Jebel Ali Free Zone, shortly known as JAFZA, is one of the most important free zones in Dubai. Enabled in 1985, JAFZA has quickly become one of the most sought business destinations in Dubai because of the facilities it offers to foreign investors. In numbers, JAFZA looks like this:
- over 1,000 companies from 100 countries operate in Jebel Ali Free Zone at the moment;
- there are over 135,000 employees in JAFZA;
- Jebel Ali Free Zone attracts more than 20% of the UAE’s foreign direct investments year after year;
- JAFZA’s total trade was valued at 69 billion USD last year.
In 1996, JAFZA became the first ISO-certified free zone in Dubai. For more reasons why you should open a company in JAFZA, you can ask our company registration agents in Dubai.
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Types of companies and licenses in JAFZA
In order to open a company in JAFZA, one can select one of the following structures:
- a free zone company which requires at least 2 shareholders and a maximum number of 5;
- a free zone establishment that requires a single shareholder.
Foreign companies can set up branch offices in JAFZA.
Once the type of company is chosen, the next step is to decide the type of license one needs for the company in JFAZA. The business licenses available in Jebel Ali Free Zone are:
- the trading license issued for import/export activities;
- the service license issued for specific services provided in the free zone;
- industrial license issued for importing raw materials, manufacturing and export of finished products.
Our Dubai company formation representatives can help you apply for a business license in JAFZA.
Registering a company in JAFZA
The company registration procedure in JAFZA is quite simple, provided that the following documents are filed with the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority:
- a prescribed application form;
- copy of the shareholders’ and managers’ passports;
- a business plan;
- receipt of the paid application fee.
In the case of a foreign company opening a company in JAFZA, the Certificate of Registration and a resolution of the management board must be filed with the competent authority.
Considering the new rules of JAFZA’s business climate, investors from abroad can direct the attention to this flourishing free zone in Dubai. For the legal aspects involved, you can address your inquiries to our lawyers in Dubai. The same team of advisors can help entrepreneurs establish their business presence and the companies in any chosen free trade zone in Dubai.
What’s new in JAFZA’s business environment?
Foreign investors and their companies established in Jebel Ali Free Zone now have the possibility to transfer and continue the activities in Dubai without having to set up a new company from scratch or create a branch office. This will lead to smooth operations in this free zone and will allow business persons to think more about the future developments of the company in Dubai instead of worrying about other regulations or restrictions. Also, there has been introduced a new legal framework which involves the Public Listed Companies in Jebel Ali Free Zone. More information in this sense can be offered at any time by our Dubai attorneys.
Public Listed Companies in JAFZA
Jebel Ali Free Zone is recognized for the excellent business environment and complete transparency linked to the rules and regulations. These are only a few of the reasons why numerous investors from overseas prefer the ways of doing business in JAFZA. Moreover, companies established in this free trade zone can restructure their operations and transform into a Public Listed Company from a Free Zone Establishment. The same is available for business persons who want to rethink the business and convert the Public Listed Company (PLC) into a Free Zone Company in Jebel Ali. The new regulations in this sense offer transparency and less bureaucracy, in order for the entrepreneurs to perform the activities with no interruptions and in a fast manner. Also, stockholders can benefit from more flexibility linked to the shares in the company and the voting rights as the concept of classes of shares has been introduced in JAFZA.
For assistance in opening a company in JAFZA, do not hesitate to contact our company incorporation consultants in Dubai.