JEBEL ALI FREE ZONE - JAFZA
Company Formation in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)
Establish your business inside the UAE's logistics powerhouse. IZZAT Documents Clearing Services guides you through every stage of JAFZA company formation.
Overview
About Jebel Ali Free Zone
Jebel Ali Free Zone, widely known as JAFZA, ranks among the earliest free zones in the UAE, having opened in 1985. The zone realises an ambitious plan laid down by His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and joining it means becoming part of a community built around sustainable, long-horizon growth.
Today JAFZA hosts thousands of companies drawn from around the globe. Its contribution to Dubai's economy is substantial - the zone supports in the region of 144,000 jobs and channels more than 30% of the UAE's foreign direct investment, making it a genuine engine of national development.
JAFZA is often described as the logistics corridor of the UAE. A bridge project linking JAFZA North with JAFZA South is set to streamline traffic between Jebel Ali Port, the free zone and Al Maktoum International Airport. With Jebel Ali Port standing among the busiest ports anywhere in the world, companies based here enjoy trade connectivity that few locations can match.
- 100% foreign ownership of your JAFZA company
- Exemption from personal income tax, with 0% corporate tax available on qualifying free zone income
- No restrictions on repatriating capital or profits
- 0% customs duty on imports and re-exports
- No currency restrictions on your business
- Direct access to JAFZA's own port with onsite customs
- Part of a zone supporting around 144,000 jobs and over 30% of UAE FDI
JAFZA Licence Types
Service Licence
For companies delivering professional and support services from within the free zone, covering a broad range of service activities.
Normal Trading Licence
Allows you to import, store, distribute and export a defined set of related products through JAFZA.
General Trading Licence
A wider permission that lets one company trade across multiple unrelated product categories under a single licence.
Industrial Licence
For manufacturing, processing and assembly operations that want to produce goods inside the free zone.
National Industrial Licence
Designed for industrial companies meeting specific ownership and production criteria, giving them treatment comparable to UAE national industry for customs purposes.
How it works with IZZAT
Define Your Activity
We match your business model to the correct JAFZA licence type - service, trading, general trading, industrial or national industrial.
Reserve the Company Name
We secure approval for your trade name from the free zone authority.
Prepare the Application
We compile shareholder passports, application forms and the required corporate documents.
Secure Facility and Approvals
We arrange your office, warehouse or plot and obtain the authority's approvals.
Collect Your Licence
JAFZA issues the trade licence and incorporation papers for your new company.
Visas and Bank Account
We process establishment card and residence visas, then support your corporate bank account opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JAFZA and when was it established?
JAFZA is the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, one of the oldest free zones in the UAE, founded in 1985 as part of the development plan of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Which licence types does JAFZA offer?
JAFZA issues five main licences: service, normal trading, general trading, industrial and national industrial - each matched to a different business model.
Can foreign investors fully own a JAFZA company?
Yes. JAFZA companies can be 100% foreign-owned, with no requirement for an Emirati shareholder.
What tax and customs benefits apply in JAFZA?
Shareholders pay no personal income tax, qualifying free zone income can benefit from 0% corporate tax, customs duty on imports and re-exports is 0%, and there are no limits on capital repatriation or currency movement.
Why is JAFZA called the logistics corridor of the UAE?
The zone connects directly to Jebel Ali Port - one of the world's busiest - with onsite customs, and a bridge linking JAFZA North and South will further smooth traffic between the port and Al Maktoum International Airport.
How do I get a JAFZA setup quotation?
Share your activity and facility needs with IZZAT Documents Clearing Services and we will request a quote tailored to your company.
Build Your Business at the Heart of Global Trade
Talk to our consultant today. Call 052 271 7904 or message us on WhatsApp.
Book a Consultation