Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza)
المنطقة الحرة لجبل علي (جافزا)
Jafza publishes a licence fee from AED 5,000 but no full package price, states incorporation in 3 days and requires at least a flexi-desk (checked 2026-10-24).
Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) is a logistics, industrial and general business free zone in Dubai, licensed by Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), under the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Dubai, established in 1985.
Key facts
- Solo, no visa · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. One founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity.
- Founder + 1 visa · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. One founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office.
- Team, 3 visas · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
- Lowest package, any size
- —
- Licence fee from
- AED 5,000
- Largest visa quota
- Not published
- No package states a quota
- Minimum office
- Flexi-desk
- Incorporation
- 3 days
- As stated by the zone
- Min. share capital
- None
- General trading
- Yes
- VAT Designated Zone
- Yes
- FTA list
- Annual audit
- Yes
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae, tax.gov.ae.
Figures as published by the zone. “Not published” means no official source states it. Scenario prices are the published package closest to each set-up: solo, no visa = one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity; founder + 1 visa = one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office; team, 3 visas = three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
Identity and legal basis
- Official name (Arabic)
- المنطقة الحرة لجبل علي (جافزا) ↗
- Former, merged or alternative names
- JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority), Gold & Diamond Park ↗
- Licensing / regulating authority
- Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), under the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Dubai ↗
- Parent group / government body
- DP World (operator; Jafza described as DP World's flagship free zone); regulatory oversight via Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Government of Dubai ↗
- Zone type
- Logistics, Industrial, General business ↗
- Year established
- 1985 ↗
- Official website
- jafza.ae ↗
- Online application portal
- eservices.dubaitrade.ae ↗
- Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
- Yes ↗
- Physical locations / campuses: Jebel Ali Free Zone (gated zone next to Jebel Ali Port), Dubai; head office Ground Floor, Jafza Building No. 15; Jafza South (mentioned for retail/food court); Jafza One (convention centre and offices); Jafza View 18 and 19 (high-rise office towers); Jafza Logistics Park Phases 1 and 2; Jafza Gateway; Dubai Traders Market (inside Jafza). [1]
- Public contact email: callcentre@jafza.ae. [2]
- Public contact phone: 800-JAFZA (52392); +971 4 445 3270 from outside UAE. [2]
- Number of registered companies: 11,000. [1]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae, moet.gov.ae.
Business activities
- Official approved activity list
- jafza.ae/resource-centre/downloads/license-activ ↗
- Licence types offered
- Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Industrial, E-commerce, Holding, Other ↗
- General trading licence available
- Yes ↗
- Activity categories offered: Trading; Services; Industrial; Logistics. [1]
- Activities included in base licence: 7. [2]
- Fee per additional activity: AED 500. [2]
- Trading and services on one licence: yes. [2]
- Activities needing another authority's approval: Import/export of goods in the Food and Agriculture category (approvals/certifications from relevant UAE authorities); Logistics licence (verification documents, possibly registration with Dubai Customs); Industrial/manufacturing activities (Trakhees CED/EHS and fire department approvals, building permit, fitness certificate); Customs code from Dubai Customs for any import/export trading. [3]
- Restricted activities: Contraband items (manufacturing, trading or marketing forbidden); Flammable goods except permitted operational fuels; Radioactive materials; Arms, ammunition and explosives unless authorised; Goods infringing commercial and industrial property laws; Illicit drugs; Goods from countries under UAE economic boycott; Goods prohibited from entering the UAE. [4]
- Conditions for general trading: Required when more than 2 activity groups are needed; unlimited activities and groups for a fixed AED 15,000 per year. Trading licences may not be used for manufacturing. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Cost - year one
- Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
- AED 5,000 ↗
- Cost per visa: AED 2,378. [1]
