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The Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has achieved 2 per cent growth in the number of new businesses setting up in the first half of 2014 compared with the same period last year. Overall 363 additional companies have chosen the Free Zone as their regional base in the first six months of 2014, with more than 50 per cent of these coming from the Asia Pacific, led by India and China. The new companies included Jaguar and Land Rover, ACE, China National Petroleum Corporation, DOW, Novartis, Borosil, Majal, Imex Shipping, AAA Freight & Logistics, and TRI Star Transport, among others.
Ibrahim Mohammed Al Janahi, deputy chief executive officer of Jafza and chief commercial officer of Economic Zones World (EZW), said: “The large number of high profile multinationals that we have attracted in the first half reinforces Jafza’s invincible status as the gateway to the Middle East and a key driver to attracting foreign direct investment into Dubai and the country.” Jafza accounts for almost 40% of the foreign direct investment into the Emirate and 20% into the UAE. The Free Zone accounts for more than half of Dubai’s exports and a quarter of its total non-oil trade.
To support its ongoing growth Jafza continues to invest in upgrading existing infrastructure. Jafza has, in the first half of this year, completed its Gate 4 project expanding the former 5-lane road to 16-track, 8-lane entry and 8-lane exit. It has also established a light industrial facility and completed road development and access gate projects in Jafza South.
