JAFZA is the largest and most established free zone in UAE. Here is the complete 2026 guide for companies considering JAFZA.
In this guide:
About JAFZA
- Full name: Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority
- Established: 1985; UAE oldest major free zone
- Location: Jebel Ali; western Dubai; adjacent to Jebel Ali Port
- Companies: 9,500+ companies from 100+ countries
- Port: Jebel Ali Port; world 9th largest container port; 16 million TEUs per year
Who Uses JAFZA
- Multinational manufacturers: Global companies that need UAE manufacturing base
- Logistics companies: JAFZA port proximity is unmatched for sea freight
- Large commodity traders: Physical commodity trading requiring port access
- Government contractors: JAFZA reputation strong for government-facing companies
JAFZA Costs
- Business centre (service companies): AED 15,000-25,000/year
- Warehouse (small 250 sq m): AED 60,000-100,000/year
- Land (long-term industrial): Negotiated; multi-year lease
- Smaller companies: JAFZA is not the right fit for small consulting or online businesses due to cost