JAFZA vs Dubai South
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) (Dubai) or Dubai South Free Zone (Dubai)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose JAFZA for…
- Room for more visas (up to 25 vs 6)
- A smoother banking track record
- Popular with importers and exporters
- Popular with logistics companies
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) is Dubai's oldest and largest free zone, next to Jebel Ali Port and owned by DP World. It is built for importers, re-exporters, logistics companies and manufacturers that need offices, warehouses or land plots. A small flexi-desk company with one visa typically costs AED 40,000 to 55,000 in the first year, and incorporation usually takes one to three weeks after documents are complete.
Choose Dubai South for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 4,120 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 7 vs 10 working days)
- Popular with aviation and logistics companies
- Popular with traders near al maktoum airport
Dubai South Free Zone is the business area wrapped around Al Maktoum International Airport, regulated by Dubai Aviation City Corporation. Small founders now use its digital Dubai South Business Hub, which can issue a licence within a day for a complete file, while large logistics and aviation firms lease land and warehouses. Year-one budgets for one visa typically start near AED 18,000 to 25,000.
JAFZA vs Dubai South side by side
| JAFZA | Dubai South | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Packages from | AED 16,480 | AED 12,360 |
| Renewal from | AED 15,450 | AED 11,845 |
| Visa quota | Up to 25 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~10 working days | ~7 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse |
| Activity areas | Trading, Industrial, Logistics, Holding / SPV, Consultancy | Logistics, Trading, Consultancy, Industrial, E-commerce |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 1985 | 2006 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
JAFZA in brief
Jebel Ali Free Zone opened in 1985 with a handful of companies beside a new deep-water port. Forty years later it hosts more than 11,000 businesses, including regional distribution centres for many of the world's best-known manufacturers and retailers. In the first four months of 2026 alone, DP World reported over AED 850 million of new investment commitments in the zone.
Strengths
- Direct link to Jebel Ali Port and close to Al Maktoum Airport
- Warehouses, industrial units and land plots in one zone
- VAT Designated Zone for qualifying goods movements
- High visa capacity with larger facilities
Watch out for
- Expensive for service-only businesses
- Every company must lease a real facility; there is no virtual option for onshore companies
- Far from central Dubai and Dubai International Airport
Dubai South in brief
Think of Dubai South as two free zones sharing one name. On one side is a giant master plan of around 145 square kilometres built for cargo, aviation and freight forwarding next to Al Maktoum International Airport. On the other is a lean digital licensing platform that lets a solo founder set up a company from a phone without visiting a counter.
Strengths
- Fully digital DSBH licensing with same-day issue possible for simple applications.
- Next to Al Maktoum airport cargo and linked to Jebel Ali Port by a bonded corridor.
- Room to grow from a desk to warehouses and land within one zone.
- Competitive starter pricing compared with central Dubai free zones.
Watch out for
- Far from central Dubai, so client meetings mean long drives.
- The airport expansion is a long-term plan; most passenger flights still use DXB for now.
- Second-visa pricing in some packages can be higher than in rival zones.
JAFZA vs Dubai South: common questions
Which is cheaper, JAFZA or Dubai South?
On our current packages, Dubai South starts lower at around AED 12,360, against AED 16,480 for JAFZA. Compare renewal too: JAFZA renews from about AED 15,450 and Dubai South from about AED 11,845. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, JAFZA or Dubai South?
JAFZA allows up to 25 visas, depending on the office you lease. Dubai South allows up to 6.
Which is faster to set up, JAFZA or Dubai South?
Dubai South is typically quicker at around 7 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a JAFZA licence valid for business in the rest of the UAE?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from JAFZA to Dubai South later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
JAFZA or Dubai South? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place