JAFZA Company Formation: Easy Setup Guide 🥇

Company Setup in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)

Jebel Ali Free Zone, known as JAFZA, supports trade and logistics at a global scale. The free zone sits beside Jebel Ali Port and near Al Maktoum International Airport. The location links sea, air, and road routes in one connected hub. Companies use this hub to store goods, assemble items, and deliver services. The authority offers clear rules and digital portals. The result gives founders a fast path from plan to launch.

This guide explains the setup process with simple steps. It shows legal structures, license options, facility choices, costs, and timelines. It also covers banking, visas, compliance, and long-term growth. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing helps investors at each stage. The team prepares files, aligns activities, opens bank accounts, and manages renewals.

Why JAFZA Works for International Growth

JAFZA connects your company with large markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The port handles containers, bulk cargo, and project loads. The airport handles express freight and charter operations. The highway network links warehouses to the GCC. This mix lowers transit time and lowers uncertainty for shipments.

Important advantages include:

• 100% ownership: Free zone companies can keep full foreign ownership.
• Integrated logistics: Port and airport sit within one logistics corridor.
• Modern utilities: Power, water, and fiber networks support heavy users.
• Customs efficiency: In-bond flows and re-exports move with clear rules.
• Scale options: Units, plots, and parks fit startups and large players.
• Digital services: Portals handle applications, amendments, and renewals.
• Tax framework: The UAE corporate tax applies; a free zone firm may get a 0% rate on qualifying income if it satisfies Qualifying Free Zone Person tests and other conditions. Non-qualifying income can be taxed at the standard rate.
• Capital mobility: Current policy allows free repatriation of capital and profits.

These factors help new ventures gain speed and help mature groups consolidate networks.

Understanding JAFZA’s Legal Forms

You pick a legal form that matches control, risk, and growth goals:

• Free Zone Establishment (FZE): A single shareholder owns the entity. Liability sits with the company.
• Free Zone Company (FZCo): Two to fifty shareholders own the entity. Liability remains limited.
• Public Listed Company (PLC): A company structured for public share listings under relevant market rules.
• Branch of a Company: A foreign or UAE parent opens a branch. The parent keeps liability and identity.
• Offshore Company (under JAFZA offshore rules): A non-resident entity with specific limits. It doesn’t trade in UAE mainland markets, and it follows offshore regulations.

Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing matches these options with your funding plan, visa targets, and banking profile.

Which JAFZA License Fits Your Activity

Activity drives the license. JAFZA groups activities into broad classes:

• Trading License: You import, export, and distribute the goods listed on the license.
• General Trading License: You handle a wider product range under one permit.
• Service License: You provide services like consulting, maintenance, testing, design, or IT.
• Industrial License: You import raw materials, manufacture, assemble, and export finished goods.
• Logistics License: You run storage, transport, forwarding, distribution, and clearing.
• National Industrial License: You operate as a GCC-majority industrial company under specific rules.
• E-Commerce License: You sell goods or services online within defined terms.

Selecting the exact activity codes is critical. A correct list avoids rework at renewal. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing maps your scope to JAFZA’s catalogue before you file.

Facilities You Can Choose Inside JAFZA

JAFZA offers flexible space models. Your operations decide the best fit.

• Co-working and small workstations: Ready desks for lean teams and new projects.
• Standard offices: Private rooms for admin, finance, and sales.
• Showrooms: Customer-facing units for display and retail within the zone.
• Warehouses: Pre-built units with docks, sprinklers, and high clear heights.
• Multi-tenant warehouse parks: Scalable ranges (e.g., ~325–2,475 sqm) for growth.
• Logistics parks: Units near key gates for faster truck turns.
• Land plots: Build-to-suit sites for custom plants, cold stores, or automation.
• Business park premises: Clustered offices for collaboration across sectors.
• On-site residence options: Housing for staff near work sites in defined areas.
• Customized development solutions: Bespoke builds for complex flows or heavy power.

A facility plan should include racking, MHE, fire systems, and IT networks. Plan truck aprons, staging areas, and safe walkways in the layout.

Step-by-Step: How to Register in JAFZA

A structured approach cuts errors and shortens time to license:

1. Confirm the activity list: You write activities in clear language.
2. Choose legal form: You select FZE, FZCo, PLC, branch, or offshore as needed.
3. Reserve a trade name: You propose a unique name that meets zone rules.
4. Prepare initial file: You compile passports, Emirates ID (if any), and a project summary.
5. Complete JAFZA forms: You fill the company application and the EHS application.
6. Gather board papers: You prepare the Board Resolution, MOA/AOA, and Power of Attorney.
7. Submit for initial approval: You pay initial fees and wait for clearance.
8. Lease a facility: You sign for a desk, office, warehouse, land, or showroom.
9. Pay license fees: You settle the license issuance invoice.
10. Receive the license: You obtain the trade license and company code.
11. Open the bank account: You present license, lease, and KYC pack to a UAE bank.
12. Apply for establishment card: You enable visa processing under your entity.
13. Process visas: You complete entry permits, medicals, biometrics, and Emirates IDs.
14. Start operations: You issue invoices, run inventory, and book shipments.

Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing manages a detailed checklist for each step. The team sequences bank KYC in parallel with licensing to save days.

Documents You Should Prepare Early

Good documents move fast in review and banking:

• Completed JAFZA application form.
• EHS application form to confirm health and safety compliance.
• Passport copies for the manager, directors, secretary, and shareholder(s).
• Emirates ID copies for UAE residents.
• Project summary that states activity, volumes, and clients.
• No Objection Certificate for UAE residents with local sponsors.
• Board Resolution approving formation or branch registration.
• MOA/AOA for new entities; parent documents for branches.
• Proof of address for shareholders (recent utility bill or bank statement).
• Passport photos on white background.
• Any attested documents required by the authority.

Foreign papers need notarization and UAE legalization. Start attestations early.

Banking and KYC for JAFZA Companies

Banks test real operations and management control. Prepare a concise KYC deck:

• Trade license, lease agreement, and establishment card.
• Shareholder structure and UBO chart.
• Business plan with routes, currencies, and top counterparties.
• Sample contracts, POs, or LOIs.
• Site photos and utility bills once active.
• Auditor engagement or bookkeeping letter.
• Expected volumes and average transaction sizes.

Some banks ask for minimum balances. Some ask for initial deposits. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing formats KYC packs to bank templates and meets trade desk standards.

Taxes, Customs, and Compliance Essentials

Corporate tax: UAE corporate tax applies. A JAFZA company may enjoy a 0% rate on qualifying income if it meets all Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) conditions, keeps substance inside the zone, and maintains separate accounts. Non-qualifying income can be taxed at the standard rate.

Customs and VAT: In-bond storage and re-exports can move under customs rules. Mainland clearance triggers duty and VAT where applicable. Use accurate HS codes and keep clean inventory ledgers. Reconcile gate passes with stock weekly.

Accounting and audit: Keep proper books. Track cost of goods, landed costs, and duty/VAT. Some license types and sizes require annual audits. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing sets your chart of accounts and implements monthly close routines.

Health, Safety, and Environment (EHS) Practices

Safe sites protect people and uptime:

• Perform risk assessments for lifting, MHE use, and hot-work.
• Install fire alarms, suppression, and clear exit routes.
• Keep spill kits and waste segregation points.
• Use permit-to-work for high-risk tasks.
• Run toolbox talks and record incidents.
• Train wardens and schedule evacuation drills.

Good EHS records support insurance terms and customer audits.

Typical Costs and Budget Drivers

Total setup cost depends on license, facility, and visa count. Key cost lines include:

• Registration and license fees.
• Lease rent for office, warehouse, land, or showroom.
• Establishment card and visa processing per person.
• Document attestation and translations.
• Insurance for property, cargo, and liability.
• Utilities, racking, forklifts, and IT infrastructure.
• Professional fees for incorporation, accounting, and audit.
• Certifications (ISO, TAPA, cold chain) where required.

Plan a three-month working capital buffer. Align rent dates with license renewals to avoid overlap.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Choosing the wrong activity code for your true scope.
• Skipping attestations for foreign papers.
• Leasing a facility that doesn’t match the license.
• Delaying bank KYC until after licensing.
• Weak stock controls and HS code mapping.
• Missing renewal windows for license or establishment card.

A one-page checklist catches most issues. Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing shares that list on day one and updates it at each milestone.

Timelines, Milestones, and Practical Tips

Most standard files progress in a short window if documents are complete. You keep momentum when you:

• Pre-clear the activity list with JAFZA.
• Reserve the trade name before you draft MOA/AOA.
• Choose the facility that meets minimums for your license.
• Prepare the bank KYC pack in parallel with licensing.
• Build a renewal calendar for license, lease, visas, and insurance.

This approach reduces idle time between approvals and go-live.

Expansion Paths After Your First Year

Growth can follow several tracks inside JAFZA:

• Add a General Trading License to widen product range.
• Lease a second warehouse in a logistics park for peak seasons.
• Add a Service License to support after-sales, testing, or repair.
• Upgrade to a larger plot for automation or cold chain capacity.
• Seek ISO and sector certifications to win larger tenders.
• Open regional sales offices while the JAFZA site handles supply.

Track weekly KPIs: orders fulfilled, truck turns, pick accuracy, damage rate, and days of inventory.

What Can Help — Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing

Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing guides your Company Formation in Jebel Ali Free Zone from planning to go-live. The team maps activity codes, drafts MOA/AOA, and completes EHS forms. The team coordinates attestations, leases, and license issuance. The team builds bank KYC packs, opens accounts, and sets books and tax calendars. With this support, you save time, avoid penalties, and grow with confidence—because a stitch in time saves nine.

For More Information

• Visit our office: Saraya Avenue Building – Office M-06, Block/A, Al Garhoud – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
• Contact / WhatsApp: +971 50 276 2132