Jebel Ali Free Zone

The JAFZ is located south-west of Jumeirah, adjacent to the main Abu Dhabi to Dubai motorway. Created in 1985 around the world’s largest man-made port, which was literally dug out of the coastal desert sands, JAFZ has become a key warehousing, distribution and industrial hub that provides access to a consumer market of over 2 billion people. It is the first free zone in the world to achieve ISO 9002 certification.

Jebel Ali Free Zone is home to over 2,300 companies from some 100 countries including  global brands like Acer, Black & Decker, Compaq, Daewoo, GAP, Honda, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, Nissan, Nivea, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Bridgestone, Bayer, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Nokia, Toshiba and DaimlerChrysler, among others, have established a presence in the JAFZ.

JAFZ co-ordinates all dealings with local authorities on behalf of investor companies. This can involve arranging for them visas, legal and consular requirements and other immigration matters, health cards, local driving licenses and car registrations, obtaining communication facilities, etc. Normally – and outside the JAFZ - a UAE national “sponsor” would be needed for all of this.

JAFZ also allows 100% foreign ownership of companies as well as full repatriation of capital and profits and there are no corporate and income taxes, abundant and cheap energy supplies, and no currency restrictions. Pre-built office space is available for lease as well as warehouses for storage, distribution and light manufacturing. Land for purpose-built facilities is also available on long lease.