Setup A Business in Jebel Ali Free Zone

Jebel Ali Free Zone - Your Pathway to Success in Dubai

The UAE government has established various free trade zones to motivate foreign entrepreneurs and investors to set up businesses in UAE. The main goal behind the establishment of FTZs was to boost the inflow of foreign direct investment in the UAE. A free zone provides various benefits to a foreign business owner or entrepreneur, like 100% ownership, full exemption on the payment of personal or corporate income taxes, 100% repatriation on profits, cutting-edge technology and world-class infrastructural facilities, including digital communication systems and flexible office solutions.

One such free zone is the Jebel Ali Free Zone, also known as the first free zone of Dubai. It was established in 1985 with only 19 businesses and has grown to 8700 businesses currently. We at Enterslice will help you set up a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone quickly at the lowest guaranteed price. You can connect with our experts to experience a hassle-free Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup.

Grow Your Business with Jebel Ali Free Zone Business Setup

If you are a foreign investor or an entrepreneur looking to setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone, then you have made the correct decision owing to the several benefits it has to offer including full ownership, no minimum share capital requirement, full exemption on personal or corporate income tax, 100% repatriation of profits etc. Below we have explained these benefits in detail for your better understanding.

100% ownership

If you setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone, then you can own 100% of your business in Dubai. It is the most appealing advantage of a Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup from the perspective of a foreign investor or entrepreneur. There is no requirement to hire a local sponsor who will own 51% of your business and you can enjoy full ownership of your Dubai business.

No Minimum Share Capital Required

One more benefit of a Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup is that there is no requirement to have a minimum share capital to start your business. It is very helpful for small and medium sized business owners who want to setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

No personal or Corporate Income Tax

If you setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone, then you will be rewarded beneficially as there is an exemption on the payment of personal or corporate income taxes.

Full Repatriation of Profits and Capital

Another important benefit of the Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup is that you are allowed 100% repatriation of profits and the capital invested in the business.

Strategic Location

JAFZA is centrally located and provides easy access to not only the Asian and African markets but also to the European markets. So, when you set up a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone, your reach is expanded to a potential consumer base of around 2 billion people.

No Currency Restrictions

There are no currency restrictions on the businesses that are set up in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

World-class Infrastructure

The Jebel Ali Free Zone has world class infrastructural facilities and cutting-edge technology including advanced office spaces, warehouses and digital communication systems. This advanced infrastructure and technology aids in the growth of your business in Dubai.

You can also enjoy the above-mentioned benefits of a Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup by connecting with our experts at Enterslice. Our team will assist you in hassle-free and seamless business setup at the lowest guaranteed prices.

Choosing the Right Business Entity in Jebel Ali Free Zone

There are five types of business entities you can establish in the Jebel Ali Free Zone as per your requirements. We at Enterslice will guide you in choosing an appropriate business structure based on your needs. Connect with us and we will handle the rest.

Free Zone Establishment

A single-shareholder company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone is known as a free zone establishment. There is a requirement to have at least one secretary and 2 directors for your free zone establishment in the JAFZA. A single person can hold the position of a secretary and a director jointly. Some of the documents required to set up a free zone establishment are a reference certificate from the bank, shareholder or owner's personal details, and specimen signature of the appointed manager, along with his or her letter of appointment.

Free Zone company

You can set up a free zone company in the Jebel Ali free zone with two or more shareholders. Similar to a free zone establishment, it also requires a minimum of 2 directors and 1 secretary. The position of a director and a secretary can be held jointly by a single individual in this form of company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. An FZC is a limited liability company set in the free zone, having its liability limited to the amount of capital invested in the company.

A FZC should have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 50 shareholders. Several documents are required to set up an FZC, including a registration or Incorporation certificate, a reference letter from the bank regarding the trustworthiness of the company, and a specimen signature of the appointed manager along with his or her letter of appointment.

Public Listed Company

A publicly listed company is a company that sells its shares to the public through an IPO. It is mandatory for a public limited company to list its shares on a stock exchange to allow people to subscribe to the shares of the company. Our experts at Enterslice can help you establish a public limited company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone at affordable prices.

Offshore company

This type of company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone requires 1 or more shareholders and there is no limit on the maximum number of shareholders. It is a type of LLP in the free zone with its liability restricted to the amount of paid-up capital. We at Enterslice can help you setup an offshore company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone hassle-free at the lowest guaranteed prices.

Branch Office

If you are of the opinion that you don't want to start a new legal entity but just expand your operations in Dubai, then opening a branch office is the best option for you. A branch office is nothing but an extension of a parent company and operates under the name of its parent company only. It performs similar functions as the parent company and provides you an opportunity to expand your business operations to one of the fastest-growing economies around the globe.

You can open a branch office of a local UAE company or a foreign company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, i.e., any company that has been set up outside this free zone can open a branch inside its territory. There might be an additional requirement for approval from the Ministry of Economy in a few cases. Several documents are required to open a branch office in JAFZA, including a copy of the parent company's documents, proof of residential address, passport copy, pre-approval application form, and details of the free zone's office address.

If you are confused about how to setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone and which form of business entity to choose, then you can connect with our experts at Enterslice to receive personalised assistance based on your business strategy and requirements.

Types of Business License in JAFZA

To set up a business in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, you should obtain a business license based on your selected business activity. Below, we have provided a brief explanation of the available licenses for your understanding:

Trading License

This business license is the most applied for by the business owners in Jebel Ali Free Zone. A trading license allows your business to engage in trading activities like buying and selling of products. We at Enterslice can help you obtain a trading license for your Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup at affordable prices. Connect with us for a seamless and hassle-free experience.

