Jebel Ali Free Zone
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Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza;
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: (جافزا) المنطقة الحرّة لجبل علي al-Munṭaqa al-Ḥurra le Jabal ʿAlī) is a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of
Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...
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United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...
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Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
. Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is the flagship free zone of DP World, and is an integral part of DP World UAE's integrated business hub. Created under a Ruler's Decree, Jafza commenced operations in 1985 with 19 companies offering standard size office units and warehouses to provide ready-built facilities to customers. In 1990 Jafza expanded its facilities to include light industrial units. As of 2023, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) hosts over 9,500 companies.


Overview

The Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is a free zone and a community. Businesses in industries such as logistics, electronics & electrical, automotive, food and agriculture, e-commerce, petrochemicals, and many more are based in Jafza. Its proximity to Jebel Ali Port, Al Maktoum International Airport, and the
Expo 2020 Expo 2020 () was a World Expo hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Ara ...
Dubai site has helped it carry out global trade. In 2023 ,1500 Indian companies have established their presence in JAFZA. The Bharat Mart development, is spread over 2.7 million square feet distribution hub, which is set to became the market reach for Indian products.


History

After the opening of the Jebel Ali Port in 1979, a free economic trade zone was set up by decree of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Jafza commenced operations in 1985 with 19 companies offering standard-sized office units and warehouses to provide ready-built facilities to customers. With the growing need for businesses to have office spaces in 1986, Jafza created its first set of office buildings in the free zone. In 1990, Jafza expanded its facilities to include light industrial units. In 1998, Jafza mid-rise office buildings were constructed. Today, the mid-rise buildings called Jafza 14, Jafza 15, Jafza 16 and Jafza 17 are the primary office buildings of the free zone. Jafza 17 serves as the headquarters for DP World. In 2007, Jafza integrated government services and enabled Jafza businesses and employees to access services from Dubai Government Departments within the free zone. In 2008, Jafza inaugurated Jafza Views 18 & 19, which are a 29-story high-rise buildings. In 2009, the Jafza Showrooms and retail spaces located on the opposite side of Gate 4 after Sheikh Zayed Road were created. Further expansion and the growth of the free zone prompted Jafza to create commercial property Jafza One in 2016, also housing the Jafza One Convention Centre. As of 2023 Jafza is a house to 9,500 companies including 100+ Fortune Global 500 companies.


Location

Jafza is spread over 57 square km in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai, on the Skeikh Zayed Road (E11). * Jafza is located at 24.984786°N, 55.0906813°E. * The closest gate to access Jafza is Gate 4 of Jebel Ali. * Jafza is located alongside the region's largest deep sea port in Jebel Ali, adjacent to the Dubai Expo 2020 site. * Jafza is located 40 km from Dubai International Airport and 24 km from Al Maktoum International Airport. JAFZA is situated very close to the 8th busiest cargo airport in the world, Dubai International Airport. Another Union Railway or Etihad Rail is designed to link the UAE to Oman in the East and Saudi Arabia in the West.


Economy

More than 10,500 global companies are based in Jafza. Jafza accounts for almost 32 per cent of total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) flow into the country. The free zone contributes 21 per cent of Dubai's GDP on a yearly basis, and sustains the employment of more than 144,000 people in the United Arab Emirates. In 2015, Jafza generated trade worth
US$ The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
169 billion.


References


External links


Satellite image of New West Camp Jebel Ali Free Zone.
{{authority control Free-trade zones of the United Arab Emirates Economy of Dubai Geography of Dubai Neighbourhoods in the United Arab Emirates DP World