JAFZA: Dubai's flagship industrial & trading free zone, port-adjacent
JAFZA is the UAE's oldest and largest free zone, founded in 1985 and operated by DP World. It sits next to Jebel Ali Port with direct access to 150+ ports worldwide, hosts 9,000+ companies from 100+ countries, contributes roughly 33% of Dubai's foreign trade, and remains the default address for serious industrial, trading and logistics operators. License setup from AED 25,000, with 100% foreign ownership and physical facility selection on incorporation.
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Why JAFZA still anchors Dubai's industrial economy
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) is the founding free zone of the modern UAE. Established in 1985, it pioneered the regulatory blueprint later copied across the country and remains, four decades on, the heaviest-weight free zone in the federation. It is operated by DP World, the same group that runs the adjacent Jebel Ali Port.
JAFZA is built for industrial manufacturers, trading houses, logistics operators, FMCG groups and automotive distributors who move physical volume. Its 9,000+ tenants include Fortune 500 anchors such as Nestlé, Unilever, Samsung, LG, Caterpillar, Mercedes-Benz and Maersk. Combined output of JAFZA tenants drives close to a third of Dubai's foreign trade. There is no equivalent concentration of industrial substance anywhere else in the Gulf.
Unlike lean generalist zones like IFZA or Meydan, JAFZA mandates a physical facility in most cases: warehouse, plot, executive office at JAFZA One or Lob (Light-Industrial Units). That cost premium is the trade-off for deep-water port access, in-zone Dubai Customs presence, and dual-license access to the UAE mainland via Dubai Trade. It is a free zone for operators with real cargo, not solo founders.
What you can run under a JAFZA license
JAFZA's activity list runs into the thousands, but real-world tenants cluster into five archetypes. We'll match yours during the consultation.
General trading & distribution
Wholesale, import / export, regional distribution and re-export. The General Trading license unlocks unlimited commodity groups under one entity.
Industrial & manufacturing
Heavy and light manufacturing, assembly, processing and packaging. Plots and built-to-suit units available, rare elsewhere in the region.
Logistics & freight forwarding
3PL / 4PL, freight forwarding, container handling, transit and bonded storage. Direct quay-side access via Jebel Ali Port.
Automotive distribution
Vehicle import, re-export, parts distribution and OEM regional operations. Sister zone DUCAMZ handles used-vehicle trade.
FMCG, food & beverage
Food production, beverage bottling, cold-chain distribution and consumer goods packaging. Approved by Dubai Municipality.
What you actually get with JAFZA
The hard entitlements behind every JAFZA license, framed for operators who actually move cargo.
Direct deep-water access to Jebel Ali Port, the 9th-largest container port worldwide.
Connectivity to 150+ ports through 80+ weekly shipping services calling at Jebel Ali.
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor or service agent required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, no currency restriction.
Customs-bonded zone: re-export with zero customs duty, deferred duty on UAE-bound goods.
In-zone Dubai Customs office for clearance, sealing and inspection without truck detours.
Generous visa quota scaled with warehouse / plot square footage.
Dual-license bridge to the UAE mainland through Dubai Trade (Resolution No. 11 of 2025 compliant).
QFZP eligibility: 0% corporate tax on qualifying income for compliant entities.
Direct rail access to Etihad Rail freight network for cross-emirate distribution.
Pick the JAFZA license that matches your model
Three license families cover almost every JAFZA tenant. Pricing scales with activity count, facility footprint, and visa quota. Industrial setups carry a higher floor than service licenses.
Trading & General Trading
For import-export, distribution and re-export operators.
- Standard Trading: up to 3 product groups
- General Trading: unlimited product groups
- Re-export with zero customs duty
- In-zone Dubai Customs clearance
- Quay-side container handling at Jebel Ali Port
Most picked
Industrial & National Industrial
JAFZA's flagship license: for manufacturers, assemblers and processors.
- Manufacturing, assembly, processing, packaging
- Plots, pre-built warehouses, built-to-suit units
- National Industrial variant for 51%+ GCC ownership (GCC tariff benefits)
- Heavy and light industrial use approved
- Generous visa quota tied to facility footprint
Service & e-Commerce
For consultants, logistics operators and online retailers.
- Consulting, IT, port services and freight forwarding
- e-Commerce license for online retail and fulfilment
- Executive offices at JAFZA One
- Flexi-desk at Lob 19 for lean teams
- Pairs naturally with a warehouse for hybrid models
Notable names established at JAFZA
JAFZA hosts more than 9,000 companies from 100+ countries, including a dense concentration of Fortune 500 industrial and consumer-goods groups. A representative sample of the ecosystem you would be joining.
