UAE’s oldest free zone is JAFZA. They were founded in 1985. This is home for 7,000 local and international factories, local companies, manufacturing plants, logistics firms and assembling units.

Jebel Ali Free Zone has access to the Jebel Ali Sea port and to Al Maktoum International Airport.

They have a single customs area that reduces cargo clearance costs and times.

Logistics, shipping and trading companies are located in this free zone. If you like to do business setup in Dubai, JAFZA has many benefits.

Logistic Corridor By Sea

Jebel Ali Port has the global open connectivities. This serves almost 150 shipping lines that are capable of managing 19 million containers per year.

By Air

Al Maktoum International Airport is the biggest cargo airport in the world.

By Land

The UAE region is equipped with the best highway link. This can make the cargo travel faster in Dubai and Emirates.

By Rail

Etihad rail is under construction. It links with JAFZA to the Arabian Peninsula.

Facilities

Jebel Ali free zone is the vast portfolio of facilities.

• Plots of land
• Warehouses
• Showrooms
• Customised development solutions
• Offices
• Business Park
• Retail outlets
• On-site residence

It is hard to get the flexi-desk for Jebel Ali company because of their low availability. If you like to start a business, consider the office space right now.

JAFZA Dubai Activities

Based on the kind of business setup in UAE, the license can be different. Some categories are offered like:

• Trading
• Industrial
• Service
• Logistics
• General Trading

Companies with the service activity are registered as a branch of the existing UAE Mainland entity.

Industrial, Trading and Service Licenses are of two types. They vary based on the number of activities you have with the license:

• First type- upto 7 products of the same group
• Second type- upto 12 products from the same group

If you add extra activity for any other license type, it costs 500 AED.

JAFZA company formation generally recommends dealing with international distribution, trading or logistics sectors.

JAFZA License Costs

The company setup in Jebel Ali Free Zone is reasonable if compared with other Free Zones.

Jebel Ali Free Zone company registration are as follows:

• 10,000 AED for registration fee
• 5,500 AED for type 1 license
• 9,000 AED for type 2 license

It is essential to have office space in this Free Zone. The smallest offices are 26.88 sqm with the 53,670 AED as the charge for an annual rent.

The complete company setup in JAFZA , excluding the resident visas, can cost 86,935 AED. Besides the mentioned costs, it includes the document attestation cost, approval fees and establishment cards.

How to Start a Business

JAFZA company setup is also started without your presence. But you have to visit the free zone if the company’s documents are generated.

Lists of documents needed for JAFZA company registration

• Application form
• Brief Project Summary
• Passport copy
• Business activities
• Options of Company’s name

Time-frame for the setup of the Jebel Ali free zone varies from 2 to 4 weeks. This depends on the type of facility and business activity you choose.

UAE Residence Visas for Jebel Ali

Jebel Ali Free Zone can make your company eligible for the resident visas. You’ll have 1 resident visa per 10 sq meters of office space. Their visas can be valid for 3 years.

Health insurance is needed for this free zone. The cheap package is 600-800 AED. Health insurance must be renewed every year.

Business Renewal

You have to pay for the company’s renewal. Renewal of the Jebel Ali free zone license can cost the same as JAFZA company registration. Company renewal is done without visiting the Jebel Ali free zone.

You have to give the company’s audit report during the renewal process. Audits are done through UAE license & accredited auditing companies.

Licenses are renewed for three years in companies that have a plot of sublease and land facility.

Corporate Amendments

The amendments of JAFZA company can proceed without visiting the free zone.

Amendments like

• Changing name of business activity
• Changing director or manager

The shares transfer procedure is required for visiting the free zone. It is also done by the person that holds a notarized Power of Attorney.

License Cancelation

Liquidation procedure needs the physical presence of the owner or may be done through the Power of Attorney holder.

Free zone requests you to submit the original documents and pay the liquidation fee. The fee of license cancellation costs around 2,000 AED.

Company closure can approximately take 1 month. JAFZA company register gives the certificate of liquidation on the completion of procedure.

Jebel Ali Free Zone are suitable for the following process

• International Trading
• Importing And Exporting
• Distribution And Logistics Manufacturing

The cost of company formation in Jebel Ali Free Zone is higher than other zones. JAFZA has all kinds of facilities.

Company formation in the Dubai Airport free zone competes with them. Sea ports are substituted by the Airport.

The free zones of Sharjah Airport International are larger than JAFZA, and have recommended registration options.

Benefits Of JAFZA Company

• Largest UAE Sea port in free zones
• Plots and warehouses of land
• Retail locations
• Faster bank account opening process