DAFZA vs JAFZA: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
DAFZA (licences from about AED 15,020) and JAFZA (from about AED 15,000) are both UAE free zones — JAFZA has the lower entry price. DAFZA best suits: Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. JAFZA best suits: Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
DAFZA and JAFZA side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | DAFZA | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 15,020 | AED 15,000 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Dubai Airport Free Zone, next to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Deira | Jebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. | JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. |
| Activities | DAFZA licences cover Trading, Service, Industrial and General Trading categories, with roughly 15 broad industry groups (aviation, electronics, pharma, logistics, consulting, insurance, chemicals, auto parts and more). | JAFZA licences are grouped by activity. |
Lower entry price: JAFZA.
Which one should you pick?
Choose DAFZA if
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
Think twice if
Solo founders, freelancers and early-stage startups chasing the cheapest licence. DAFZA's mandatory office and higher fees make it poor value if you do not need airport proximity or the prestige - cheaper Dubai zones like IFZA or Meydan are better-fit there.
Choose JAFZA if
Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. Ideal for companies that physically move, store or process goods and want to sit on top of Jebel Ali Port with bonded warehousing and on-site customs.
Think twice if
Solo consultants, freelancers, online-only service firms and early-stage startups testing an idea — JAFZA's mandatory office/warehouse and higher fees make it overkill and expensive for them. Anyone wanting a true zero-visa, flexi-desk-only setup should look at a cheaper zone like IFZA. Businesses selling directly to the UAE mainland still face the usual free-zone restrictions.
Cost breakdowns
DAFZA
from AED 15,020
Trade / Service licence (annual)
From; Industrial / General Trading runs higher (approx AED 20,000+).
AED 15,020+
Registration / incorporation fee
One-time, approx.
AED 7,000
Establishment card
Annual; renewal slightly lower (approx AED 1,870).
AED 1,500 - 2,020
Immigration / e-channel registration
One-time, only if hiring / sponsoring visas, approx.
AED 1,000 - 2,000
Smart-desk / office (mandatory)
Annual; the smallest smart-desk (~6.65 sq.m) starts around AED 16,600 and is required to issue any licence. Larger offices / warehouses cost more.
AED 16,000 - 24,000+
Name reservation + initial approval
One-time, approx.
AED 1,000
Knowledge + postal / PO Box fee
Annual, included in most DAFZA packages, approx.
AED 1,010 - 1,125
Medical test + Emirates ID (per visa)
Per person; includes visa stamping, medical and Emirates ID, approx.
AED 1,200 - 3,500
Corporate tax registration (FTA)
Registration is free; 9% applies on taxable income above thresholds. Qualifying free-zone income may be 0%.
AED 0 (govt)
JAFZA
from AED 15,000
Logistics / general-trading licence
Per year. Standard trading/service licences are cheaper (~AED 5,000–5,500). Licence fee only — facility is separate and mandatory
AED 15,000 (from)
General trading licence
Per year; allows unlimited trading activities across groups
AED 20,000 (from)
Office / warehouse / plot (mandatory)
Flexi/smart desk from ~AED 15,000; private office ~AED 60,000+; warehouse from ~AED 48,000 (200–300 sqm); plots quoted per sq ft
AED 15,000–200,000+
Establishment / immigration card
Year 1; renewal around AED 1,910. Required to sponsor visas
AED 1,975 (approx)
Residence visa (per person)
All-in including medical and Emirates ID; health insurance from ~AED 600/person
AED 3,500–5,000
Name reservation & initial approval
Usually bundled into the registration and licence package
Included / nominal
UAE corporate tax registration
FTA registration is free; 9% applies on profit above AED 375,000. Qualifying free-zone income may be 0% if conditions are met
Government fee: AED 0
Realistic first-year total (trading + warehouse + ~3 visas)
Approx — licence, mandatory warehouse/office, cards, visas and insurance. Industrial/large-scale setups are quote-based and can run well above this
AED 90,000–150,000+
Strengths and trade-offs
DAFZA
- Unmatched airport proximity - ideal for time-sensitive cargo, perishables and pharma.
- Prestige address that signals scale and credibility to partners and banks.
- 100% ownership, profit repatriation and no personal income tax.
- Dual-licence route to also trade on the Dubai mainland.
- Premium on-site infrastructure: Grade-A offices, warehouses and logistics units.
- Higher cost than most Dubai free zones - you pay a premium for location and prestige.
- A smart-desk or office is mandatory; there is no true zero-rent licence here, and office rent alone starts around AED 16,600.
- Visa quota is fixed by office size, so scaling headcount can mean leasing more space.
- Overkill for solo founders and budget startups who do not need airport access.
JAFZA
- Unmatched logistics location — on top of Jebel Ali Port and next to Al Maktoum International Airport, with on-site customs clearance.
- Bonded warehousing and duty suspension on re-exports make it ideal for import-distribute-re-export models.
- Real estate at scale — warehouses, temperature-controlled units, and large industrial land plots you cannot get in a desk-only free zone.
- High visa capacity for large teams — warehouse and plot leases unlock 15–50+ visas.
- Globally recognised, established free zone — a credible address for trading houses and regional headquarters.
- 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation and FZE/FZCO flexibility.
- Expensive versus low-cost zones — a mandatory office/warehouse pushes realistic first-year cost to AED 90,000–150,000+, not the licence headline.
- No genuine flexi-desk-only path for operational companies — a physical facility is required, so it is overkill for solo or online businesses.
- Industrial, warehousing and plot pricing is quote-based and varies by size and location — harder to budget upfront than a fixed package.
- Visas are tied to leased space, so scaling headcount usually means leasing more area.
- Still a free zone for direct mainland sales — selling goods inside the UAE mainland needs a distributor, branch or dual licence.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, DAFZA or JAFZA?+
DAFZA licences start from about AED 15,020 (Licence fee only, approx. A mandatory smart-desk plus registration and establishment fees pushes a realistic complete setup (smallest package, 1 visa) to around AED 40,000.). JAFZA starts from about AED 15,000 (from / approx — this is the logistics / general-trading licence fee; a standard trading or service licence is cheaper (~AED 5,000–5,500). A physical office, warehouse or plot is mandatory and quote-based, so real first-year setups run far higher (AED 90,000–150,000+). Industrial and warehousing projects are priced on a bespoke quote). JAFZA has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
Who is DAFZA best for?+
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
Who is JAFZA best for?+
Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. Ideal for companies that physically move, store or process goods and want to sit on top of Jebel Ali Port with bonded warehousing and on-site customs.
How do I decide between DAFZA and JAFZA?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. DAFZA: Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. JAFZA: JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. If you are still unsure, our free zone selector or a free 30-minute PRO Health Check will confirm the better fit for your case.
Still torn between DAFZA and JAFZA?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need, and we'll confirm the better-fit zone and its real cost — in writing, line by line.