The Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), already having drawn more than 2,600 companies to its free zone spread in Dubai, including over a hundred Fortune Global companies, is now making a mark as a provider of free zone management and consultancy expertise to foreign governments.

The recent merger of Dubai Ports Authority, Customs Department and Jafza to form the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) is aimed at promoting greater efficiency and growth for all business and administrative operations.

“By utilising our combined resources in the most economical way, it creates an ideal opportunity for the exchange of information and a greater chance to benefit from shared expertise in the areas of marketing, technology and management thereby creating even further value-added services for our customers,” a Jafza spokesman commented.

Dubai is the preferred regional headquarters for many multinational organisations and home to a thriving commercial community. “By building a stronger entity, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation also empowers us to face up to growing market demands, while enhancing Dubai’s business credibility at both regional and international levels,” the spokesman said.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, PCFC executive chairman, has described the Jebel Ali Free Zone as a best-practices model for free zone development and operations anywhere in the world.
Jafza is a dynamic, evolving force and among the new developments is Ducamz  (Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone), established with the objective of re-exporting cars to the Asian and African regions where demand exists and continues to grow.

Ducamz is situated within Dubai City and comprises one million square metres of bonded area. The location has easy access to all airports and seaports in the region and from here, the automobile is reloaded on to feeder vessels, or on to trucks which travel throughout the region on a modern network of highways, linking all the neighbouring countries in the Middle East and beyond.

Jafza manages Ducamz, providing quality services to its customers.  “Testimony to the success of Ducamz is the fact that 99 per cent of the 399 showrooms in the complex are occupied,” the spokesman said.
Jafza has impressed regional and international governments and authorities with its accomplishments.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone, established in 1985, now comprises 21 office buildings, 416 warehouse units, 176 factory units and land of various plot sizes starting from 2,500 sq m.

Most of the 2,600-plus companies from around the world are active in trading, but an increasing number of companies are using the free zone as their industrial base.
According to Jafza figures, 74 per cent of the companies are trading operations, 22 per cent engage in manufacturing and four per cent in servicing.

“While Jafza offers 100 per cent foreign ownership, tax exemptions, repatriation of profits, no recruitment problems and all the other standard free trade zone incentives, we feel that our distinctive competency lies in our infrastructure, reach and sense of community,” said the spokesman.

“The free zone offers world-class logistics and distribution capabilities unsurpassed anywhere in the Middle East. Jebel Ali port is the 13th largest in the world and the largest in the Middle East, and through the competitive pricing of over 125 shipping lines servicing Jebel Ali Port we can offer the most competitive freight charges available,” he said.

“In addition to being built around Jebel Ali Port, the proximity of the free zone to the Dubai International Airport, coupled with the region’s extensive highway network, provides unsurpassed logistics capabilities whether by sea, land or air.”

The Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) are inextricably linked. The free zone is built around DPA’s Jebel Ali terminal, enabling customers to take full advantage of the port’s ISO-certified container and general cargo operations. The Jebel Ali Port is capable of handling any class of ship, has 67 berths and more than 15km of quay.

Cool and cold stores, capable of storing frozen, semi-perishable and perishable commodities are located within the free zone and available for use by the free zone companies.  Vast open areas for the storage of dry bulk and general cargo are also available within the free zone.

An on-site Department of Customs means that all goods coming in and out of the free zone can be processed quickly and efficiently. DPA’s manifest and Documentation System (MDS) is used by shipping lines and agents to transmit cargo manifest details. The data is shared with the Customs Department for clearing bills of entry and has helped to greatly reduce waiting time. Nowadays no customer should need to spend more than 10 minutes at the documentation counters.

The strategic location of Dubai has made it one of the world’s trading and trans-shipment centres, an advantage that has been capitalised upon by Jafza. At the crossroads of East and West, Dubai is the acknowledged gateway to a market that covers the Middle East, CIS, Iran, the Indian Subcontinent and West and North Africa. No major port in the region is more than 48 hours’ sailing time. Europe is 14 days away, Japan 20 days and South East Asia nine days.

Dubai has become a focal point of Middle Eastern trade connecting the eastern and western hemispheres, allowing the easy movement of all kinds of cargo from all around the world.
This inevitably translates into market visibility. Having such a solid logistics base means that investors can reach the region’s two billion consumers easily and with regular frequency.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone puts investors on the doorstep of their market, while having the flexibility to react to market demands and changes. It thus helps investors gain competitive advantage.

Another aspect of the free zone is the thriving business community that has emerged. This facilitates the exchange of information and knowledge between companies and their suppliers, resulting in a very healthy and competitive environment that benefits not only the individual organisation but also the overall economy of the region.

Companies can select workers with a wide range of skills from an easily accessible central pool. In addition, companies are free to bring in their own employees to work in the free zone.
Abundant energy supplies, including industrial waste and water, make it extremely cost-effective to run almost any type of business from the free zone.

There are high quality pre-built facilities that can be modified to suit individual requirements. Plots are available for lease on which companies can construct their own facilities.
A company which has built its own facility in the free zone may mortgage its premises to any bank or financing company for any of its debts or obligations.

“Jafza’s world-class IT infrastructure, coupled with its renowned logistics and distribution capabilities means that the flow of goods and information is second to none,” says the spokesman.
“Whether you are a new or existing company, Jafza can help determine your operational needs and requirements, including planning, construction, environment, expansion, etc. Having obtained the licence and leased a pre-built facility or having constructed ones’ own facility, the client is now officially a free zone company,” Jafza tells potential tenants.

The Free Zone Administration Department provides free zone clients with ongoing services related to their companies’ operations including, but not limited to, the following: renewals of the lease, licence, entry permits, residence permits, etc; amendments to the business activity, manager/company name, place of registration, ownership and relocation; termination/cancellations of lease, licence, residence permits, etc; staff accommodation; insurance; attestation of documents; sponsor letters; sign boards; visit and transit visas; transfer within the free zone; driving licence and maintenance.

MyJafza offers user access from anywhere in the world and has been developed to create a package of fast, flexible and secure electronic services most looked for by customers. Not only is the portal very efficient in terms of access to information, it also triggers cost-savings for customers, representing an important objective in Jafza’s customer service strategy.

Considerate of the well being of free zone employees, Jafza has created “The Gardens,” a multinational community living area covering 220 hectares in the Jebel Ali Village. The development consists of 3,800 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and 208 hillside villas.

The complex is built on flat land and gentle slopes. Great importance is given to landscaping to create an open-air feel to the development. Amenities in The Gardens include a shopping centre, a supermarket, schools, banks/ATM machines, a recreation club, a community centre, health clinics, and a pharmacy and security.
Within the free zone is a food court that covers an area of 1,800 sq m and is home to 10 restaurants, coffee shops, and retail outlets offering cuisine from five continents. It is the ideal setting for a relaxing lunchtime meal. 
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry operates a branch within the free zone. The latest medical facilities and qualified staff are on-site to ensure the highest standards of health care, both government and private. Pharmacies are also available.

A 24-hour security and on-site fire department ensure that there is no safer place in the world to do business.
The success of the Jebel Ali Free Zone prompted the authorities to establish the Jebel Ali Free Zone International (Jafzi), Jafza’s consultancy and management division dedicated to transferring and extending the free zone’s experience to other nations.

The services that Jafzi provides cover a wide range of free zone requirements, including management and administrative services and marketing and sales in technical and operational fields. Jafzi can accept full management responsibility of a free zone or, alternatively, business partners are able to select any one or combination of the services that best fit their requirements.
Already Jafzi has won management contracts in Mauritius and Djibouti.