My business is logistics and import/export — is JAFZA the right fit?

Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is considered one of the largest customs-bonded free zones in the Middle East, offering four main licence types: a trading licence (with sub-types depending on activity scope), a service licence for consulting and non-storage activities, an industrial licence for factories that need warehouses and production lines within the zone, and a logistics licence dedicated to storage, transport, distribution, and customs clearance activities. The zone hosts hundreds of companies across food and agriculture, petrochemicals, automotive, and manufacturing, and its direct link to Jebel Ali Port — one of the region's largest — gives it a clear edge for any large-scale import/export operation.

The setup path involves choosing the entity type (FZE or FZCO), selecting the activity from JAFZA's approved list, submitting documents and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance forms if the activity is industrial or logistics-based, and securing an active lease for the space or warehouse. Issuance typically takes anywhere from one to two weeks depending on how complex the activity is, and cost starts at a reasonable level but rises quickly with warehouse size and industrial space. RASEEKH helps logistics companies work out the full operating cost before committing to a large footprint in JAFZA.