- Visa fees: Employment Visa New (Jafza tariff): normal 1y AED 2,378 / 2y AED 2,678; urgent 2,748 / 3,048; VIP 3,778 / 4,118. Add-ons: inside-country +780, transfer of sponsorship +920, offer letter +100, age over 60 +5,000, Partner/Investor title +250, health insurance premium AED 160-610 by salary band (5% VAT). Residence renewal normal 1y 1,882.50 / 2y 2,082.50. Company Employment Card renewal AED 400. [1]
- MoA / notary / attestation fees: AED 200. [1]
- [1] jafza.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Cost - ongoing
- Renewal costs more than the first-year price: no. [1]
- Visa renewal cost per person: AED 1,882.5. [1]
- Visa validity: 2 years. [1]
- Lease escalation policy: Land leases: rent reviewed at set review dates; any increase capped at a 'Rent Review Cap' stated in the individual lease agreement (cap value not published). [2]
- Late renewal penalty: AED 1,000 per month late payment fee for an expired licence; reactivating licence status after a year AED 1,000. [1]
- Fee to add activity: AED 500. [1]
- Fee for name change: AED 1,500. [1]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Visas and residency
- Visa quota rule: Quota depends on leased facility: workstation 2 visas each; showroom 5 regardless of size; office by office size; warehouse/LIU by area (set by Jafza Visa and Operations team); land plot initial quota 20, increasable on approval. [1]
- How to increase quota and cost: Contact Jafza Visa and Operations team; quota tied to leased area, so increase generally by leasing more space; land-plot quota of 20 can be raised after approval. Tariff: 'Quota for Visit visa AED 200 + AED 241 per quota'. [1]
- Investor / partner visa available: yes. [1]
- Employee visa available: yes. [2]
- Golden Visa support: Rules state Jafza may provide investor / long-term investor visas subject to authorities' policies; JAFZA news 'Jafza to Offer Long-Term Visa Services to Customers' referenced in visa guide (not opened). [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Office and facilities
- Minimum facility requirement
- Flexi-desk ↗
- Office / facility types
- Flexi-desk, Serviced office, Private office, Warehouse, Light industrial unit, Land plot, Retail unit, Staff accommodation ↗
- Warehouse available
- Yes ↗
- Flexi-desk access terms: 24x7 workstation access with network connections. [1]
- Warehouse sizes: Pre-built warehouses 313-1,110 sqm (units with office 313-670 sqm), eaves 6-12 m; industrial warehouses from 543 sqm; LIUs 313-619 sqm; Jafza Gateway 187 units of 325-2,475 sqm; Jafza Logistics Park 23 units, smallest 2,882 sqm (79,628 sqm total). [2]
- Warehouse cost per sqm per year: AED 400. [3]
- Cold storage available: yes. [2]
- Bonded facilities: yes. [3]
- Land plots for build-to-suit: yes. [4]
- Premises outside the zone allowed: no. [5]
- Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Meeting and conference rooms with AV equipment; Business lounge; Administrative and secretarial support; On-demand parking; Fast-track administrative services. [1]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Legal structure and ownership
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Market access and customs
- Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
- No ↗
- Dual licence cost: AED 10,000. [1]
- Can open mainland branch: yes. [1]
- GCC / re-export notes: National Industrial Licence available for manufacturers with at least 51% GCC ownership. JAFZA hosts a CEPA brochure among its regulations. [2]
- Customs duty in the zone: Customs-bonded zone: goods can be imported, stored and re-exported without customs duty while they stay in the zone (JAFZA states 0% import or re-export duties). Duty applies when goods leave for the UAE mainland. Traders need a Dubai Customs code; customs is on site. [3]
- Customs duty exemption details: JAFZA advertises 0% import and re-export duties for goods in the zone; goods are held in a customs-bonded area. [3]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Tax status
- VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
- Yes ↗
- Which areas of zone are designated: Listed as one entry 'Jebel Ali Free Zone (North-South)' covering both JAFZA North and JAFZA South; only areas that are fenced and meet Article 51 VAT Executive Regulation conditions qualify, and the concession applies to goods, not services. [1]
- The zone states that it is a Free Zone for UAE corporate-tax purposes: yes. [2]
- The zone states that its companies can qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person: yes. [2]
Corporate-tax statements above come from the zone or from general FTA guidance. The schedule of Free Zones under Cabinet Resolution 54/2023 was not available to this research, and the FTA advises taxpayers to confirm their Free Zone or Designated Zone status with the Free Zone authority. The 0% rate applies only to the Qualifying Income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person that meets all conditions; other income is taxed at the standard rate.
- [1] tax.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] jafza.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae, jafza.ae.
