Integrated with Jebel Ali Port
Jebel Ali Port handles ~14 million TEUs annually and connects to 150+ ports globally. JAFZA tenants get bonded-warehouse, dry-port, and direct-quay logistics at one address — no intra-zone transfer needed.
JAFZA Free Zone
Company Formation
Set up in Jebel Ali Free Zone — DP World's flagship free zone and the Middle East's largest customs-bonded zone, adjacent to the Port of Jebel Ali and Al Maktoum International Airport.
- 100% Ownership
- Established 1985
- 11,000+ Companies
- 100+ Fortune 500
- Port & Airport Adjacent
JAFZA — The UAE's Flagship Trade and Logistics Free Zone
Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) was established in 1985 as the UAE's first free zone and is operated by DP World as its flagship free zone. Hosting over 11,000 businesses including 100+ Fortune Global 500 companies, it is the Middle East's largest customs-bonded zone, adjacent to the Port of Jebel Ali.
Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority was established in 1985 as the UAE's first true free zone and remains the largest by physical footprint and by economic contribution. According to JAFZA, the zone hosts more than 11,000 businesses, including 100+ Fortune Global 500 companies, and accounts for 23.9% of Dubai's foreign direct investment inflows and 130,000+ jobs.
Operated by DP World as its flagship free zone, JAFZA sits adjacent to the Port of Jebel Ali — one of the busiest container ports in the world — and within minutes of Al Maktoum International Airport. The combination of the Middle East's largest customs-bonded area, deep-water port access and airport proximity makes JAFZA the default choice for logistics, re-export, manufacturing and heavy-trade businesses operating across the MENA region.
Best known for: Logistics, port & manufacturing
Why JAFZA
JAFZA is the UAE's oldest free zone — established 1985 — and the only one physically integrated with Jebel Ali Port, one of the world's largest container ports (Port of Rotterdam-class throughput). For businesses that move goods through the UAE, JAFZA is almost always the answer: warehouse next to the quay, customs corridor included.
Established 1985 — The UAE's Pioneer
JAFZA defined the UAE free-zone model. Forty years of regulator experience means smoother approvals, deeper substance-banking precedents, and a settled industrial-tenancy framework.
Industrial Plot Options Up to 1 Million M²
Among the few UAE free zones that can accommodate large-scale manufacturing or distribution centres. Pre-built warehouses, build-to-suit plots, and bonded-storage offerings — single-zone solutions that elsewhere require multi-zone moves.
Al Maktoum Airport Adjacency
Jebel Ali Port + Al Maktoum International Airport form Dubai's logistics 'twin engine' under the Dubai Logistics Corridor — bonded transit between the two is operationally streamlined for JAFZA tenants.
Home to 100+ Fortune 500 Companies
JAFZA hosts Mars, Halliburton, Maersk, Procter & Gamble, Hyundai, Nestlé and similar tier-1 names — credibility infrastructure that matters for B2B sales and global banking.
Strong VAT Efficiency for Traded Goods
Designated Zone status under Cabinet 59/2017 + bonded warehousing means goods that move JAFZA-to-export (or JAFZA-to-another-Designated-Zone) can sit outside the scope of UAE VAT — a real-money advantage for trading volumes.
Ideal for
- Logistics & freight forwarders
- Manufacturing & assembly operations
- Industrial-scale trading & distribution
- Oil & gas services / marine
- Multinational regional HQs needing port access
JAFZA Licence Categories
JAFZA issues licences across four broad activity families, each matched to a specific operational profile.
Trading & General Trading
For import, export, re-export, distribution and wholesale activities through Jebel Ali Port — JAFZA's core licence family.
- General trading and multi-product distribution
- Petrochemicals and oil-and-gas trading
- FMCG and consumer goods
- Automotive parts and equipment
- Electronics and white goods
Industrial & Manufacturing
For manufacturing, processing, assembly and value-added production inside JAFZA's industrial estates.
- Light and heavy manufacturing
- Food and agricultural processing
- Industrial assembly
- Machinery and equipment production
- Healthcare distribution and packaging
Service & Logistics
For professional services, freight forwarding, supply-chain operators and B2B service providers supporting the trade ecosystem.