Food
Nestlé
Regional production and distribution hub of the Swiss food and beverage group.
Food
PepsiCo
Regional warehousing and bottling operations for the American beverage and snack giant.
CPG
Unilever
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods conglomerate running its MENA distribution out of JAFZA.
Electronics
Samsung
Regional electronics distribution platform serving the MENA market.
Electronics
LG Electronics
Consumer electronics distribution hub for the Middle East and Africa.
Auto
Mercedes-Benz
Regional distribution, parts and training operations for the German automaker.
Industrial
Caterpillar
Regional platform for heavy industrial and construction equipment distribution.
Shipping
Maersk
Regional operations of the Danish container shipping leader, co-located with the port.
Jebel Ali: port, customs and industrial cluster in one footprint
JAFZA sits in southwest Dubai, wrapped around Jebel Ali Port. The setup eliminates port-to-warehouse trucking and places Dubai Customs inside the zone perimeter.
- Adjacent to Jebel Ali Port (DP World), direct quay-side access
- 10 min to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
- 45 min to DXB International Airport
- Connected to E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road) and E311 highways
Port access
Quay-side terminals, deep-water berths
In-zone Customs
Dubai Customs office on-site
Warehouse stock
Pre-built units, plots, built-to-suit
Executive offices
JAFZA One & LOB for HQ teams
How we incorporate your JAFZA company in 4 to 6 weeks
Six steps from first call to issued license. JAFZA's process is heavier than generalist zones. Physical facility selection sits in the critical path.
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Scope activities & license type
Working call to lock the business model, pick between Trading, Industrial, Service or e-Commerce, and decide if National Industrial (GCC tariff benefits) is in scope.
Pick the legal form
FZCO (multi-shareholder), FZE (sole shareholder), Public Listed Company, or branch of a foreign / UAE parent. Driven by shareholder count and capital plans.
Trade name reservation & initial approval
Name approval and initial activity approval submitted to JAFZA, typically 3 to 5 working days.
KYC & document compilation
Passports, CVs, business plan (industrial setups), corporate resolutions for entity shareholders. We package everything in JAFZA-ready format.
Select & lease the facility
Pick the unit that matches the visa quota and the operation: warehouse, plot, executive office at JAFZA One, or flexi-desk at Lob 19. Lease executed in parallel.
Pay, sign MoA, receive license
Settle the JAFZA invoice (including 5% VAT), e-sign the MoA, receive the trade license and establishment card. Visa processing kicks off the same week.
Four realities first-time JAFZA founders miss
Setup timeline
License in 4 to 6 weeks for trading and service setups. Industrial files with plots or built-to-suit warehouses run 4 to 8 weeks due to facility approvals. Residence visa adds 2 to 3 weeks.
Physical office mandatory
A purely virtual address does not exist at JAFZA. Even the leanest setup needs a flexi-desk at Lob 19 (from AED 12,000/year). Trading and industrial files require a pre-built warehouse, plot or executive office tied to the visa quota.
Corporate tax 9% trigger
UAE corporate tax kicks in at 9% on net profit above AED 375,000. QFZP status keeps qualifying income at 0%, but the de minimis rule caps non-qualifying revenue at 5% or AED 5M. Break it and the full year flips to 9%.
Audit + annual returns
JAFZA mandates audited financial statements every year for license renewal, no grace year. Budget AED 8,000–15,000/year for a JAFZA-approved auditor and annual Corporate Tax return filing with the FTA.
