Dubai
Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority: real costs, licences and review
The original UAE free zone, built around the region's largest port. For physical goods at scale.
Our view
JAFZA opened in 1985 and remains the reference for anyone moving physical goods. It wraps Jebel Ali Port, the largest container terminal between Rotterdam and Singapore, and connects directly to Al Maktoum International. If your business is import/export, distribution, light manufacturing or regional warehousing, the logistics advantage is real and not replicable from a flexi-desk in Ajman.
It is a serious operational commitment. Warehouse and plot leases dominate the cost structure, incorporation runs weeks rather than days, and the authority expects a substantive business. JAFZA also offers an offshore company product, used widely for holding UAE real estate, which is a different instrument from the free zone licence and frequently confused with it.
For a service business, JAFZA makes no sense. For a trader shipping containers, nothing else in Dubai competes.
Key facts
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 10,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 65,000 |
| Issuance time | 10–25 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Commercial, Industrial, Professional / service, Holding |
| Established | 1985 |
Official source: www.jafza.ae
Honestly
What works
- Direct access to Jebel Ali Port
- Mature customs and logistics infrastructure
- Unlimited visas with leased space
- Established offshore vehicle for property holding
What doesn't
- High fixed cost — space is mandatory for most licences
- Slow incorporation
- Far from central Dubai
- No value for service-only businesses
Who this suits
- Import/export and distribution
- Light manufacturing and assembly
- Regional warehousing
- Holding UAE real estate via JAFZA Offshore
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.