JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) — Quick Facts 2026
| Starting Cost | From AED 18,000 |
| Price Confidence | Verified official price |
| Source Type | Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components |
| Last Reviewed | July 2026 |
| Emirate | Dubai |
| Best For | Trade, Logistics & Industrial Manufacturing |
| Visa Options | Flexi: 2 visas; office/warehouse: unlimited |
| Setup Time | Package and facility type dependent |
| Key Activities | General Trading, Import & Export, Distribution & Storage, Warehousing, Logistics and more |
Final pricing may vary by activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure and authority updates. See our pricing methodology.
About This Page
Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Data sources: Pricing Methodology
Pricing uses available authority material, public package data and internally reviewed evidence; quote-based rows require current confirmation. Referral relationships may support quote fulfilment, but they do not control editorial rankings. Read our partner disclosure.
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) may be relevant when the best-fit profile is: Global traders, logistics operators, manufacturers, and multinational companies requiring world-class port and supply chain access. Starting cost is shown as From AED 18,000 with price status: Needs confirmation. Visa options: Flexi: 2 visas; office/warehouse: unlimited. Office requirement: Office or flexi-desk requirements depend on package type, activity and visa allocation. Verify the current requirement before choosing a package. Final activity wording, renewal exposure, government fees, banking readiness and any visa or office add-ons should be confirmed before payment.
Quick verdict: Shortlist JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) only after the named package, renewal, visa, office and banking checks match your activity, shareholder profile and budget. Request a current written quote before payment because authority packages, government fees and add-ons can change.
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Starting cost | From AED 18,000 |
| Price status | Needs confirmation |
| Visa options | Flexi: 2 visas; office/warehouse: unlimited |
| Best for | Global traders, logistics operators, manufacturers, and multinational companies requiring world-class port and supply chain access. |
| Banking access | Medium - depends on activity, documents and bank profile |
| Setup time | Package and facility type dependent |
| Office requirement | Office or flexi-desk requirements depend on package type, activity and visa allocation. Verify the current requirement before choosing a package. |
| Last reviewed | August 2026 |
| Content reviewed | July 2026 |
| Price evidence reviewed | August 2026 |
| CTA | Request current verified quote |
Choose JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) if:
Starting price
This is a planning figure, not a guaranteed final government or authority fee. Request the current breakdown before choosing a package. UAE Freezone Compare does not charge you a service fee for quote support.
| Cost item | Estimated amount | Included? | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| License fee | From AED 18,000 | Package dependent | Confirm activity and package scope before payment. | Needs confirmation |
| Registration fee | Indicative or bundled | Varies | May be bundled into year-one setup offers. | Quote-based |
| Establishment card | Indicative | Often separate | Required for most visa processing routes. | Quote-based |
| Flexi desk / office | Package dependent | Varies | Office allocation can affect visa options and renewals. | Needs confirmation |
| Investor or employee visa | Current quote required | Usually separate | Medical, Emirates ID, insurance and status change may apply. Confirm the current visa route and authority/government components before payment. | Quote-based |
| Renewal fee | Current renewal quote required | No | Do not assume renewal equals the first-year license fee unless the authority or supporting evidence confirms it. | Quote-based |
Medium - depends on activity, documents and bank profile. Banks usually review the business activity, shareholder profile, contracts, invoices, website, source of funds and expected transaction flow.
Investor and employee visa availability depends on the license package, office allocation and free zone quota. Calculate medical, Emirates ID, status change and insurance costs before comparing zones.
License processing and visa steps depend on the selected package, activity approval, document readiness, facility route, immigration checks and the relevant authority or bank review. Confirm current timing before relying on any setup plan.
IFZA, RAKEZ, SHAMS, SPC Free Zone, and Meydan Free Zone are common alternatives to benchmark.
| Is the listed price final? | No. Figures are indicative and may change based on business activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure, authority approval, and free zone updates. Request the current verified quote before committing. |
|---|---|
| Can JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) support my activity? | Activity eligibility depends on the authority activity list and approval process. Check the exact activity name before paying setup fees. |
| Will a bank account be easy? | Banking depends on activity risk, documents, shareholder profile, contracts, invoices and expected transactions. No free zone can guarantee approval. |
JAFZA is often evaluated for trading, logistics, warehousing and port-linked operations. If the applicant is an existing company, the branch route has a different document burden from a new FZE or FZCO setup.
| Document / decision group | Why it matters | Source confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Parent-company documents | JAFZA public guidance lists branch-related parent-company documents such as trade licence, constitutional documents and supporting certificates where applicable. | Official JAFZA guide; exact current list and attestation rules must be confirmed. |
| Board resolution and authority to act | The parent usually needs to authorise the branch, its commitment and the person signing or managing the UAE application. | Official JAFZA guide context; wording and legalisation can vary. |
| Facility and EHS route | Warehouse, logistics, port, industrial or EHS-linked activities can change the application evidence and final cost. | Official route context; quote and approval required. |
| Banking file | Banks may review the parent company, UAE activity, invoices/contracts, ownership and transaction model differently from a new small company. | Banking outcome is never guaranteed. |
Sources checked August 2026: UAE Ministry of Economy foreign-company branch service, Dubai Development Authority branch setup route, DMCC open-a-branch guidance and JAFZA branch of existing company guide. Compare DMCC vs JAFZA, JAFZA vs Dubai South, the cost calculator and methodology. UAE Freezone Compare is an independent comparison platform and this note is planning information, not legal, tax, banking or immigration advice.
