JAFZA or Dubai mainland
Compare a Jebel Ali free-zone company beside the port with a Dubai mainland company licensed by DET. For goods businesses the questions are customs, warehousing and whether you sell into the local market.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, selling abroad or in free zones. 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 | Jebel Ali Free ZoneFree zone | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | Jebel Ali Free Zone 3–14 business days | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Jebel Ali Free Zone Trading, Industrial, Service, Logistics | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | Jebel Ali Free Zone Office, Warehouse, Plot, Onshore logistics facilities | Dubai Mainland Confirm the premises are suitable for the exact activity before signing a lease or paying for fit-out. Ejari registration alone does not establish activity approval. 2 moreShow less
|
| Visa options | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. |
| Remote paperwork | Jebel Ali Free Zone No | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | Jebel Ali Free Zone Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore Jebel Ali Free Zone | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Jebel Ali Free Zone guideDubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
Ask an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Which suits importing goods for the local market?
JAFZA suits re-export, warehousing and manufacturing beside the port. Selling directly into the UAE market generally involves a mainland licence or a local distributor. Confirm the customs treatment for your goods.
How are the prices compared?
The mainland column shows the official licence estimate, which excludes rent, visas and approvals, so it is never ranked against a free-zone package. Confirm the activity, premises and visa plan to get a like-for-like quote.
Which costs less on published figures, Jebel Ali Free Zone or Dubai Mainland?
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.