JAFZA Costs & Review 2026

JAFZA trading and service licenses start at AED 15,000/year. General trading licenses cost AED 20,000/year. Total Year 1 with flexi desk and 2 visas is approximately AED 40,000.

Yes. A minimum flexi desk is required. Options range from flexi desks at AED 15,000/year to private offices, warehouses, and land plots depending on business needs.

Visa quota depends on facility size. Flexi desks support 2-3 visas. Private offices support 5-10+. Warehouses and industrial plots can support up to 50+ visas based on square footage.

JAFZA is the top choice for trading and logistics. It is located next to Jebel Ali Port, the Middle East's largest container port, with on-site customs, bonded warehouses, and cold storage. It contributes nearly 24% of Dubai's total foreign trade.

Banking is straightforward. JAFZA's 40-year track record makes it well-recognized by all major UAE banks. Account opening typically takes 2-4 weeks with Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB, and FAB.

FZE is for single-shareholder companies. FZCO allows 2-50 shareholders. Both offer 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, and full profit repatriation.

Yes. JAFZA offers dual licensing via Dubai DED, allowing companies to operate both within the free zone and on the mainland. This is a key advantage over many other free zones.

License renewal costs AED 12,000-15,000/year depending on license type. Add office/facility rent, establishment card renewal (AED 1,910), insurance, and any visa renewals. Total annual renewal for a basic trading setup: approximately AED 33,000.

JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority) is the free zone located within the Jebel Ali area of Dubai, adjacent to Jebel Ali Port. 'Jebel Ali' refers to the broader district, while JAFZA is specifically the free zone authority that issues licenses and manages the business park. The port itself is operated by DP World, which is also JAFZA's parent company.

JAFZA does not publish a fixed minimum share capital for all entity types. For FZE (single shareholder) entities, the declared capital is typically AED 100,000-150,000 but does not need to be deposited. For FZCO (multi-shareholder), declared capital varies by activity. Contact JAFZA directly for your specific activity's capital requirement.

JAFZA employment visa processing costs approximately AED 3,500-5,000 per person including visa fee, medical examination, Emirates ID, and establishment card allocation. Dependent visas cost approximately AED 4,000-5,000 each. Visa quota depends on your facility size — flexi desks support 2-3 visas, private offices 5-10+, warehouses up to 50+.

Yes. JAFZA is a qualifying free zone under the UAE Corporate Tax Law. Companies that meet QFZP criteria pay 0% tax on qualifying income — revenue from international clients and transactions with other free zone entities. Non-qualifying mainland revenue is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000. All JAFZA companies must register for corporate tax and file annual returns.

Total JAFZA Year 1 setup cost ranges from AED 40,211 to AED 102,565 depending on the package. A trading or service license with flexi desk and 2 visas costs AED 40,211 (AED 15,000 license + AED 15,000 flexi desk + AED 1,975 establishment card + AED 3,518 x 2 visas + AED 600 x 2 insurance). A general trading license with flexi desk and 3 visas costs AED 49,329. With a private office and 5 visas, Year 1 reaches AED 102,565. Budget an additional AED 5,000-15,000 for mandatory annual audit fees.

JAFZA flexi desks (workstations) at Jafza One cost AED 15,000/year. This is the minimum facility requirement — there is no virtual office option. The flexi desk provides a business address, meeting room access, and supports 2-3 visa allocations. For a private office or showroom, costs start at approximately AED 60,000/year depending on size and location within the Jafza campus.

The JAFZA general trading license costs AED 20,000/year, compared to AED 15,000/year for a standard trading or service license. With a flexi desk and 3 visas, total Year 1 cost is AED 49,329 (AED 20,000 license + AED 15,000 flexi desk + AED 1,975 establishment card + AED 3,518 x 3 visas + AED 600 x 3 insurance). With a private office and 5 visas, Year 1 rises to AED 102,565. The general trading license lets you trade any permissible goods under a single license. Annual renewal is approximately AED 39,710 for the flexi desk tier.