JAFZA vs Dubai South: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
JAFZA (licences from about AED 15,000) and Dubai South (from about AED 12,500) are both UAE free zones — Dubai South has the lower entry price. 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. Dubai South best suits: Logistics, freight and e-commerce fulfilment operations, aviation and aerospace businesses, and traders who want airport-side operations in the corridor Dubai is building around Al Maktoum International. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
JAFZA and Dubai South side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | JAFZA | Dubai South |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 15,000 | AED 12,500 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Jebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport | Dubai World Central / Al Maktoum Airport |
| Visas | JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. | The Business Hub package is sold with the option to add visas, and the zone's own Free Zone Management issues visas and work permits on site. |
| Activities | JAFZA licences are grouped by activity. | Three registration routes: the Business Hub free-zone package, DWC LLC companies and branches, and freelancer professional permits. |
Lower entry price: Dubai South.
Which one should you pick?
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.
Choose Dubai South if
Logistics, freight and e-commerce fulfilment operations, aviation and aerospace businesses, and traders who want airport-side operations in the corridor Dubai is building around Al Maktoum International. Also a practical government-run package option (Business Hub) for SMEs and startups that want a published-price Dubai licence with same-day issuance.
Think twice if
Regulated financial-services firms (DIFC or ADGM fit better), businesses that need a prime central-Dubai address or walk-in mainland retail, and founders hunting the absolute cheapest paper licence — Shams and RAKEZ start lower. The district is still building out, so day-to-day city amenities are thinner than central Dubai.
Cost breakdowns
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+
Dubai South
from AED 12,500
Business Hub free-zone package
Same-day issuance, flexi-desk access, option to add visas; a promotional AED 11,375 was displayed at the time of checking (2026-08)
AED 12,500 (published)
DWC LLC company or branch
Registered through the Dubai South customer portal; fees confirmed per activity and facility
Quote-based
Freelancer professional licence
Individual professional permit within Dubai South
Quote-based
Office, warehouse or plot
Options across the Business Park and Logistics District; built-to-suit available
Quote-based
UAE corporate tax registration
Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is free of charge
Government fee: AED 0
Strengths and trade-offs
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.
Dubai South
- Published-price government package (AED 12,500) with same-day licence issuance — rare clarity among Dubai zones.
- The strategic bet: Dubai is building its future aviation capacity at Al Maktoum, and Dubai South is the city around it.
- Sea-air-rail logistics corridor: 30 km to Jebel Ali Port plus Etihad Rail — built for freight and fulfilment.
- On-site regulator (DACC Free Zone Management) for visas, permits and NOCs — no cross-town government runs.
- Dedicated aerospace cluster (MBR Aerospace Hub) and an employment dispute mediation service for licensees.
- DWC LLC, branch and freelancer fees are not published — those routes are quote-based through the portal.
- The district is still developing: fewer offices, restaurants and services on the ground than central Dubai today.
- Distance: roughly 45–60 minutes from Downtown and DIFC — a real commute if your clients sit in central Dubai.
- Like any free zone, direct mainland UAE retail requires additional licensing or arrangements.
- Cheapest-licence hunters can start lower at Shams (AED 5,750) or RAKEZ (AED 6,000).
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, JAFZA or Dubai South?+
JAFZA licences start 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). Dubai South starts from about AED 12,500 (from / published — Business Hub free-zone package (AED 12,500 list; a promotional AED 11,375 was displayed when checked, 2026-08) with flexi-desk access, same-day issuance and the option to add visas. DWC LLC / branch and freelancer routes are quoted via the Dubai South portal; visas and government fees are separate). Dubai South has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
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.
Who is Dubai South best for?+
Logistics, freight and e-commerce fulfilment operations, aviation and aerospace businesses, and traders who want airport-side operations in the corridor Dubai is building around Al Maktoum International. Also a practical government-run package option (Business Hub) for SMEs and startups that want a published-price Dubai licence with same-day issuance.
How do I decide between JAFZA and Dubai South?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. JAFZA: JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. Dubai South: The Business Hub package is sold with the option to add visas, and the zone's own Free Zone Management issues visas and work permits on site. 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 JAFZA and Dubai South?
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.