Jafza posts 40% H1 surge in new customers

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), which is home to over 8,700 multinational companies, on Wednesday announced a 40 per cent year-on-year surge in new customer numbers in the first half of 2021.

Jafza, a flagship company of DP World, recorded a significant rise in some of the industry segments, including the machinery and equipment, which witnessed an increase of 188 per cent, vehicle and transport seeing a 100 per cent surge and retail & general trading growing by 78 per cent.

The free zone said it generated trade worth $104.2 billion in 2020 that accounted for 32 per cent of the total trade value of Dubai as of 2020. As a major contributor to Dubai’s economy, Jafza is a leading source of FDI inflow into the emirate, accounting for 23.9 per cent of total foreign investment, it said in a statement.

Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO & managing director, DP World UAE & Jafza, said the free zone plays an integral role in leading Dubai’s trade sector as a regional and global business and logistics hub of choice. “We are proud of our achievements as they come at a time when the world economy is witnessing a slowdown. Most importantly, we owe our success, in part, to the proactive approach, innovative policies and stimulus packages by our wise leadership.”

Damithan said the free zone’s achievement proves its grit and determination, showcasing its commitment to being at the forefront of Dubai and the UAE’s success story. “The sustained growth of Jafza since its inception is an indication of its ability to leverage key market dynamics and create numerous opportunities for customers in the most challenging times.”

The free zone’s ideal location alongside the region’s largest deep-sea Jebel Ali Port, its multimodal connectivity and proximity to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the much-awaited Etihad Railway and key regional highways has proved to be a major attraction for companies, Jafza said.

Additionally, Jebel Ali Port and Jafza’s combined capabilities and their collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai have contributed to the surge in business. The Jebel Ali hub ensured all Expo-related cargo was brought into Dubai and handled safely and promptly.

“As a specialised industrial, trading and logistics zone, Jafza is recognised as a dynamic base for a smart business community. The free zone offers unprecedented opportunities and market access to over 3.5 billion people, across varied sectors in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.

— issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com