Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is situated ideally near Abu Dhabi and the western end of Dubai.
It is known to be the largest free zone in the world. Also known as the Jebel Ali Free Zone, it covers an impressive 57 square kilometers on two sides of the famous Sheikh Zayed Road. It is known for being easily accessible via road, the Dubai Metro Red Line, UAE Exchange, and Danube station. Its accessibility is one of the prime reasons for it being one of the most popular free zones in the UAE.
Over the years it has enabled itself to be a #1 platform for various types of businesses. Founded in 1985, there has been no stop but evolution for this accelerating free zone.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) : Quick Facts
Let’s start with Fortune Global 500 companies. It is a yearly ranking of the top 500 corporations across the globe, measured by revenue. Approximately 100 of them have a prominent presence along with the 7000+ global companies that are part of the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The type of industries catered to in this free zone include the following:
- Warehousing
Jafza is known for providing tailored storage solutions through its pre-built warehouses. The warehouses aim to cater the high-quality storage for light manufacturing activities. They are thermally insulated too.
- Logistics
By holding a strong and prominent location for its premises complemented by being in the UAE, Jafza is known for being a leader in the logistics industry. An impressive 330 companies belonging to 27 countries play a vital role in logistics. Jafza is a key player in providing swift and easy access to active markets in North Africa (MENA) and the Middle East, benefiting more than 2.5 billion people. It is interesting to mention the unique Sea-Land-Air logistics corridor which is strengthened with a single bonded area to quicken up the movement and eliminate multiple custom checks.
- Real Estate or Property:
One of the most famous and well-known commercial properties in Jafza is known as ‘’Jafza One’’. Located in the heart of the free zone, it is a premium one-stop business facility destination. With a total area of 100,000 sq.m available for lease and 1200 offices, Jafza One has been carefully curated and structured to be an unmatched business environment. Every detail has been meticulously taken care of to ensure whoever joins Jafza One brings out the best results by finding inspiration from the panoramic views stretched across the free zone, Jebel Ali Port, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Palm Jebel Ali.
With customized development solutions at Jafza, stakeholders have the opportunity to have long-term lease, own, or participate in development management. You get to leverage flexibility in many options such as site selection, network planning, project management, design, and customer specifications in infrastructure.
There is also the opportunity to lease office space in the form of a floor or the entire building. The prime and top-notch features of every Jafza office building are:
- Covered, open, and common parking spaces
- World-class maintenance to support any issues that may arise
- Amenities
- Internet and telephone lines
- Security 24 hours supported by CCTV
Plots are also available in various sizes, starting from 5,000 sqm. Plots at JAFZA are preferred for reasons such as:
- Water and Electricity infrastructure ready
- Telecommunication infrastructure ready
- 24-hour security is provided within the Free Zone
- Plots allocated in zones to suit customers with similar needs
- Road infrastructure ready
The Jafza One Convention Centre is a venue that caters to various corporate events, conferences, exhibitions, and meetings. It is part of Jafza. An enabling environment, this convention center is managed by the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Dubai World Trade Centre, also known as Dubai WTC is known for its award-winning catering, event management, and integrated services.
Jafza One Convention Centre caters to the business needs of many entrepreneurs with:
- 27 exhibition center and meeting rooms
- 500 parking spaces
- State-of-the-art auditorium with single (600 seats) and split seating (300 seats each) capacity
Jebel Ali Free Zone: Key Sectors
You can start your free zone business in Jebel Ali Free Zone under the following sectors:
Petrochemicals:
Jafza is a petrochemical hub, with over 320 companies from 59 countries coming to Jafza for its prime location as the gateway between the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. This means that 70% of UAE’s foreign trade in these products happens in this free zone alone!
Food and agricultural commodities:
The Food and Agricultural sector in Jafza is a key industry. Spread over 1.85 million square meters, the sector has spawned more than 570 companies from 74 countries with connections to 2.5 billion consumers all across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Annual expenditure ranges between $700-800bn annually – but by 2021 it will be spent on staple foods such as wheat which are predicted to grow four times faster than sugar or corn at just $230 bn a year.
Logistics
The location of Jafza and its extensive multi-modal infrastructure make it an ideal hub for logistics, serving 2.5 billion people around MENA with easier access to key markets within the region.
Automotive and spare parts
The Jebel Ali Free Zone is home to a range of facilities for companies looking to establish themselves in the region. Whether you’re looking for pre-built warehouses or customized developments, there’s something available here that will suit your needs!
Retail and E-commerce
With more than 900 companies from 91 countries and robust spending forecasts for the UAE remaining unchanged, Jafza reaffirms its position as one of the global hubs for trade and logistics.
Jebel Ali Free Zone: License Options
There are various types of licenses to choose from when it comes to setting up a business at Jafza including the following:
- General trading
- Service
- Industrial
- Trading
- Logistics
Requirement for Business Setup
Basic documents to start your dream business at Jafza include the following:
- Brief Project Summary (1 page is sufficient)
- Application form
- Company name options
- Passport copy
- Business activities
*Note: the above-mentioned are basic requirements. Case-to-case variations depending on the type of business activity and business license require tailored documents. To know exactly which documents you may need to submit, contact us.
Jebel Ali Free Zone: Company Registration
- Submit your application with the required documents
- Activity and name approval process
- Official company registration
- Clear dues and payments
- Collect final registration certificate, license, and lease agreement
Impressed with the types of licenses and the chance to sow the seeds of success?
Great, to know more about what you need to start off your business at Dubai South free zone fill out your preferences at Airzone Explorer.
Jebel Ali Free Zone: Fees
The basic fees that are incurred if you wish to be part of the Jafza are as follows:
- Service License 8,000 AED
- Industrial or Trading License 5,500 AED
- Logistics License 30,000 AED
- Company registration fee is 10,000 AED
*Note: these are basic costs that are subject to change without notice. Also, costs are not limited to the above-mentioned. To know more about various types of fees and costs that may be incurred, contact us.
Jebel Ali Free Zone: Advantages & Disadvantages
With the endless options to choose from when picking a free zone, each free zone comes with its own pro’s and con’s.
Pro’s:
- It is a prestigious platform to start a business in Dubai.
- Provides world-class facilities to support business activities.
- Known for its prime location and convenience in terms of logistics and transportation.
Con’s:
- It is a pricey option in terms of business setup costs and may not be suitable for startups or entrepreneurs with limited funds.
Start your dream business in the UAE at Jebel Ali Free Zone
If you are an existing entrepreneur or dream of starting your own initiative and know your business niche is catered to in Jafza, look no further. With an enabling business environment complemented by inspiring elements such as infrastructure and global company presence, you have every reason to make the best decision.
We want to help you move from thoughts to action. It is certain that tailored situations demand tailored approaches, this is where Airzone comes. When it comes to setting up your business in the UAE, there is a list of documents and fees that may come as a surprise to you. We take away the surprises. All you need to do is submit the needed documents, we handle the rest.
Book your free zone consultation today and start your much-awaited dream business swiftly and smoothly, only with Airzone.