Jebel Ali Free Zone “Jafza”  -as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing free zones, aspires to consolidate its position as the international business hub of the Middle East through focusing on long-term customer relationships, enhancing our creative and innovative solutions for global industrial investors, and fostering alliances with them.

Jafza offers its customers world-class infrastructure supported with quality, value-added services and incentives. It further provides community amenities, enhancing a dynamic and thriving business environment. Enabling this, are Jafza’s team, provided with opportunities to grow and be creative, and supported in their efforts to manage customer needs through technologically advanced support systems.

The Government of Dubai has spared no expense in making Jafza the ideal industrial, warehousing and distribution base in the Middle East. Initially encompassing 70,000 square metres of warehousing and 850,000 square metres of covered areas, Jafza took nearly three years to be developed, transforming 25 acres of desert into a secure, dynamic working environment.

In May 1980, HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum signed a decree establishing Jafza, adding to the Port a major trade and industrial area, eventually extending to 750 acres.

The official founding of Jafza followed in 1985, with the construction of office units and warehouses to provide ready built facilities to customers. In 1990, Jafza diversified into building factory units, responding to expanding customer needs and requirements.

Toward this end, Jafza has consistently invested in state-of-the-art technology and information management systems, while ensuring that our human resource capabilities are continuously developed in line with best-practise in technology and customer services. Our mission is to provide a conducive infrastructure for manufacturing and distribution, supported by quality services, unrivalled incentives and proactive marketing, to attract businesses that contribute to the diversification and growth of Dubai’s economy.

Jebel Ali Free Zone is a 135 sq.km commercial and industrial hub, which is home to 5,500 companies from over 120 countries. Jafza is widely recognised as a powerful symbol that helps drive the development of Dubai.

Incentives for Your Business

Jafza offers many incentives to make doing business with us easy and profitable.

• 100% foreign ownership: The ability to operate your business as a wholly owned entity, without any need for local partnership
• Corporate taxes are not applicable for a period of 50 years, a concession that is renewable. Companies may transfer any capital as required
• No import or re-export duties
• No personal income taxes
• No currency restrictions
• No restriction on hiring foreign employees
• Owned premises on leased land can be mortgaged: A company established in the Free Zone that has built its own facility may mortgage its premises to any bank or financing company for any of their debts or obligations
• Access to abundant energy makes it cost-effective for clients to conduct production operations

Companies can be formed in Jafza the following different ways:

• Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
• Free Zone Company (FZCO)
• FZE and FZCO applicants can avail of Jafza's unique offer of forming an established company with separate legal entity
• Branch company applications for any country having valid registration and licence outside Jebel Ali, as well as a branch of a local company.
• Jafza Offshore, which enjoys tax haven status and several double taxation treaties signed between the UAE and the world, allowing the ownership of free hold properties in the UAE.

Jafza issues various types of licences

General Trading Licence*- allows the holder to import, distribute and store all items as per Jafza rules and regulations.

Trading Licence*- allows the holder to import, export, distribute and store items specified on the licence. They can choose from a further classification of trade licenses & combine number of activities under the same license. 

Industrial Licence*- allows the holder to import raw materials, carry out the manufacture of specified products and export the finished product to any country.

Service Licence - allows the holder to carry out the services specified in the licence within the Free Zone. The type of service must conform to the parent company's licence, issued by the Economic Department or Municipality of the relevant Emirate in the UAE.

National Industrial Licence**- is designed for manufacturing companies with an ownership or shareholding of at least 51% AGCC (Arabian Gulf Co-operation Council-Bahrain,Kuwait,Oman,Qatar,Saudi Arabia & UAE).

The value added to the product in the Free Zone must amount to a minimum of 40%. This licence allows the holder the same status as a local or AGCC inside the UAE.

*Sales in UAE must go through a distributor or any company based in the UAE that holds a valid trade license within the same activity.

**A National Industrial License allows the holder to import raw  materials,carry out the manufacture of specified products & export the finished product to any country.  The activity must conform with the National Industrial Production Certificate,issued by Ministry of Finance and Industry, JAFZA undertakes the administrative negotiations with the Ministry of Finance and Industry on behalf of the company. Companies holding a National Industrial License qualify for customs duty exemption when exporting the AGCC states.

Sales in the UAE must be carried out through a distributor or any company based in the UAE that holds a valid trade licence within the same business activity.

Establishing a Free Zone Establishment and Free Zone Company

Free Zone Establishment (FZE). This type of company can be formed only by one shareholder, either individual (a person) or non-individual (a company).
 The initial capital to form a FZE is AED 1 million or approximately US $ 272,480.  The value of each share is AED 1 million or US$ 272,480.  A 1 time registration fee of AED 10,000 or US$ 2,725 is applicable.

Free Zone Company (FZCO). This type of company can be formed by a minimum of two and a maximum of five founders. Founders can be individual (people), non-individual (companies), or a combination of individual and company.

