Jebel Ali Freezone Authority Jafza

Jebel Ali Freezone Authority began operations in 1985 and is now a leading business center in the Middle East. JAFZA focuses on long-term client relationships and fosters alliances with global investors by providing them with world-class infrastructure with quality-driven value-added services and incentives, that enable them to capitalize on the tremendous business opportunities in the region. JAFZA boasts of being the first free zone in the world to receive ISO certification in 1996. JAFZA is one of the fastest-growing free zones in the MEASA region, providing direct access to a market of over 2 billion people.

Over the years, JAFZA has attracted some of the largest and most reputable companies across various industries, benefiting from the unique, value-added advantages of setting up business in Dubai.

Business setup in Jebel Ali Freezone Authority JAFZA:

Jebel Ali Free Zone is designed to be a major business hub for companies that are into manufacturing, trade, industry, and logistics. With its new developments and completed a 6-lane highway that helps move goods from the port to the cargo plane in just 20 minutes and definitely has access to all ports worldwide. This results in the strategic location which means that it has access to most of the markets globally.

Jebel Ali Free Zone is the only free zone in the world that is located between one of the largest airports in the world and a seaport. Jebel Ali Freezone has the Jebel Ali Port, the 7th largest container port in the world, and al Maktoum international airport, one of the largest cargo airports in the world on the other side.

Therefore, JAFZA has been one of the key drivers of Dubai’s and the UAE’s phenomenal economic growth over the years.

Company Formation in JAFZA

Even though JAFZA is one of the largest free zone in the world, the formation of business here is basically limited to certain activities. Here are the following company formation that you can establish at JAFZA Freezone:

1. Freezone Establishment (FZE)

FZE registration allows for a single shareholder, which can be an individual/person or a non-individual/company.

2. Freezone Company (FZCo)

Registration of an FZCo allows for the registration of multiple shareholders (up to 50). Shareholders can be individual persons or non-individual/companies.

3. Public Listed Company (PLC)

A PLC has its own legal personality distinct from that of its shareholders and has the capacities, rights, and privileges of a person. A PLC may invite the public to subscribe to its shares and must list its shares on a stock exchange in accordance with the market laws.

4. Branch of the company

A branch is considered a legal entity of its parent company; it is 100% owned by the parent company, operates under the same name, and conducts the same business. A company established outside the Jebel Ali Freezone may establish a branch within JAFZA.

Types of Licenses in JAFZA:

The type of license you want to operate in JAFZA depends on the activity your company wants to carry out. There are three main categories of licenses; Trading, Services, and Industrial, and the following are the list of licenses offered by JAFZA.

1. Trading License

Allows the holder to import, export and distribute the goods specified in the license activity

2. General Trading License

Allows the holder to access a wider range of activities and a wider range of items on the license.

3. Service License

Allows the holder to access a wider range of activities and a wider range of items on the license.

4. Industrial License

Allows the holder to import raw materials, manufacture certain products and export the finished product to other countries.

5. National Industrial License

Issued to manufacturing companies with at least 51% GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) ownership.

6. Logistics License

Allows certain logistics services (e.g. warehousing, transportation, distribution, sorting, forwarding and clearing activities, order management, inventory management etc.)

7. E-commerce License

Allows the purchase and sale of goods and services through electronic networks by any electronic means.

8. Offshore Registration

This allows corporate bodies or individuals to establish an offshore company. This gives you the identity of a legal company as a non-resident business.

Some of the activities that are prohibited in establishing at JAFZA:

1. Banking
2. Finance
3. Insurance Services
4. Insurance Agent or Insurance Agent
5. Professional Services
6. Consulting Services
7. Activities related to Intellectual property
8. Activities related to Media
9. Activities related to Security
10. Foreign Exchange
11. Activities related to Publishing
12. Activities related to Advertising
13. Film Production
14. Management Services
15. Gambling or Casino
16. Real Estate Development
17. Activities related to Education
18. Gaming
19. Activities related to Design Services
20. Military

Common required documents to obtain the license in JAFZA:

1. Jafza application Form
2. Environment Health and Safety (EHS) application form
3. Passport/ Emirates ID copy of manager, directors, and secretary (FZE/ FZCo- manager & shareholder (s)
4. Project summary
5. Project summary
6. No Objection Certificate from the sponsor, applicable to UAE residents only

1. Freezone Company (FZCo) / Freezone Establishment (FZE), Individual

• Business profile of shareholder (s)
• Board resolution of Power of Attorney (for FZCo only), attested by JAFZA
• Specimen signature of manager, shareholder, director, and secretary, attested by JAFZA

2. Freezone Company (FZCo) / Freezone Establishment (FZE), Company

• Certificate of Registration
• Duly notarized and attested by UAE embassy (you must check the rules with UAE embassy in country of origin)
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Specimen signature of manager, attested by JAFZA or UAE Embassy
• Board Resolution & Power of Attorney, attested by UAE Embassy

3. Branch of the Company (Abroad)

• Certificate of Registration
• Duly notarized and attested from UAE embassy (please check rules with the UAE Embassy in the country of origin)
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Specimen signature of manager, duly attested

4. Branch of a Company (UAE)

• License copy
• Copy of Memorandum of Association
• Copy of Article of Association
• Copy of Shareholder Certificate
• Copy of Chamber of Commerce Certificate
• Letter from Company to open a branch in JAFZA
• Board resolution, original
• Specimen signature of manager, duly arrested

Registration Fees

License Fees

When setting up a license in Jebel Ali Freezone Authority, JAFZA, here are the following advantages:

1. A wide range of business premises including offices, warehouses, retail units, staff accommodation.
2. A place to trade. Thousands of traders are located under one roof.
3. Conveniently located adjacent to storing and selling goods to UAE.
4. To own properties developed by master developers such as Nakheel, Emaar, Dubai Properties, or other developers approved by the Authority
5. To hold a bank account in the UAE
6. To easily engage in General Trading (outside UAE)
7. To open a branch office or representative office in any part of the world
8. To become a shareholder in a limited liability company to be formed in Dubai/UAE
9. To become a shareholder in any other entity formed in UAE or outside UAE or in UAE Free Zones
10. No currency restrictions
11. Onsite Customs
12. 0% personal and income tax

Why choose us to help you with your JAFZA start-up business:

Obtaining such a Jebel Ali Freezone Authority, JAFZA license is crucial. To achieve this and ensure that everything goes smoothly, from all the applications to approvals, you have to seek the help of a team of experts who knows the ropes of the startup’s procedure.

Hiring us to handle your business set-up procedure is indeed a good decision.

Dedicatedly, we make sure to give you the right advice and give you the right information to open your business. With our years of experience, we have already handled a number of business startups across the UAE.

Here are related links to this article for your reference:

• Dubai Mainland License Business Setup
• Freezone Company Business Setup
• Instant License Business Setup
• E-trader License
• Meydan License Business Setup
• IFZA License Business Setup
• Steps for Your Business Setups in Dubai