Yes. One of the biggest advantages of JAFZA is that foreign investors can own their company 100% without needing a local Emirati partner. This allows full control over business decisions, profit-sharing, and future expansion.

With a JAFZA license, your company can trade globally—importing, exporting, and re-exporting goods. For direct trading inside mainland UAE, you would need to work through a local distributor or obtain special approvals. Most companies use JAFZA as a regional hub, serving both the UAE and international markets.

The number of visas you can obtain depends on your license type and the size of your office or warehouse. For example, a small flexi-desk office may allow 2–3 visas, while larger warehouses or custom-built facilities can support dozens or even hundreds of visas for staff.

JAFZA provides flexible options: you can choose a Flexi-desk for a low-cost setup, rent a private office, lease a warehouse or industrial unit, or even develop on custom land plots. The type of facility required depends on your chosen business activity.

Like other UAE free zones, JAFZA companies must follow certain compliance rules:

• Annual license renewal
• Annual financial audit submission
• Visa renewals for employees and dependents
• Adherence to UAE regulations such as UBO reporting and anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines

The standard documents include:

• Passport copies of shareholders and managers
• Visa or entry stamp copies (if in the UAE)
• Shareholder details and KYC/UBO forms
• Memorandum & Articles of Association, Board Resolutions (for corporate shareholders)
• Lease agreement for office, warehouse, or land in JAFZA
• Business plan (for certain regulated industries)

On average, company formation takes 2–4 weeks once all documents are ready and approvals are in place. Service-based businesses may be faster, while industrial setups needing environmental or municipal approvals may take longer.

The costs vary depending on business activity and facilities chosen, but generally include:

• License fee (renewable annually)
• Registration fee for company formation
• Office or warehouse lease costs
• Visa fees (per visa)
• Security deposits or establishment card fees (if applicable)

JAFZA offers multiple legal structures, including:

• Free Zone Establishment (FZE) – single shareholder entity
• Free Zone Company (FZCO) – multiple shareholders
• Branch Office – extension of an existing company
• Public Listed Company (PLC) – for businesses planning to list shares
• Offshore / Holding Company – non-operational entities for asset protection or investment holding