What's inside our JAFZA all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation, residence visa and UAE banking. From AED 40,000: 1 year, 1 visa, flexi-desk at Lob 19 included. Warehouse and plot quotes are tailored to footprint.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation & initial approval
- License issuance (Trading, Service, Industrial or e-Commerce)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Flexi-desk at Lob 19 (or upgrade quote for warehouse / plot)
- Establishment card
- Corporate Tax registration & initial compliance filing
- Up to 3 activities included
Residence visa
- Entry permit issuance
- Medical fitness test coordination
- Emirates ID application & biometrics
- Visa stamping inside passport
- Status change inside the UAE
- Valid 2 years, renewable
Banking
- Business and personal account introductions
- Document pack prepared to bank-ready standard
- Follow-up support until account is opened
- Backup option with a UAE digital bank
DIY vs working with us
On your own
Compare 45+ providers
Rules, prices and procedures all over the place
Check trade-name availability
Submit the request and wait for approval
Fill admin forms & files
Errors = delays or fines
Gather supporting documents
Missing or incorrect = rejection or fines
Chase extra approvals
Miss one and you trigger penalties or delays
Shop prices and locations
Hidden costs likely
Handle the payments
Procedural errors = fines or delays
Run the visa process
Strict steps and timelines, fine risk
Shop UAE banks cold
High rejection risk
Track compliance yourself
VAT & renewals → penalties if missed
Time sink
Stress, errors, financial risk
Recommended
With us
An optimal structure
Tailored to your goals
Trade name reserved
Fast and approved
Dedicated personal support
By your side at every step
Compliant, validated file
Optimised to pass first time
Easier networking
Targeted introductions
Optimised investment
No unnecessary costs
End-to-end support
Fast and stress-free
Single point of contact
Clear, personalised follow-up
Bank account opening
Fast and simplified
Zero stress, total peace of mind
We look after everything
100% business focus
We handle the rest
Teams we've set up at JAFZA
"When I decided to start my business in Dubai, my primary concern was finding trustworthy people capable of handling all the necessary steps professionally. Thanks to Ga Nui and Malik's support, I was able to move forward with confidence and dedicate all my energy to developing my business, without worrying about the administrative aspects. I wholeheartedly recommend Ga Nui and Malik for their professionalism, availability, and the quality of their support."
"We were completely satisfied with Créer Société Dubaï. From the outset, we benefited from direct, clear, and highly professional support. We particularly appreciated the speed and efficiency of the process — we obtained our Emirates IDs and opened our bank accounts in just 13 days, which is remarkable. A special mention goes to Joïca, who was extremely kind, very attentive, and always available, even when we were still in France. She answered all our questions patiently and professionally, which made our experience very reassuring."
"The service was incredible. No hidden fees like with many agencies I'd heard about. The service was truly top-notch. I didn't have to manage a single thing. I highly recommend them!"
JAFZA: frequently asked questions
JAFZA setup starts at roughly AED 25,000 for a basic Service or e-Commerce license with a flexi-desk at Lob 19. Total first-year cost is driven by activity count, facility type and visa quota.
- Flexi-desk + 1-2 visas: AED 25,000–40,000
- Pre-built warehouse: from AED 50,000/year on top of the license
- General Trading: typically AED 50,000+ standalone
- Industrial plot: priced per m², negotiated case-by-case
All JAFZA fees carry 5% VAT.
Not always, but most operators do. A pure virtual address does not exist at JAFZA. The leanest tier is a flexi-desk at Lob 19 from around AED 12,000/year, which works for Service and e-Commerce licenses with low visa counts.
The moment you run trading, distribution or industrial operations, JAFZA expects a pre-built warehouse, plot or executive office, and the visa quota is tied directly to the leased square footage.
Both are top-tier free zones for trading, but they target different operations:
- JAFZA: wins on physical flows: direct port access, in-zone customs, warehouse stock, lower cost per m² for industrial volume.
- DMCC: wins on commodities, financial services and lean trading desks: JLT location, tower offices, no port adjacency needed.
If your model involves cargo, JAFZA is the rational choice. If you trade paper (commodities, gold, crypto, financial services), DMCC fits better.
Yes. Free zone-to-mainland sales are subject to 5% import duty (collected by Dubai Customs at the zone boundary) plus 5% VAT. JAFZA tenants can also pursue a dual-license with the Department of Economic Development under Resolution No. 11 of 2025, giving them direct mainland trading rights without setting up a separate LLC.
Re-export to international markets via Jebel Ali Port stays duty-free.
Plan 4 to 6 weeks for trading, service and e-Commerce setups, from first call to issued license. Industrial files involving plots or built-to-suit warehouses extend to 4 to 8 weeks because the facility approval sits inside the critical path.
Residence visa adds another 2 to 3 weeks (medical, Emirates ID, stamping). End-to-end with visa: 6 to 10 weeks depending on license type.
JAFZA offers a dedicated e-Commerce license covering online retail, digital marketplaces and electronic fulfilment. It pairs naturally with a small warehouse for stock holding, which gives you customs-bonded inventory plus zero-duty re-export to the GCC.
For pure-play digital retailers with no UAE inventory, a flexi-desk at Lob 19 plus the e-Commerce license is the lowest-cost configuration. For operators stocking goods, expect a pre-built warehouse from AED 50,000/year.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If JAFZA isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
Book your free 30-minute consultation
We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether JAFZA is the right free zone for your operation, and if it isn't, which one is.
