FREE ZONE · DUBAI · UAE
Jebel Ali Free Zone (UAE): Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
- Activity combinations
- 256 41 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 10,000* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 5,171 – 10,000* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 10–14 days fastest → slowest filed
About Jafza
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) accounts for 256 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 41 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading with 36 packages, followed by Building Materials Trading (30 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 5,171*, the median combination runs from AED 10,000*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 10,000*. Filed setup timelines range from 10 to 14 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
Jafza is Jebel Ali Free Zone, established in 1985 around the region's largest seaport and part of the DP World network. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Jebel Ali Free Zone licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
Fit check
Who is Jafza best for?
- Importers, exporters and distributors whose business runs through the port - Jebel Ali seaport is next door.
- Industrial and machinery traders: the catalog's deepest cluster.
- General trading companies moving goods through the DP World network.
- Light manufacturing, assembly and warehousing operations.
- Regional distribution hubs serving GCC and wider MENA markets.
Verdict
Pros & cons
Pros
- Direct integration with the port of Jebel Ali, the largest in the region, and the wider DP World logistics network.
- One of the widest catalogs: 256 combinations across 41 clusters, skewed to trading and industrial scopes.
- A long-established zone (since 1985) with mature infrastructure and a well-oiled customs environment.
- Compact filing timelines: 10 to 14 days in the snapshot.
Cons
- Jebel Ali sits far from central Dubai, so client-facing services gain little from the address.
- The zone's logic is built around goods flows - media, consulting and creative businesses fit TECOM clusters better.
- The environment is industrial and logistics-oriented rather than prestige.
- For service-only companies the port advantage goes unused - a central Dubai zone is usually simpler.
Activities
Top activity clusters at Jafza
| Activity cluster | Packages at Jafza | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading | 36 | from AED 10,000* |
| Building Materials Trading | 30 | from AED 10,000* |
| General Trading | 22 | from AED 10,000* |
| Auto Parts & Accessories Trading | 22 | from AED 10,000* |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles Trading | 20 | from AED 10,000* |
| Furniture & Home Goods Trading | 18 | from AED 10,000* |
| Events & Entertainment | 10 | from AED 10,000* |
| Media Production & Broadcasting | 8 | from AED 10,000* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at Jafza
- Establishment card
- 255 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 10,000*
- Corporate bank account
- 255 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 10,000*
- Investor visa
- 256 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 5,171*
- Head office address
- Jafza Building 15, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai
The typical Jafza sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Dubai jurisdictions.
FAQ
Jafza: questions
How much does a Jafza license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 256 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 5,171*. The median package runs from AED 10,000* and the range stretches to AED 10,000*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at Jafza take?
Filed packages at Jafza complete in 10 to 14 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a Jafza license cover?
The catalog maps 256 Jafza combinations onto 41 activity clusters. The strongest are Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading; Building Materials Trading; General Trading. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is Jafza located and who is it for?
Jebel Ali Free Zone is based in Dubai — Jebel Ali Free Zone, established in 1985 around the region's largest seaport and part of the DP World network. As a free zone jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Where is Jafza located?
The authority is headquartered at Jafza Building 15, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai. License applications are submitted to this authority — online or at its customer service desk, depending on the license type.
Which authority issues licenses in Jafza?
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Dubai emirate) is the issuing authority. Its September 2026 catalog tracks 256 activity combinations, with entry packages from AED 5,171*.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in Jafza?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.