Industrial License

It is a type of business license required for businesses engaged in manufacturing and industrial activities like the production of goods, chemicals, appliances, equipment, etc. If you want to set up an industrial business, then you need to obtain an industrial license from the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority.

Service License

A service license allows your business to provide various services like consultancy, advertising, IT services, marketing, etc. If you are a business owner or an entrepreneur willing to set up a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone to provide these services, you can connect with our team at Enterslice to receive personalised assistance at affordable prices.

Logistics License

It is a different kind of business license that allows your business to offer various logistic services like distribution, storage, inventory management, transportation, order management etc. You can start a logistics business by obtaining a logistics license from the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. You can also setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone engaging in clearing and forwarding activities owing to its close proximity to Jebel Ali port. Connect with us at Enterslice to receive tailored solutions that meet your business requirements.

Our experts will help you apply for and obtain a suitable business license as per your selected business activity, adhering to the UAE laws and guidelines of the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. 

How Do You Setup a Business in Jebel Ali Free Zone?

To set up a business in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, you need to follow some mandatory steps like selecting a business activity, choosing a trade name, obtaining a business license and additional approvals from the government authorities, etc. We have explained all these steps below in detail for your reference.

Choose a Business Activity

The basic and initial step to set up a business in the Jebel Ali Free Zone is to choose a business activity. If you want to set up a business in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, you can choose from a wide range of activities, including retail, logistics, automotive, trading, oil and gas, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, IT, logistics and distribution, etc. It is an important step of the process as, based on your selected business activity, you will have to apply for a license with the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. You can connect with our experts for personalised assistance to set up a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Select a Trade Name

The next step is selecting a trade name for your business in the free zone. You should choose the name in compliance with the local laws and guidelines of the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. The name should not be registered by any existing business and should be unique. The selected trade name should not have any reference to Allah or Islam and should not offend public morality.

You are not allowed to use the name of a country or continent in your trade name. If you want to set up a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone in your own name, you can do that, but you are barred from using any abbreviations or initials for your name and should use your full name as the trade name for your business. Our expert team at Enterslice will guide you in selecting a suitable name for your business, adhering to the UAE laws and guidelines of the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority.

Choose the Business Structure

After you have chosen the business activity and name for your business, you can move ahead with the next step, i.e., selecting an appropriate business structure based on your business requirements. You can establish various forms of business in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, including a free zone company, a branch office, a free zone establishment, an offshore company and a publicly listed company. You can choose as per the requirements of your business. We at Enterslice will guide you in selecting the most appropriate structure for your business after analysing your business plan and strategy.

Apply for the Trade License

Following the selection of business activity and trade name for your business, you can apply for the business license with the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. You need to fill out the application form, submit the required documents and pay the specified amount of fees to obtain a trade license for your Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup. Our experts will guide you in collecting all the required documents and completing the trade license process hassle-free. 

Obtain Additional Approvals

Depending on your selected business activity to set up a Jebel Ali Free Zone, you might be required to approve additional approvals from the government authorities.

Corporate Bank Account Opening

When you setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone, you need to have a corporate bank account to make or receive your business payments. So, you need to find a suitable bank as per your business requirements and open a corporate bank account to conduct financial transactions of your business. We at Enterslice will help you locate a reputed local bank tailored to the needs of a free zone business and will assist you in the bank account opening process.

Acquire an Office Space

At last, you need to find an office space for your business from where you will be conducting your business operations. We can help you find an appropriate office space for your business as per your requirements and strategy at affordable prices.

Essential Documents to Setup a Business in Jebel Ali Free Zone

You need to submit several documents to setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone. We have listed the documents below for your reference.

• A detailed business plan
• Copy of the passports (Appointed manager and shareholders)
• Appointed manager's and shareholders' specimen signature
• Duly attested and notarised MOA and AOA
• A board resolution appointing the manager or director of the company
• A reference certificate from the bank
• Appointed manager’s RIC (registration identification code)
• The completed application form
• A letter of intent (it is a letter providing the investor’s plan and investment idea)

There might be some additional documents required based on your selected business activity such as additional approvals from the government authorities if your business activity is related to travel, tourism, health etc. Our expert team will help you in the collecting of all the mandatory documents and submitting them with the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority adhering to the local laws and guidelines.

Seamless Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup with Enterslice

We at Enterslice provide personalised assistance as per the requirements of your business. Our team of specialists will guide you on every step and help you setup a business in Jebel Ali Free Zone seamlessly without any hassle.

Compliant Trade Name Selection

Our expert team will guide you in selecting a unique trade name for your business, adhering to all the local laws and guidelines of the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. We understand the importance of selecting a suitable name for the business to build a brand in the future.

Tailored Business Structure Guidance

We at Enterslice recognize the significance of selecting the right business structure for your Jebel Ali Free Zone business setup and our experts will guide you in choosing the correct one based on your business requirements. Our experts will analyse the needs and strategy of your business and will then guide you in selecting the right business structure among the free zone establishment, free zone company and a branch office.

Efficient Business License Application Assistance

Our expert team will help you apply for a business license as per your selected business activity and in compliance with the UAE laws and guidelines of the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. We will also guide you in collecting and gathering all the required documents and filling out the application form to obtain the business license from the Jebel Ali Free Zone authority. If your business requires any additional approval from the government authorities, we will help you obtain it smoothly without any trouble.

Support for Banking and Office Space Acquisition

We understand the importance of finding a suitable bank to conduct your business's financial transactions. So, our experts will guide you in locating a local bank tailored to the needs of a free zone business and will assist you in the bank account opening process. Our team will also help you in finding an appropriate office space as per your business requirements at the lowest guaranteed prices.