JAFZA Company Setup, Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai

Who JAFZA suits

Importers, exporters, distributors and logistics businesses that move physical goods at scale and benefit from being adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and close to Al Maktoum International Airport.

At a glance

Emirate	Dubai
Typical activities	Import/export, logistics, distribution, warehousing, industrial, large-scale trading
Foreign ownership	100%
Indicative entry cost	Higher than desk-based zones; driven by warehousing and facility requirements rather than the licence alone
Corporate Tax	0% on qualifying income if QFZP conditions are met, otherwise 9% above AED 375,000

On pricing: free-zone authorities revise packages regularly and quotes change with activity, visa count and facility type. Figures here are indicative 2026 market ranges to help you compare — we confirm the live quote with the authority before you commit, with government fees shown separately from our fee.

Strengths

Direct proximity to Jebel Ali Port — a real operational advantage for physical trade
Warehousing, logistics and industrial facilities at scale
Long-established zone with a mature regulatory and service ecosystem
JAFZA Offshore structures available for holding purposes

Trade-offs to weigh

Cost and complexity are aimed at substantial operations, not solo founders
Location is remote from central Dubai for office-based teams
Facility requirements make it unsuitable as a low-cost first licence

0% is conditional: a free-zone company pays 0% Corporate Tax only on qualifying income while it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions — adequate substance, qualifying activities, transfer-pricing compliance, and non-qualifying revenue within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million. Breaching them means 9% for that period plus disqualification for the following four tax periods. Read the conditions →

How we set it up

We check that JAFZA actually permits your activity and gives you the visa count you need, confirm the live package price with the authority, handle name reservation, application and licence issue, then move straight into establishment card, visas, corporate bank account preparation and Corporate Tax and VAT registration.

Not sure this is the right zone? We compare it against the alternatives on our free zone setup page — the cheapest licence is rarely the right one if it blocks your bank account or caps your visas.

Frequently asked questions

Usually not. JAFZA is built for physical trade and logistics at scale. A consultancy is generally better served by a desk-based Dubai zone such as IFZA or Meydan at a fraction of the cost.

A separate offshore regime under the same authority, used for holding structures rather than trading operations — including, in defined circumstances, holding Dubai property. See our offshore company formation page.

JAFZA’s advantage is Jebel Ali Port adjacency and scale. RAKEZ is typically cheaper for warehousing and light manufacturing. The right answer depends on where your goods physically move and how much port proximity is worth to you.

JAFZA Company Setup