JAFZA Company Setup — Jebel Ali Free Zone Licence, Office & Warehouse

Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is the UAE’s flagship Free Zone, adjacent to Jebel Ali Port — the busiest port in the Middle East. 9,500+ companies, 7,500 hectares, and the gold standard for logistics, manufacturing and large-scale trading.

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What is JAFZA?

The Jebel Ali Free Zone was founded in 1985 and is operated by DP World. Located alongside Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), it is the UAE’s busiest trade and logistics Free Zone, contributing approximately 33% of Dubai’s FDI inflows.

JAFZA offers 100% foreign ownership, 0% personal income tax, full profit repatriation and tier-1 banking access. It is the natural home for logistics companies, traders moving large volumes, and manufacturers needing port-side facilities.

JAFZA Activities

JAFZA caters to large-scale trading, logistics, manufacturing and industrial activities. It is not designed for solo consultants or pure service businesses.

Logistics & Distribution

Freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, third-party logistics (3PL), shipping and supply-chain services.

Manufacturing & Industrial

Heavy industry, food processing, automotive, chemicals, plastics and metals. Plots from 5,000 sqm up to multiple hectares.

Large-Scale Trading

Import / export at container scale, regional distribution, B2B wholesale. Direct Jebel Ali Port access lowers freight costs.

Oil, Gas & Energy

Energy services, equipment trading, oil-field services, renewable energy components and trading of petroleum products.

JAFZA Licence Types: FZE, FZCO or Branch

JAFZA offers three legal forms. The right one depends on who owns the company:

FZE (Free Zone Establishment) — a company with a single shareholder, individual or corporate.
FZCO (Free Zone Company) — a company with two or more shareholders.
Branch — a branch of an existing foreign or UAE company, with no separate legal personality; the parent company remains liable.

All three allow 100% foreign ownership. The licence then covers your activities: trading, service, logistics or industrial.

Setting Up a Company with a Warehouse in JAFZA

Most businesses come to JAFZA for its warehouses. Setting up with your own warehouse means:

Choosing the facility — JAFZA offers ready-built warehouses and light-industrial units in several sizes, as well as land plots for custom-built facilities.
Linking it to your licence — the warehouse or unit is leased by your JAFZA company, and its size determines your visa quota.
Storing goods duty-free — JAFZA sits outside the UAE customs territory: goods can be imported, stored and re-exported without customs duty. The 5% duty applies only when goods enter the UAE local market.
Registering with Dubai Customs — a JAFZA company that imports or exports goods needs a Dubai Customs client code, issued after the licence.
Specific approvals — food, chemicals and other regulated goods need extra approvals before storage.

Own warehouse or 3PL? If your volumes are modest, a third-party logistics provider (3PL) already based in JAFZA can store and ship your goods, and you only need an office licence. A dedicated warehouse makes sense once volumes, handling needs or visa requirements justify it.

How to Set Up a JAFZA Company: Step by Step

Define your activity and facility — office, warehouse or plot, and the number of visas.
Submit the application — company name, activities, shareholder documents and initial approval.
Sign the lease — office, warehouse or land agreement.
Licence issued — licence, certificate of formation and memorandum of association.
Establishment card and visas — immigration file, then investor and employee visas.
Corporate bank account — we prepare the file and support you through bank onboarding.

Documents: passport copies of shareholders and managers, photos, proof of address and a short business plan. For a corporate shareholder or a branch: the parent company’s certificate of incorporation, articles and board resolution, legalised for use in the UAE.

JAFZA Cost Overview & Visa Quotas

JAFZA is a premium-tier zone. Pricing depends heavily on whether you take an office, warehouse or industrial plot.

License + office (FZE) — Starting from 25,000 AED per year.
License + small warehouse — Starting from 50,000 AED per year.
License + industrial plot — Starting from 75,000 AED per year (land lease separate).
Visa quotas — 3 visas standard, scalable to 50+ with bigger facilities.
Office requirement — yes; minimum office or warehouse mandatory.
Setup time — typically 1–2 weeks for an office package; longer for warehouse or industrial plots, depending on property allocation and approvals.

JAFZA vs DMCC vs IFZA

	JAFZA	DMCC	IFZA
Starting price	25,000 AED/year (office)	31,000 AED/year	14,900 AED/year
Warehouse / industrial space	Yes, port-side	No	No
Best for	Logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, container-scale trading	Commodities, trading without physical inventory	Consultants, services, e-commerce without stock
Office requirement	Office or warehouse required	Office or flexi desk	Flexi desk available

Banking Access & Best Fit

JAFZA’s port-side prestige opens every bank door — here’s the full picture.

Banking access — excellent. Tier-1 UAE banks (Emirates NBD, FAB, ADCB) routinely onboard JAFZA companies.
Best for — logistics & freight, heavy manufacturing, large-scale traders, oil & gas, automotive, food processing.
Not ideal for — solo consultants, small e-commerce, online-only services (use IFZA, Meydan or DMCC instead).
Compliance — audited accounts mandatory annually. Our accounting team handles IFRS reporting and audit liaison.

JAFZA FAQ

Why pick JAFZA over DMCC?

JAFZA wins when you need warehousing, industrial space, port-side logistics or container-scale imports/exports. DMCC wins for trading-as-a-service without physical inventory.

How long does JAFZA setup take?

1–2 weeks for an office package. Warehouse and industrial plot setups take longer, depending on property allocation, environmental clearances and infrastructure.

Can JAFZA work for e-commerce?

For e-commerce with warehousing of physical goods imported from abroad — yes, JAFZA is excellent. For pure drop-shipping with no inventory — IFZA or RAKEZ are more cost-effective.

Can a JAFZA company claim the 0% QFZP rate?

QFZP status attaches to the company, not to the Free Zone. A JAFZA company qualifies if it derives qualifying income from a qualifying activity, maintains adequate substance in the UAE, meets the de minimis and transfer pricing requirements, and files audited financial statements. “Designated Zone” is a separate VAT classification and does not by itself determine QFZP eligibility. Distribution and manufacturing carried out from JAFZA are commonly qualifying activities, provided the substance and audit requirements are met. Our accounting team conducts the assessment.

Can I store goods duty-free in JAFZA?

Yes. JAFZA is outside the UAE customs territory: goods can be stored and re-exported without customs duty. The 5% duty applies only when goods are sold into the UAE local market.

Do I need my own warehouse in JAFZA?

Not necessarily. With modest volumes, a 3PL provider already based in JAFZA can store and ship your goods while your company holds an office licence. Your own warehouse makes sense once volumes or visa needs grow.

Which legal form should I choose: FZE, FZCO or branch?

FZE for a single shareholder, FZCO for two or more shareholders, and a branch if an existing foreign or UAE company wants a JAFZA presence without creating a new legal entity.