Why JAFZA?
Your Global Growth Starts with JAFZA Freezone Business Setup
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai’s largest free zone, is a global hub for trade and logistics, hosting over 9,500 companies. With world-class infrastructure, 100% foreign ownership, and tax exemptions, JAFZA is ideal for manufacturing, trading, and logistics businesses. Universus Consulting simplifies your JAFZA setup, ensuring a fast, compliant process so you can focus on global growth.
Why us?
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- Direct access to Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum Airport
- 0% corporate and personal income tax.
- Trading, industrial, and service licenses for all industries.
- Warehouses, offices, and logistics facilities tailored to you.
JAFZA Freezone Business Setup: Tap into Global Trade
Let's Talk Strategy
We’ll sit down with you to understand your goals and align your business with JAFZA’s trade-focused ecosystem, the right setup starts with the right advice.
Choose the Perfect License
Whether you're into trading, manufacturing, or services, we’ll help you pick the license that fits your business best and handle the application from start to finish.
Name Your Business
Got a name in mind? We’ll help you register it. Need help brainstorming? We’ll guide you to something unique, compliant, and brand-worthy.
Paperwork? We’ve Got It Covered
From documents to approvals, we handle all the back-end formalities so you can stay focused on building your business, not chasing forms.
Visa Assistance
Need investor or employee visas? We’ll take care of the process swiftly so your team is up and running in no time.
Bank Account Assistance
We’ll connect you with trusted JAFZA banking partners and assist you in opening a corporate account smoothly, with instant IBAN activation.
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What You’ll Need
Documents Required for JAFZA Freezone Business Setup
- Passport copy of shareholders
- Passport-size photo (white background)
- Proof of residence/address
- UAE entry stamp or visa copy (if available)
- Business activity details
Frequently Asked Questions
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Freezone) is ideal for logistics, manufacturing, and trading businesses due to its proximity to Jebel Ali Port. It offers world-class infrastructure and streamlined licensing for companies aiming for global trade and industrial expansion.
Yes. While JAFZA is known for large-scale operations, it also caters to SMEs and startups with customized packages and shared facilities.
Once all documents are in order, JAFZA can complete the registration and issue the licence in about 3–14 business days, depending on the formation type and any extra approvals needed.
JAFZA offers Trading, Service, Industrial, Logistics, and E-commerce licences. Each defines the activities you may conduct and the facilities you must lease (e.g., warehouse for an Industrial licence).
Yes. You can apply for investor and employee visas based on your license and facility type. Visa quotas vary accordingly.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) sits next to the region’s biggest deep-sea port and Al Maktoum International Airport, giving companies fast sea-air links, 100% foreign ownership, zero import/re-export duties, no currency restrictions, and the option to mortgage premises, advantages that lower logistics costs and speed market access.
You can form a Free Zone Establishment (single shareholder), Free Zone Company (2-7 shareholders), Public Listed Company, Branch of an existing firm, or an Offshore company, letting you match the structure to your ownership and capital needs.
Select a business activity and licence, choose a legal structure and trade name, submit the application with supporting documents, sign a lease for the required facility, pay the fees, and collect your licence and keys to the premises to start operations.
Yes. Like other UAE free zones, JAFZA lets foreign investors own the company outright without a local partner or sponsor.
Yes. A lease agreement for an office, warehouse, plot, or flexi-desk must be in place before the licence is issued; the facility type must match your chosen licence.
JAFZA companies may sponsor visas for owners and employees. The quota depends on the facility size (one visa per 9 m² of office space is the general guideline) and is processed after the licence is issued, following standard UAE medical and Emirates ID procedures.
You must renew the licence and lease annually, file an Economic Substance Report where applicable, maintain audited accounts if required by activity or turnover, and keep company records ready for JAFZA or federal inspections.
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What is JAFZA Free Zone?
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) is one of the UAE’s oldest and largest free zones, built around Jebel Ali Port and near Al Maktoum International Airport, making it a prime hub for trade, logistics, manufacturing, and regional headquarters. JAFZA freezone business setup offers 100% foreign ownership, customs duty benefits within the free zone, and a wide choice of facilities, including warehouses, land plots, offices, and showrooms to fit different business models. Companies in JAFZA can leverage integrated infrastructure for sea, air, and road connectivity to access GCC, the Middle East, Africa, and global markets efficiently.
Why choose JAFZA business setup? Key Benefits
- Strategic location connected directly to the region’s busiest seaport and close to a major international airport, reducing time and cost in supply chains.
- Broad activity scope covering trading, industrial/manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and service activities under flexible licensing options.
- Scalable facilities from flexi-desk and offices to ready warehouses and land for build-to-suit plants, supporting startups through to large industrial players.
- One-stop platform for licensing, customs, and support services, with established ecosystems of logistics providers and multinational corporations.
JAFZA Freezone Business Setup: Entity Types and Licenses
- Common legal forms include Freezone establishment (single shareholder), Free Zone Company formation (multi-shareholder), and Branch of a foreign or UAE company, allowing flexible ownership structures.
- Typical professional license categories include Trading/Commercial, Industrial, Service, and e-commerce-related activities, with additional approvals for specialised sectors as needed.
JAFZA Company Setup: Step-by-Step Overview
- Choose activities and legal form, then match facility needs such as office, warehouse, or land.
- Prepare documents such as shareholder passports, application forms, and for branches, parent company documents like Certificate of Incorporation and Board Resolution.
- Submit the application, receive initial approval, execute lease agreements for the selected facility, and pay government fees.
- Obtain the trade license and establishment card, then proceed with visa quotas, entry permits, medicals, and Emirates ID for staff as required.
JAFZA Freezone Business Setup Cost: What Drives the Budget
- Total cost depends on license type, number of activities, chosen facility (desk, office, warehouse, land lease), and visa allocations, with warehouses and land plots forming the largest cost items for industrial setups.
- Additional line items include establishment card, immigration file setup, per-visa processing, medical, Emirates ID, and any third-party approvals for regulated activities.
- Ongoing annual costs include license renewal, facility lease renewal, and visa renewals, which should be forecasted alongside utility and operational expenses.
What is JAFZA Freezone License Validity?
Trade licenses are typically issued for 1 year and renewed annually, subject to valid leases, compliance with operational activities, and settlement of fees, maintaining continuity of operations in the free zone.
What Businesses fit best in JAFZA?
- Trading and distribution companies that need proximity to seaport and bonded facilities for fast import/export turnover benefit most from JAFZA’s location and customs efficiencies. In addition, industrial and manufacturing firms that require warehouses or land for production gain from multimodal connectivity and may require to be set up in JAFZA as well.
- By aligning activities, facilities, and logistics needs with JAFZA’s infrastructure, JAFZA Freezone business setup provides a powerful platform for regional growth and global trade access.