doha #Qatar
— Brady Creel (@bradycreel) February 1, 2012
Users of other delivery services, including UPS, have also complained of delays. Have you been waiting for a package that hasn’t shown up?
UPDATE: Aramex now says packages should be cleared with the next two days:
@Noora_AlSubaiei hello, we just got the complete update today and it will take around 48hrs for the shipments to clear. thx
— Shop and Ship (@ShopandShip) February 1, 2012
Credit: Photo by Miskan
