IFZA vs JAFZA: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
IFZA (licences from about AED 12,900) and JAFZA (from about AED 15,000) are both UAE free zones — IFZA has the lower entry price. IFZA best suits: Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. 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.
IFZA 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 | IFZA | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,900 | AED 15,000 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis / Dubai Digital Park | Jebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport |
| Visas | IFZA uses a package-based visa quota. | JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. |
| Activities | IFZA offers more than 2,000 business activities across professional, commercial, consulting, trading, media, IT and general-trading categories. | JAFZA licences are grouped by activity. |
Lower entry price: IFZA.
Which one should you pick?
Choose IFZA if
Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. Ideal for solo founders and small teams who do not need a physical mainland storefront.
Think twice if
Businesses that must sell directly to the UAE mainland (retail shops, restaurants, clinics), need a large physical office or warehouse, or require a prestige financial-district address (DIFC/ADGM). Companies needing many visas may find dedicated-office requirements push costs above the headline figure.
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
IFZA
from AED 12,900
Trade licence (zero-visa, base package)
Two-year package including flexi-desk access (best value); one-visa packages from ~AED 15,000
AED 12,900 (from)
Establishment / immigration (e-channel) card
Required once you take any visa
AED 2,000 (approx)
Residence visa processing (per visa)
Inside-country processing; varies by visa type
AED 3,500–4,500
Flexi-desk / office
Flexi-desk access included; dedicated office AED 5,000–20,000+/yr
Included (base)
Company name reservation & initial approval
Typically bundled in the licence package
Included
Medical test + Emirates ID (per visa)
Medical ~AED 350–400, Emirates ID ~AED 370; health insurance extra (AED 600+)
AED 700–800
UAE corporate tax registration
Federal Tax Authority registration is free; 9% tax applies on profit above AED 375,000. Advisor/filing fees separate
Government fee: AED 0
Realistic first-year total (1 visa)
Approx — licence, card, one visa, medical, Emirates ID and insurance combined
AED 21,000–26,000
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
IFZA
- Among the lowest-cost Dubai free-zone licences, with a true zero-visa entry point.
- Very flexible — scale visas and activities up or down without changing free zone.
- Fast, paperwork-light setup with remote (no-visit) formation possible.
- 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital and profits.
- Wide activity list (2,000+) and up to 7 activities bundled on one licence.
- Multi-year licences reduce the effective annual cost.
- The headline AED 12,900 is licence-only; real first-year cost with one visa, cards, medical and insurance is typically AED 21,000–26,000.
- No direct mainland trade — selling to the UAE mainland needs a distributor, dual licence or extra approvals.
- Higher visa counts can trigger dedicated-office requirements that raise cost.
- Not a prestige financial-district address — DIFC/ADGM carry more weight for regulated finance.
- Some activities (e.g. regulated or specialised ones) need extra external approvals and fees.
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, IFZA or JAFZA?+
IFZA licences start from about AED 12,900 (from / approx — zero-visa, two-year package with flexi-desk access; government and visa fees added on top). 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). IFZA has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
Who is IFZA best for?+
Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. Ideal for solo founders and small teams who do not need a physical mainland storefront.
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 IFZA and JAFZA?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. IFZA: IFZA uses a package-based visa quota. 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 IFZA 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.