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Abdel E.Founder of a web development agency · FranceMoving to Dubai was completely stress-free. The team handled everything from A to Z and was always available to answer my questions.
Set up your company in JAFZA in 2026
Jebel Ali Free Zone: a base for organising your trading, logistics or production activities in Dubai.
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Jebel Ali Free Zone← All jurisdictions
JAFZA: build your business around Jebel Ali.
JAFZA is the Jebel Ali Free Zone, a Dubai free zone integrated into the DP World ecosystem. Its proximity to the port of Jebel Ali makes it an option worth studying for businesses whose activity relies on the arrival, storage and re-export of goods.
The point is not only to hold an import-export licence. You must be able to organise the receipt of products, on-site operations and deliveries to your clients. A trading company may also need an office rather than its own warehouse: the choice depends on what it outsources to its providers.
To estimate the cost of a JAFZA company setup, separate the incorporation and licence fees from the expenses tied to your premises. A commercial office, a warehouse and an industrial unit do not involve the same investment. The number of activities and how your team is organised complete the costing.
Pricing and detailed fees
The JAFZA calculator distinguishes in particular the licence type, the activity groups and the company structure. Complement that estimate with the premises and the costs specific to your operations.
Swipe the table to see what is included →
| Item | Indicative price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Company formation | Depends on the structure | FZE, FZCO or branch: the setup must match the shareholders and the project. |
| Licence and activities | On quotation | Trading, services, logistics or industry; activity groups to be specified. |
| Office, warehouse or land | Depends on the space | Lease, service charges, deposits and fit-out to be isolated in the budget. |
| Team residency | Depends on needs | Quota to be confirmed; cost the immigration steps and each residency pathway separately. |
| Getting operational | Depends on the project | Equipment, utility connections, insurance, transport and formalities specific to the products. |
A JAFZA licence cost does not necessarily cover fitting out the premises, the visas or the logistics expenses. Your quote must set out the initial fees, the recurring fees and those owed to separate providers.
JAFZA cost calculator ↗Before you dive in.
Trading, logistics or industry: start from your real role
JAFZA distinguishes four main licence families: trading, services, industrial and logistics. Buying products to resell them is not the same activity as transporting a third party's goods or manufacturing a product. Write out the full journey of an order before choosing your licence.
An example: you buy car parts, have them stored, then ship them to distributors. Identify who owns the stock, who handles the goods and who completes the formalities. It is these responsibilities that let you verify the scope of the activities and contracts, far more than a general import-export label.
Should you lease your own warehouse in JAFZA?
JAFZA offers offices, coworking, warehouses and land. The right space depends on the work done on site. Start by comparing running a warehouse with using a provider that bills for storage and order preparation.
For dedicated premises, ask about loading conditions, available equipment, service charges and the works required. Add salaries, insurance and periods of low utilisation. For a business that is just starting, the cost per order is often more useful to compare than the rent per square metre alone.
Choosing the structure and preparing the file
JAFZA offers several forms of establishment, notably FZE, FZCO and branch. It also has a separate offshore pathway. Do not mix an operating company application with a wealth structure: the activities, documents and presence requirements are not the same.
Present the shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, the director and the origin of funds from the outset. If an existing company invests, prepare its organisation chart and legal documents. That way you anticipate document requests, instead of discovering mid-process that a signature or a documentary formality is missing.
Our method for comparing JAFZA with another zone
We recommend comparing a precise operational scenario. If your products arrive mainly by sea, study the organisation around Jebel Ali. If they arrive by air, also compare DAFZA and Dubai South according to the airport used. The choice should follow your flows, not just the name of the jurisdiction.
For a consulting business with no goods and no specialised premises, start instead with the office, proximity to clients and the recurring budget. Port infrastructure is not a decisive advantage if your business does not use it.
How to launch your setup in JAFZA
- 1
Map the activity
Describe the products, clients, destination countries and the tasks handled by your company or its providers.
- 2
Choose licence, structure and premises
We prepare the choices to be validated with JAFZA, then review the full budget and the terms of the spaces.
- 3
Submit the documents
The file is assembled according to the shareholders, signatories and activities. Requests for additional documents or approvals are handled before finalisation.
- 4
Prepare to go operational
After incorporation, organise the residency steps, the logistics contracts and the banking file. Operating approvals must be in place before the relevant activity starts.
Required documents
- ✓Identity documents for shareholders, directors and signatories; proof of residence as required for the file.
- ✓Share split, organisation chart and identification of the ultimate beneficial owners.
- ✓Presentation of the activity and, depending on the project, a business plan and technical requirements.
- ✓Constitutional documents and resolutions of the parent company if it is part of the structure.
- ✓Items relating to the premises, signing authority and the approvals requested by JAFZA.
Our verdict on JAFZA
JAFZA: strengths, limits and alternatives
We recommend assessing JAFZA from your flows and premises. Its value shows in how you organise trading, storage or production, not in the licence price alone.
JAFZA is worth a look if
- Your flows are organised around Jebel Ali
- You have a trading, logistics or manufacturing project
- You are comparing offices, warehouses or plots
Compare other options if
- You simply need a licence to invoice consulting work
- Your logistics depend mostly on air freight
- You have not yet costed the operation of your premises
Why choose Square Zone ?
One contact to coordinate the incorporation and everything that follows.
- /01
A clear plan, no surprises
A structure recommended for your activity and budget, with no hidden fees.
- /02
Execution from A to Z
Licence, visas, PRO services and renewals: we handle everything for you.
- /03
Compliance built in
We prepare the KYC file and define the accounting services you need with you.
- /04
Speed and dedicated follow-up
One dedicated contact to track your file and answer your questions.
- /05
Direct ties with local authorities
We coordinate the filing and any requests for additional documents.
What our clients say
Abdel E.Founder of a web development agency · France
Thomas V.Founder of a marketing agency · FranceI knew nothing about UAE procedures. Thanks to Square Zone my company was set up quickly and I felt supported at every step.
Fateh C.Founder of a concierge company · FranceVery professional and transparent support. They saved me precious time and spared me many mistakes in my move to Dubai.
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Ready to start your company in Dubai?
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions
about company formation in Dubai
Yes. JAFZA is the common name of the Jebel Ali Free Zone, in Dubai. Do not confuse the free zone, the port and a simple address in the Jebel Ali area.
The cost depends on the company form, the licence and the premises. Have a budget drawn up that adds residency fees and the costs of getting operational. The official calculator is a starting point, not a complete costing of your activity.
No. JAFZA also offers trading, services and logistics licences. The value of the location depends on your operations and your premises, not only on the sector named in your presentation.
Do not assume so. Have the precise activities, products, customs formalities and any approvals verified. Also allocate responsibilities clearly between your company, the carrier and the storage provider.
No. According to the Ministry of Finance, the 0% free zone regime is conditional and applies to qualifying income. The company's status and its operations must be reviewed; proximity to the port does not by itself determine the tax treatment.