JAFZA public guidance says JAFZA businesses are required to comply with UAEWPS. For JAFZA, check Dubai Trade and JAFZA steps, facility or employee visa sequence and payroll-provider requirements before hiring.
| Hiring/payroll check | What to verify before hiring | Source confidence |
|---|---|---|
| WPS or payroll route | Confirm whether the selected route uses MOHRE/mainland WPS, a free-zone salary-transfer process, an optional or contract-led WPS route, payroll cards, or direct bank transfer. | Official and free-zone public guidance checked August 2026; route-specific confirmation required. |
| Employee visa and card sequence | Check establishment card, immigration file, company employment card, Permanent Identity Card, employee visa and payroll registration sequence for the selected authority. | Authority process varies; no universal timeline or approval is assumed. |
| Payroll/payment provider | Verify whether salaries will be paid through a bank, exchange house, salary-card provider or ordinary transfer, and ask for any provider fees in writing. | Indicative planning note; provider fees are quote-based. |
| Banking and KYC documents | Prepare trade licence, establishment card where applicable, employee records, salary file, UBO details, contracts, invoices and source-of-funds evidence. | Document checklist only; bank approval is never guaranteed. |
| Cost and timing | Request a current quote before payment. Do not treat a licence fee as an all-in hiring, establishment-card, payroll, visa, insurance or banking total. | Requires current authority, bank or payroll-provider confirmation. |
Useful next steps: Company documents checklist · Free zone vs mainland guide · Employee visa guide · Bank account guide · Methodology · Report a correction
Source context: UAE Government payment of wages · MOHRE Wage Protection System · DMCC WPS guideline · JAFZA WPS guide · RAKEZ payroll support flyer · Meydan WPS guide
JAFZA publishes separate guidance for redomiciling a Jafza company out to another authority and for certain offshore redomiciliation cases. Keep operating-company setup, offshore registration and outbound transfer routes separate.
| Route check | What to verify before acting | Source confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility to continue or redomicile | Confirm whether the origin jurisdiction allows continuance, whether the destination authority accepts the entity type, and whether solvency, good-standing, shareholder-resolution and registrar evidence are required. | Official ADGM, DMCC, JAFZA and Meydan source context checked August 2026; route approval still requires authority confirmation. |
| Transfer versus new company | Compare legal-entity continuity against a controlled close-and-reopen route. Check active contracts, bank facilities, tax registrations, supplier portals, employees, visas and whether a new licence would require fresh KYC. | Planning framework only; UFZC does not assume bank, contract or tax continuity. |
| Exit clearances | Ask the current authority for outstanding dues, lease or facility termination, visa cancellation, customs, telecoms, utilities, establishment card, immigration file and NOC requirements before starting the move. | Authority-specific; no universal fee, clearance list or timeline is assumed. |
| Destination package fit | Reconfirm activity wording, shareholder structure, office or flexi-desk requirement, visa quota, establishment-card process and banking documentation under the new authority. | Requires current destination-authority package review. |
| Cost and timing decision | Request itemised current quotes for both routes: transfer or continuance, and close old entity plus new setup. Include overlap costs, cancellation, amendments, visas, banking, office and document legalisation where relevant. | Quote-based unless the specific authority route publishes current fees for the exact transaction. |
Useful next steps: Free zone vs mainland guide · Setup documents checklist · Hidden-cost guide · Bank account guide · Visa cost guide · Methodology · Report a correction
Source context: ADGM continuance checklist · DMCC transfer a business · DMCC transfer document templates · JAFZA re-domicile guide · JAFZA offshore redomiciliation guide · Meydan company transfer guide
This profile keeps cost, visa, banking and timing guidance cautious because JAFZA setup terms can change by activity, package, office or facility route, regulatory review and current authority quote.
Use these links to verify package scope before payment. UFZC remains independent and is not an authority, bank, law firm, tax adviser or immigration adviser.
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All prices are indicative. Confirm current pricing with the free zone authority before making decisions. Not financial or legal advice.
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAFZA | FZCo registration and service licence components | AED 40,000-55,000 planning range (licence component priced separately; mandatory physical facility lease AED 25,000-40,000 + establishment card AED 1,975 + 1 visa AED 3,518 + medical/Emirates ID) Confidence: Verified official price |
AED 5,000 annual service licence renewal component before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price |
AED 20,000 3-year registration plus service licence components before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price |
Visa access depends on the selected facility; immigration fees are separate | A workstation, office, warehouse, showroom or other qualifying facility is required and priced separately | Verified official price | Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components | No material public conflict recorded | July 2026 |
| What is included | The current official guide lists AED 5,000 one-time FZCo registration and AED 5,000 annual service licence fees. The three-year component total is the registration fee plus three published annual licence periods. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Workstation, office, warehouse or other facility, security deposit, establishment card, visas, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, customs, activity approvals and advisory support. |
| Hidden-cost risk | AED 10,000 is not a complete JAFZA setup invoice. Facility choice and annual related charges materially change Year 1, renewal and three-year outlay; trading, logistics and industrial licences also use different official fee lines. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Large trading, logistics, warehouse, import/export and industrial companies needing port access. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.
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