Compliance and reporting
- Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
- Yes ↗
- Beneficial-owner register filing required
- Yes ↗
- Substance requirements enforced by zone: Licence FAQ says new companies are asked to submit an Economic Substance Report at setup (citing Ministerial Decision 100 of 2020). Companies must hold a valid lease and keep premises operational (offices within 60 days, LIUs within 90 days, plots built within 22 months). [1]
- Wage Protection System applies: yes. [1]
- Annual return and renewal documents: Valid lease contract; Valid Fitness Certificate for premises (except Jafza offices/workstations); Audited balance sheet by Jafza-approved auditor; Valid registration/good standing from place of incorporation (branches); All dues paid; Insurance or government certificates where the licence category requires. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Banking
- Zone offers bank-account facilitation
- Yes ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Setup process and speed
- Documents for an individual shareholder: Jafza application form; EHS application/undertaking form; Project summary or business plan (one page); KYC form; UBO form; Appointment letter of Director/Manager/Secretary; Passport copies (valid 6+ months) of shareholder, manager, secretary; NOC from local sponsor and visa copy if UAE resident; Business profile of shareholder; Specimen signatures (attested). [1]
- Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: Certificate of incorporation or good standing, MoA/AoA, board resolution and power of attorney must be notarised and attested by the UAE embassy in the home country; if no UAE embassy, by a GCC/Arab embassy then UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [1]
- [1] jafza.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Operations, ecosystem and flexibility
- Moving to larger premises: Business Park / workstation users can upgrade to a full office; office, showroom, warehouse, LIU and land plots available for later moves; visa quota rises with leased space. [1]
- Adding shareholders: Share transfers done by Jafza forms (buyer/seller forms, corporate action forms) via portal; tariff fee for transfers not clearly legible (see open questions). [2]
- Moving a company in or out (re-domiciliation): yes. [3]
- Multiple licences under one group: yes. [4]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Freelancer and solo founder
- Freelancer permit available
- No ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Industry-specific regulation
- Media content licensing / filming permits: Photography and filming inside the zone need prior Jafza and security authorisation (Tasreeh photo/video pass). [1]
- Hazardous goods and environmental approvals: Industrial premises need Jafza and Trakhees (CED/EHS/fire) approvals, building permit, fitness inspection and certificate, completion certificate; EHS undertaking at application; regular HSE audits for industrial licences; hazardous waste disposal under EHS rules. [1]
- [1] jafza.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Activity fit (our view)
Likely possible
Needs a regulator's approval
- None
Not offered
Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Official activity list ↗ Licence types the zone publishes: Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Industrial, E-commerce, Holding, Other.
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae.
Notes and history
Names · 2020-09-02
Gold & Diamond Park, developed by Emaar Malls Group, is licensed through Jafza: under an agreement announced on 2 September 2020, Jafza handles licensing, registration and visas for businesses at the Park, which can be governed by Jafza's Free Zone Rules and fee structure. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism's list of free zone company registrars (updated October 2026) shows 'Dubai Gold and Diamond Park' under the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority. [source 1][source 2][source 3]
History · 2023-03-22
The current Jebel Ali Free Zone Rules (ninth edition) were issued on 22 March 2023 and repeal the eighth edition of January 2020. The first edition of the Rules dates from January 1999. [source]
Good to know · 2026-05-31
According to a Jafza guide published in May 2026, all businesses in Dubai, whether in a free zone or on the mainland, are issued a Dubai Unified Licence (DUL). The DUL is a single identifier used across Dubai alongside the licence number issued by Jafza, and it must be valid for the business to operate. [source]
Legal basis
According to the Jebel Ali Free Zone Rules 2023, the free zone was established under Ordinance No. 1 of 1980 issued by the Ruler of Dubai, and the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) was set up as a body corporate under Decree No. 1 of 1985. The Rules are issued by the Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC). [source]
History
Before 2017, Jafza required a minimum share capital of AED 1,000,000 for an FZE and AED 500,000 per shareholder for a two-shareholder FZCO. Jafza's licence FAQ says it no longer sets a minimum, but a company's share capital must be sufficient for its licensed activities. [source]
Good to know
Building permits, completion certificates and operation fitness certificates in the zone are issued by the civil engineering and Environment, Health and Safety departments of Trakhees, part of PCFC, according to the 2023 Rules. [source]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from jafza.ae, mediaoffice.ae, moet.gov.ae.
Questions worth asking
How much does a Jafza licence cost?
Jafza publishes a licence fee from AED 5,000. Visa, office and registration costs are extra.
Does Jafza require a physical office?
The minimum facility Jafza states is: flexi-desk. Facility types offered: flexi-desk, serviced office, private office, warehouse, light industrial unit, land plot, retail unit, staff accommodation.
How long does Jafza company setup take?
Jafza states about 3 days for incorporation. Visas take extra time after the licence is issued.
Can I get a general trading licence in Jafza?
Yes, Jafza offers a general trading licence.
Is Jafza a VAT Designated Zone?
Jafza appears on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones. Often only some areas of a zone are designated; see the tax section and confirm with the zone.
What is the minimum share capital in Jafza?
Jafza states no minimum share capital.
About this data
Every fact comes from Jafza's own channels or a UAE government source, linked next to it. Last checked 2026-10-24. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.
Rules for every zone
Explained in the guides on corporate tax, VAT Designated Zones and mainland access.
How we check
Prices are re-checked every 90 days and other facts on a schedule. How we verify →