Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) Guide 2026
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is the largest free zone in the Middle East and one of the world top logistics and trading hubs. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
In this guide:
About JAFZA
- Location: Adjacent to Jebel Ali Port; 40 minutes from Dubai city
- Size: 48 sq km; one of world largest free zones
- Companies: 9,000+ companies from 100+ countries
- Jebel Ali Port: World ninth-largest container port; directly adjacent to JAFZA
- Al Maktoum Airport: Adjacent; connected logistics corridor
JAFZA Entity Types
- FZE: Free Zone Establishment (single shareholder)
- FZCO: Free Zone Company (2-50 shareholders)
- Branch: UAE or foreign company branch
- Public Limited Company: For large-scale operations
JAFZA Licence Types
- Trading licence: Import, export, re-export; the most common JAFZA licence
- Service licence: Logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding
- Industrial licence: Manufacturing within JAFZA
- National industrial licence: For UAE-national-owned factories
JAFZA Costs and Requirements
- Annual licence fee: AED 15,000-30,000 for standard trading/service licence
- Physical office/warehouse: REQUIRED for most JAFZA licences (no pure virtual office)
- Minimum share capital: AED 100,000 (FZE)
- Warehousing: Available from small 50 sq m units to large custom warehouse complexes
JAFZA Advantages
- Port adjacency: Can clear customs at Jebel Ali Port directly with JAFZA licence
- Tax: 50-year corporate tax holiday (pre-existing guarantee)
- Global brand: JAFZA address recognized worldwide in trading and logistics