Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority
(JAFZA)

Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) is among the major free trades zones in the world. It is located at the western end of Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the Jebel Ali region.

Incepted back in 1985, JAFZA has turned out to be a major economic center and contributor towards the economy of Dubai. JAFZA is a special privileged entity which benefits and enjoys tailor-made incentives by virtue of cabinet decision No. 59 of 2017 on Designated Zones to tax treatment value added taxes and Corporate taxes on specified transactions.

Key Features

Size and Scope: The largest free zone in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region includes JAFZA which covers 57 square kilometres

Economic Impact:

Contributes 23.8% to Dubai’s GDP
Accounts for 32% of the UAE’s foreign direct investment
Generates an annual trade value of over $169 billion (as of 2023)

Business Community:

Home to over 9,500 companies from 140 countries, including Fortune 500 firms
Sustains employment for more than 135,000 people in the UAE

Strategic Location

The major source of the success of JAFZA is its strategic location:

Next to the worlds largest man-made port and 7 th largest container port of Jebel Ali
Just outside Al Maktoum International Airport which is one of the largest cargo airports around the world
Close location to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai

It is this special location, which has made JAFZA a good sea-air hub with a 6-lane highway that moves goods out of ports within 20 minutes, into the cargo aircraft.

Business Set up and Services

A large variety of services and facilities are provided by JAFZA to businesses:

Company Formation: Multiple options are available, including:

Free Zone Establishment (FZE): Allows for a single shareholder, which can be an individual or a company
Free Zone Company (FZCO): Can be formed with 2 to 50 shareholders subject to approval
Branch of a Foreign Company: Companies outside the UAE can establish a branch in JAFZA
Branch of a UAE Company: Local companies within the UAE (outside JAFZA) can set up a branch in the free zone
Offshore Company: Non-resident organisations can set up an offshore company for international operations, holding structure, assets protection and tax planning under JAFZA regulations

Licensing Options:

General trading
Service
Industrial
National industrial
Logistics
E-commerce
Innovation
Offshore

Infrastructure:

Offices
Warehouses
Retail units
Staff accommodation
Showrooms
Land

Benefits for Businesses

100% foreign ownership
0% personal and corporate income tax exemptions
100% repatriation of capital and profits
Strategic location near Jebel Ali Port and Dubai International Airport
No currency restrictions
No import or export duties within the free zone
World-class infrastructure and support systems
Access to a market of over 3.5 billion people
Wide range of business activities permitted

Alpha Equity MC team will help and support:

Business and compliance counselling
Legal and financial advice
Visa processing assistance
E-services through Dubai Trade Portal and mobile app
Annual compliance requirements as per JAFZA rules and regulations

Required Documents

To set up a company in JAFZA, the following documents are generally required:

Passport copies of shareholders and directors
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from current sponsor (for UAE residents)
Bank reference letter
Business plan
Application form

Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA)

Over the years JAFZA has solidified its position as the force to reckon with in the free zone environment across the globe. It has also been an ideal place of business because of its strategic status and services offered and also the business friendly policies provided by its leaders.

It is estimated that it takes an average of 3 to 14 business days to complete the registration process of the company depending upon the type of formation, license type and nature of the business. A company setup in JAFZA normally begins at AED 55,000 and the amount payable will depend on the license duration and space that will be required in the warehouse and office. For business setup in the Jebel Ali free zone, Alpha Equity can help streamline the process.

Feel free to contact Alpha Equity for a consultation.

We will be more than happy to help you. You can also contact us via our inquiry form.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US FOR ANY ENQUIRY

We will be more than happy to help you. You can also Contact via our inquiry form