Jafza: At the forefront of innovation

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation sheds light on Jafza's customer service and ease of doing business

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a DP World Company and the UAE's flagship trade and logistics hub has been a trendsetter in the region, in terms of creating and continually enhancing its technology-based infrastructure in order to serve customers better.
Jafza's efficient international trade supply chain, supported by its 24x7 administration platform allows multi-national companies in the free zone to reach their target markets with ease, ensuring maximum returns.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said, "Every aspect of Jafza's customer-centric approach focuses on the comfort and convenience of conducting business; be it infrastructure, products, services or administrative procedures. The Dubai Plan 2021 has laid down a roadmap for promoting the Emirate's position as the business hub of the region and Jafza is supporting this initiative through its state-of-the-art facilities. The free zone's one-stop-shop concept enables customers to conduct their business easily."
Jafza is one of the world's leading free trade zones. The free zone was created in 1985 to promote trade and support container throughput at the Jebel Ali Port. Today it has become one of the largest free zones globally and the region's ?most efficient logistics hub. Located in Dubai, between the world's most productive container terminal, Jebel Ali Port, and Al Maktoum International Airport, Jafza provides the best in multi-modal connectivity. 
Jafza accounts for almost 32 per cent of total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) flow into the country. The free zone contributes 21 per cent of Dubai's GDP on a yearly basis and it sustains the employment of more than 144,000 people in the United Arab Emirates. In 2015, Jafza generated trade worth $87.6 billion. 
As the leading business hub between Asia, Europe and Africa, the fastest growing producing and consumer markets globally, with over 30 years' experience, Jafza focuses on long-term customer relationships. Jafza builds alliances with global investors by providing them with world-class infrastructure and support, plus quality-driven value-added services and incentives. It enables its customers to access huge business opportunities in the region with ease and efficiency.
Spotlight on JafzaOne
JafzaOne is a premium one-stop-shop business facility located in the heart of the free zone, designed to satisfy a comprehensive range of corporate requirements including offices, a convention centre, an amphitheatre ?and a hotel. 
The first phase of the JafzaOne development, which covers an area of 45,000 square metres, currently has an occupancy rate of more than 40 per cent. The second phase, which will be close to 55,000 square metres, will be ready for occupancy in the first half of 2017. Offering all the elements of a successful business environment, JafzaOne is on its way to becoming the perfect location for businesses to showcase their success, as well as network and connect with more than 7,000 leading local and international companies.
Bin Sulayem said, "Over the past three decades, Jafza has followed the vision of the UAE's wise leadership to establish Dubai as the business hub of the region. At Jafza, we have developed a hassle-free, seamless business environment and a trade and logistics network that serves our customers 24x7. Every business has its unique set of requirements and JafzaOne has been designed with optimal flexibility for a successful and inspiring business environment for our customers."
JafzaOne provides a dynamic working environment with panoramic views of the free zone, as well as the Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport. 
Recently, Jafza also launched a state-of-the-art Business Centre at JafzaOne comprising 384 fully furnished offices of varied sizes along with technologically advanced services to suit business requirements. 
"Dubai provides the ideal environment for setting up small- and medium-sized businesses based on innovative ideas on shoestring budgets. Jafza's Business Centre offers office space to meet customer requirements, with the incentives, facilities and license privileges of a Free Zone entity helping them run their business from a prestigious business address at highly affordable rates," added Bin Sulayem.
The Centre, managed by Regus, a global flexible workspace provider, offers shared secretarial and office services such as reception and telephone assistance, plus five meeting rooms equipped with the latest audio and visual technologies.
Focus on facilities
Jafza also offers pre-built warehouse/office space to meet the needs of its customers for high quality storage and light industrial units (LIUs). The Free Zone has recently launched 110 light industrial units with units measuring 702 square metres. and 349 square metres.
Jafza also plans to construct a new complex comprising 455 thermally insulated LIU-cum-warehouses with the warehouse measuring 270 square metres and office space of approximately ?75 square metres. The units will cater to the integrated needs of the supply chain and logistics sector, enabling customers to distribute their goods to regional markets.
Jafza is also introducing a multi-storey warehouse facility as it tries to go vertical in order to meet the rising demand for its facilities. The project, over 207,000 square metres is located in Jafza South, making it strategically close to the Expo 2020 site. The warehouse includes four floors to be built in stages, with a total capacity of 500 units. The warehouse will range from 300-500 square metres, with average office space of 80 square metres.
Apart from business facilities, Jafza also offers more than 10,000 rooms for employees as part of its on-site accommodation facility. In light of the high occupancy rates and increasing demand, construction of a new 30-building complex is currently underway. Once completed, the project will house close to 30,000 employees, and include amenities such as restaurants, retail stores and recreational areas.
 

• Dubai