DMCC or JAFZA
Compare an office-led trading and commodities free zone with Jebel Ali's port-adjacent logistics, manufacturing and heavy trading zone. The deciding question is whether your goods need a warehouse beside the port.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
No like-for-like starting price is published for Jebel Ali Free Zone, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | DMCCFree zone | Jebel Ali Free ZoneFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DMCC AED 43,780 12 months · published package | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Lowest package price | DMCC AED 35,484 12 months · published package | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Licence issued in | DMCC 2 weeks Company setup is described as usually taking about two weeks. | Jebel Ali Free Zone 3–14 business days |
| Residency visa in | DMCC 0–20 business days The employee visa guide allows up to 20 working days. | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | DMCC AED 20,265 Trading or service licence renewal for one year is AED 20,265. | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | DMCC Trading, Service, Industrial | Jebel Ali Free Zone Trading, Industrial, Service, Logistics |
| Facility options | DMCC Flexi desk, Office, Retail | Jebel Ali Free Zone Office, Warehouse, Plot, Onshore logistics facilities |
| Visa options | DMCC Not published: Not published | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | DMCC No | Jebel Ali Free Zone No |
| Activity guides catalogued | DMCC Not published: Not published | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore DMCC | Explore Jebel Ali Free Zone |
Check before choosing
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Jebel Ali Free Zone guideAsk an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Which suits physical goods and logistics?
JAFZA sits beside Jebel Ali port and is built for warehousing, manufacturing and heavy trading. DMCC suits trading houses run from offices, where goods do not pass through the zone's own facilities.
How are the prices compared?
Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side.
Which costs less on published figures, DMCC or Jebel Ali Free Zone?
No like-for-like starting price is published for Jebel Ali Free Zone, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.