JAFZA vs SAIF Zone
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) (Dubai) or Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) (Sharjah)? 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 10)
- 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 SAIF Zone for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 3,090 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 7 vs 10 working days)
- Popular with traders using sharjah airport
- Popular with light manufacturing
SAIF Zone is the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, set up in 1995 right next to Sharjah's airport runway. It is best for importers, re-exporters, distributors and light manufacturers who need offices, warehouses or land with direct air-cargo access. Expect a starting package of roughly AED 10,800 to 13,000 before visas, and around AED 20,000 to 25,000 for a first year with one visa. Licences typically take one to two weeks once your documents are complete.
JAFZA vs SAIF Zone side by side
| JAFZA | SAIF Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Sharjah |
| Packages from | AED 16,480 | AED 13,390 |
| Renewal from | AED 15,450 | AED 12,360 |
| Visa quota | Up to 25 | Up to 10 |
| 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 | Trading, Logistics, Industrial, Consultancy |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 1985 | 1995 |
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
SAIF Zone in brief
Think of SAIF Zone as a working trade estate rather than a business-card free zone. It was created by an Amiri decree in May 1995 on land bordering Sharjah International Airport, and its whole design assumes that tenants move physical goods. Warehouses, pre-built factory units and open plots make up a large part of what it rents out.
Strengths
- Airside cargo access: goods can move between aircraft and warehouse inside a customs-controlled area.
- Real industrial stock: warehouses, factory units and land, not just desks.
- Mature authority with three decades of operation and a large trading community.
- Visa quotas grow with genuine floor space, which suits labour-heavy operations.
Watch out for
- Higher entry cost than desk-only zones in Sharjah or Ajman.
- Prices are not published in an up-to-date way, so you depend on quotes.
- Industrial setting with little appeal for consultants or creative firms.
JAFZA vs SAIF Zone: common questions
Which is cheaper, JAFZA or SAIF Zone?
On our current packages, SAIF Zone starts lower at around AED 13,390, against AED 16,480 for JAFZA. Compare renewal too: JAFZA renews from about AED 15,450 and SAIF Zone from about AED 12,360. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, JAFZA or SAIF Zone?
JAFZA allows up to 25 visas, depending on the office you lease. SAIF Zone allows up to 10.
Which is faster to set up, JAFZA or SAIF Zone?
SAIF Zone 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 Sharjah?
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 SAIF Zone 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 SAIF Zone? 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