JAFZA vs KEZAD
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) (Dubai) or Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) (Abu Dhabi)? 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 20)
- Faster setup (around 10 vs 14 working days)
- A smoother banking track record
- A Dubai address on your licence
- 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 KEZAD for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 1,030 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Popular with manufacturers
- Popular with logistics near khalifa port
KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) is AD Ports Group's network of industrial, logistics and free trade zones, centred on Khalifa Port between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is built for manufacturers, importers, distributors and logistics firms that need warehouses, plots or port access, though small traders can start on a flexi desk. Licence-only setups start from roughly AED 9,000 to 18,000; facility-based projects cost far more. A desk company often takes two to four weeks, an industrial project longer.
JAFZA vs KEZAD side by side
| JAFZA | KEZAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
| Packages from | AED 16,480 | AED 15,450 |
| Renewal from | AED 15,450 | AED 14,420 |
| Visa quota | Up to 25 | Up to 20 |
| Typical setup | ~10 working days | ~14 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 | Industrial, Logistics, Trading |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 1985 | 2010 |
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
KEZAD in brief
Most free zones sell desks and licences. KEZAD sells land. It belongs to AD Ports Group, and its core asset is a land bank of about 550 square kilometres, which the group says represents more than half of the UAE's industrial area. Tenants lease plots for 25 to 50 years, build factories or take ready warehouses, and move goods through Khalifa Port next door.
Strengths
- Direct access to Khalifa Port and a very large industrial land bank for long-term growth
- Wide range of facilities, from flexi desks to ready warehouses, cold storage and multi-hectare plots
- Backed by AD Ports Group, which also runs ports, shipping and logistics services in the same chain
- Room for genuine manufacturing with utilities and heavy-industry neighbours already in place
Watch out for
- Remote from city-centre business districts, so client-facing service firms gain little
- Industrial approvals add time and cost compared with a desk-only free zone
- Package pricing is less transparent online than in consumer-focused free zones
JAFZA vs KEZAD: common questions
Which is cheaper, JAFZA or KEZAD?
On our current packages, KEZAD starts lower at around AED 15,450, against AED 16,480 for JAFZA. Compare renewal too: JAFZA renews from about AED 15,450 and KEZAD from about AED 14,420. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, JAFZA or KEZAD?
JAFZA allows up to 25 visas, depending on the office you lease. KEZAD allows up to 20.
Which is faster to set up, JAFZA or KEZAD?
JAFZA is typically quicker at around 10 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 Abu Dhabi?
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 KEZAD 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 KEZAD? 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