The initial capital to form a Free Zone Company is AED 500,000 or approximately US$ 136,240.  The value of each share is AED 100,000 or US$ 27,248.  A  1 time registration fee of AED 15,000 or US$ 4,087 is applicable.

Facilities offered at Jafza

Office Buildings:  High quality spacious pre-built offices are available on an annual rental basis. The offices are unfurnished and equipped with light fixtures. They also have been specifically designed to allow for flexibility, accommodating a variety of customer needs.

Standard Office Unit Buildings

The offices are unfurnished and equipped with light fixtures and provide sufficient working space for a maximum of three persons. Flexible construction facilities make it possible to convert two or more offices into a single office.

Multi-storey Office Building

Quality pre built offices with atrium style. The offices are spacious, unfurnished with flexibility to accommodate specific needs, including future expansion.

Light Industrial Units:  High quality, thermally insulated purpose-built units are available on an annual rental basis. The units are fitted with additional features which allow for the construction of offices. For further convenience two exits, one ramp for fork-lifts and the other, a loading dock for containers and trucks, are located at the rear of the LIU.

The LIU can be used in two ways:  As a warehouse for storage and distribution of products ,as a factory for assembly and light production.

These high quality, thermally insulated purpose-built units are fitted with offices. For further convenience, two exits, one ramp for fork lifts and the other, a loading dock for containers and trucks are located at the rear of the Light Industrial Units
The LIU can be used in two ways. As a warehouse for storage and distribution of products, or as a factory, for assembly and light production. Depending on your specific needs, you may choose multiple units (subject to availability) or alternatively lease a plot of land in Jafza.

Air-conditioning : Electrical circuits for the offices allow for the installation of air-conditioning at tenants own responsibility and expense.

Electricity : The warehouse unit has a maximum pre-installed electrical capacity of 50 KVA and the factory unit ranges from 75 KVA to 140 KVA.

Access : 24 hrs

Land Sites : Jafza provides plots of various sizes for long-term lease. These sites are ideal if companies are wishing to construct their own facility, whether it is a warehouse or factory. However Jafza has one stipulation; not more than 60% of the allotted land should be utilized for the construction facility. The remaining area should be utilized for landscaping, parking, loading & unloading etc. Land sites have proved to be the most popular facility at Jafza.

Once the building is complete, Jafza would inspect the premises. On acquiring Building Completion Certificate, it should be presented to Dubai Electricity & Water Authority who will then supply power to the premises. Jafza will also issue an Operation Fitness Certificate following the installation of machinery.

Staff Housing : Jafza's staff accommodation has been designed to create a peaceful and attractive environment for multinational staff. Residential areas are made up of a series of coordinated apartment-blocks built with international standards to ensure the ventilation, hygiene and space mandates.

The accommodation is ideal for companies working inside or outside Jafza that require temporary housing, offering you the convenience of being able to select accommodation suitable to your requirements, be they renting a single room or an entire block.

Amongst the highly valuable amenities and services available at Jafza's staff housing area are:

• Dubai Municipality bus transportation to and from the city
• Landscaping, fire and security services
• Recreation Facilities
• Jebel Ali Medical Centre, Government Clinic, and Pharmacy
• Canteens and restaurants with multi-cuisine food at very economical rates
• Mosques
• Supermarkets
• Public Telephones and Internet Facilities

Value Added Programmes : While Jafza provides incentives and enjoys a strategic location, our customers agree our distinction lies in our sense of partnership. This commitment can be evidenced through a series of value-added programmes through which customers can enhance their businesses. These include:

• Advice on Future Expansion & Investment: We assist our customers in selecting the desirable site or location for their investment venture, as well as in determining operational requirements.
• Business Matching: Companies avail the opportunities of joint ventures and other mutual business opportunities in the local and international market.
• Business Delegations: Jafza organises events and accompanies its customers on business trips to other countries, enabling them to gain market entries.
• Updating companies on the latest projects related to their field of activity
• Advising customers through Jafza’s consulting offices on relevant issues like setting up a business.

Community : Jafza’s remarkable growth and success makes us continuously strive to add value to our customers and prospects. Here are some of the innovative, world-class amenities we are proud to offer to the Jafza community:

• Our partnership with Nakheel, Dubai’s premier development company, allows us to offer Jafza customers access to The Palm, Jumeirah Lake Towers, The Gardens and other extraordinary communities from a portfolio which redefi nes home, holiday and investment, and delivers on an exceptional promise.
• Staff accommodation with 5,000 residential units, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, public telephones, library, public transport, cinema, and recreation facilities.
• Food Court with a variety of international cuisines and convenient retail outlets Jebel Ali Medical Centre with qualified onsite staff.
• 24 hour Security and Fire Department.
• Service companies: From banks and insurance services to business and engineering consultancies.
• A branch of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Jams: the ultimate caretaker for manpower needs, supplying labour, skilled and professional staff.