Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is a flagship project of Economic world zones and it is the largest and fastest growing free zone in the world. It is situated in the Jebel Ali area of the far western part of Dubai. Jafza was established in 1985 under the Emiri decree by the government of Dubai. It sprawls over an area of 48sq.km hosting about 6400 companies, including 120 Fortune 500 companies. It boosts up the economy of UAE.
The Jebel Ali Free zone is a dream come true for global investors who have their markets in the Persian Gulf and South Asia. Through the free zone, foreign entrepreneurs can establish their manufacturing or distribution base at Dubai without paying taxes or entering into partnership with the local companies. Foreign companies in the Jebel Ali free zone is regarded as an offshore concern.
In the Jebel Ali free zone, industrialists are free to manufacture, trade and enter into joint ventures. It is very easy to register at this free zone. A two page questionnaire has to be filled and faxed to the Dubai authorities. Initial response from Dubai may take a week. It will be followed by a group of forms that are to be processed and notarized. It includes the articles of incorporation of the applicant. After all these procedures with minimum involvement from the bureaucracy, you can establish your company in the Jebel Ali free zone within two months.
The strategic location of this free zone is one of its advantages. It is situated 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai. It is constructed around the largest man made port of the world. The main function of companies set up here is to re-export goods through Dubai to other markets in the region, the largest being Iran and India.
Sony, Black & Decker, Daewoo, General Motors, Grundig, H.J. Heinz, Hyundai, IBM, McDermott, Mitsui, Samsung and York International are some of the world class companies who have their office in Jebel Ali free zone.
The major benefits of the Jebel Ali free zone are as follows:
Foreign ownership that is 100 percent
Complete recovery of capital and profits
There is no minimum limit for capital investment
]Total elimination of corporate taxes and personal income taxes
Factories and warehouses that are readymade
Infrastructure, support and communication services that are excellent
Easy approach to a consumer market of 1.4 billion