- Freight forwarding and logistics
- Customs brokerage and trade compliance
- Engineering and technical consultancy
- Maritime and shipping services
- Trade and supply-chain advisory
Legal Structures Under JAFZA
JAFZA recognises five legal forms — from single-owner FZEs to publicly listed companies. The right one depends on shareholder count and growth plans.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
Single-owner vehicle with limited liability — the standard route for solo founders and holding companies.
Free Zone Company (FZ Co.)
Multi-shareholder structure with limited liability. The most common form for partnerships, joint ventures and growth-stage businesses.
Public Listed Company
Structure available for larger ventures preparing to list shares — used by mature businesses scaling on a public-markets path.
Branch of an Existing Company
Branch of a UAE or overseas parent that operates under the parent's name — common among international logistics, oil-and-gas and consumer-goods groups.
Offshore Company
Offshore vehicle administered through JAFZA — separate from the operating free zone licence and used for holding and asset-protection purposes.
How a JAFZA Company Is Formed
JAFZA runs the licensing process through its dedicated portal alongside in-person service centres.
- 01
Choose the Business Activity
Match the planned operations to JAFZA's activity list. Industrial and regulated activities may need additional clearances from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology or sector regulators.
- 02
Pick the Legal Structure
FZE for solo owners, FZ Co. for multiple shareholders, branch for an existing parent, PLC for capital-markets-ready ventures, or offshore for holding structures.
- 03
Reserve the Trade Name
Submit the proposed company name through JAFZA. UAE-wide naming rules apply.
- 04
Lease Office, Warehouse or Industrial Space
Choose between serviced offices, on-site warehouses, light-industrial units or built-to-suit plots inside JAFZA. Space type drives the visa quota.
- 05
Submit Documents & Obtain Approval
Upload shareholder documents and the lease agreement. JAFZA issues initial approval and the company's Memorandum of Association is drafted to the zone's template.
- 06
Receive the Trade Licence
JAFZA issues the trade licence and corporate documents. The company can then open a corporate bank account and apply for investor and employee visas.
Documents Required for JAFZA Setup
The standard document set is consistent across structures. Industrial and regulated activities require additional sector approvals on top.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid for at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Three proposed trade names for reservation
- Personal information or company application form
- For corporate shareholders: parent licence, MoA, board resolution, UBO list, incumbency certificate
Why Choose JAFZA for Your Free Zone Setup
JAFZA pairs deep-water port access, the Middle East's largest customs-bonded zone and Dubai's most established industrial ecosystem.
100% foreign ownership with full capital and profit repatriation
0% corporate tax on qualifying income under the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime
Adjacent to Jebel Ali Port — among the world's busiest container ports
Minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport for air-freight access
Largest customs-bonded zone in the Middle East
Host to 100+ Fortune Global 500 companies
23.9% of Dubai's foreign direct investment inflows runs through JAFZA
130,000+ jobs supported across the zone's industrial and trade economy
Tax & Compliance Position — JAFZA
JAFZA entities sit inside the UAE Free Zone Corporate Tax regime. The QFZP 0% rate applies to qualifying income provided all Cabinet 100/2023 conditions are met — particularly relevant for goods-trading entities given JAFZA's Designated Zone VAT status.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. JAFZA entities can elect QFZP and access the 0% rate on Qualifying Income — including distribution income from JAFZA to outside-UAE customers, often a primary revenue line for industrial-trading tenants.
QFZP eligibilityQFZP requires adequate substance in the Free Zone, Qualifying Income (the distribution activity must qualify under Ministerial Decision 265/2023), arm's-length transfer pricing, audited financials, and no election out. JAFZA's tenant profile — physical warehouse, on-port staff — makes substance straightforward to evidence.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Designated Zone Status
JAFZA is a Designated Zone under Cabinet 59/2017. Goods supplies between JAFZA and other Designated Zones, or JAFZA-to-export, fall outside the scope of UAE VAT — operationally significant for high-volume traders. Services follow standard VAT rules regardless of Zone status.
✓ Designated ZoneJAFZA is one of the UAE's flagship Designated Zones. Combined with bonded-warehouse infrastructure, this is the single biggest commercial reason traders pick JAFZA over comparable zones.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment (quarterly or monthly)
- Audited financial statements (mandatory for QFZP)
- Customs registrations & transit declarations (port operations)
- ESR notification + report (where in scope)
- UBO register maintenance
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Ministerial Decision 265/2023 (Qualifying activities) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (Designated Zones) · FTA + Dubai Customs
Sectors Active in JAFZA
JAFZA's economic mix favours trade, logistics, heavy industry and the supply chains that sit around port and airport infrastructure.
Trading & Re-Export
Logistics & Supply Chain
Manufacturing & Industrial
FMCG & Consumer Goods
Petrochemicals & Energy
Engineering Services
Electronics & Equipment
Trade Advisory
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs JAFZA engagements end-to-end — from activity selection and licensing through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
Activity & Licence Advisory
We match your business model to the right JAFZA activity codes and licence category — trading, industrial, service or logistics.
Industrial Structuring
Holding, JV and supply-chain structures designed for trading, manufacturing and logistics operators.
Licence & MoA Processing
Memorandum of Association drafted to JAFZA's current template and the application taken through the zone's portal.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that actively onboard JAFZA entities, plus the compliance file the bank's onboarding requires.
Investor & Employee Visas
Investor, partner and employee visas processed end-to-end with Emirates ID and medicals coordinated.
Corporate Tax & VAT
FTA registrations for Corporate Tax (including QFZP positioning where it applies) and VAT, plus ongoing filings.
Why Founders Choose Avyanco for JAFZA
Three things that come up in every JAFZA engagement once the licence is issued.
Trade & Logistics Expertise
Active engagements with logistics, manufacturing and trading operators inside JAFZA means we know what the zone, port and customs authorities require — without guessing.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, MoA, warehouse or office, bank, visa and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Built for Industrial Realities
Recommendations shaped by how trading, manufacturing and freight businesses actually operate — not generic SME templates.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
JAFZA is the right call for logistics, trade and heavy industry. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA)
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twofour54. Abu Dhabi's media & creative free zone — broadcast, production, gaming and digital content, regulated by the Creative Media Authority.
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Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone. Aviation, aerospace, MRO and air cargo beside the capital's airports, with hangars and warehousing on site.
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Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. A ~40 km² manufacturing hub in Musaffah, operated by the KEZAD Group (AD Ports) — metals, oil & gas, food and logistics.
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Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ)
Fujairah Free Zone. The UAE's east-coast gateway on the Gulf of Oman, beside the Port of Fujairah — trading, logistics and light industry.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE companies through Avyanco.
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
JAFZA Free Zone — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Jebel Ali Free Zone.
What is JAFZA and who operates it?
Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority is the UAE's first free zone, established in 1985. It is operated by DP World as its flagship free zone and sits adjacent to the Port of Jebel Ali and Al Maktoum International Airport.
Can a foreign founder own 100% of a JAFZA company?
Yes — every JAFZA structure (FZE, FZ Co., branch, PLC, offshore) allows full foreign ownership with no UAE-national shareholder requirement.
What activities does JAFZA licence?
Trading, industrial, service and logistics licences across general trading, petrochemicals, FMCG, automotive, electronics, healthcare distribution, manufacturing and machinery. Specialist sectors may require additional regulator clearance.
How long does JAFZA company formation take?
Standard JAFZA setups typically complete in two to four weeks once the document set is ready. Industrial activities, warehouse leases and regulated sectors can add review time.
Does JAFZA qualify for the 0% UAE Corporate Tax rate?
JAFZA is recognised among the UAE's designated free zones. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person under the Federal Tax Authority's regime — we assess eligibility at the planning stage.
Can a JAFZA company import and re-export goods through Jebel Ali Port?
Yes — that is the zone's core proposition. JAFZA is the Middle East's largest customs-bonded area and supports import, value-add and re-export through Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport.
What office and warehouse options does JAFZA offer?
Serviced offices, on-site warehouses, light-industrial units and built-to-suit plots inside JAFZA's industrial estates. Space type drives visa quota and licence category.
Can a JAFZA company trade with the UAE mainland?
JAFZA companies can sell to mainland customers through an authorised distributor or by appointing a UAE-mainland branch. Direct unrestricted mainland retail or service delivery is typically routed through a mainland licence.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the live Avyanco site and the official JAFZA website (jafza.ae) as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of JAFZA and DP World, not endorsed by either, and not affiliated with any UAE government agency.
JAFZA activity catalogues, industrial clearances, customs-bonded operations rules and Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with JAFZA, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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