“Warehouse in Jebel Ali” can mean two quite different things: a unit inside Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), next to the port, or a warehouse in the Jebel Ali Industrial Areas on the mainland. They have different licences, different landlords and different rules on who you can sell to. Here is how they compare.
JAFZA: the free zone next to the port
JAFZA sits beside Jebel Ali Port and is one of the region’s largest free zones. Its warehouses are leased by JAFZA itself, on a rental basis, to companies licensed in the zone. You cannot run a mainland company from a JAFZA unit.
According to JAFZA, its ready-built stock includes:
- Light industrial units of about 313-619 m² (roughly 3,400-6,700 sq ft) with 10-74 kW of power
- Industrial warehouses from about 543 m² (roughly 5,800 sq ft) and up
- Cold storage warehouses for food and pharmaceuticals
- Larger logistics parks. Jafza Gateway alone has 187 units of 325-2,475 m².
JAFZA quotes heights of 6-12 m, floor loads of 5 tonnes per m², loading docks and 24/7 CCTV. Rents are usually quoted per square metre. Divide by 10.764 to compare with per-sq-ft rents elsewhere.
The main draw is customs. Goods held in the free zone are duty-suspended, and re-exports outside the GCC stay duty-free. Our free zone vs mainland guide explains the trade-off.
The Jebel Ali Industrial Areas: the mainland side
Outside the free zone fence are the mainland Jebel Ali Industrial Areas. Officially these are Jebel Ali Industrial First (community 599), Second (518) and Third (516). Warehouses, factories and workshops here are mostly privately owned. You rent from a landlord, register the lease on Ejari, and operate on a mainland licence that lets you sell anywhere in the UAE.
You get Jebel Ali’s port and highway access without the free zone rules, and more room to negotiate on terms, sizes and fit-out.
Which one fits?
| You mainly… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Import, store and re-export outside the GCC | JAFZA |
| Need bonded storage next to the port | JAFZA |
| Sell and deliver to UAE customers | Jebel Ali Industrial, or nearby Dubai Investments Park |
| Want private-landlord flexibility | Jebel Ali Industrial / DIP |
| Need heavy power and large units at a lower rent | Also compare Dubai Industrial City |
What to check either way
- That your licence activity matches the unit and the zone
- Power in kW, clear height and the number of loading doors
- For JAFZA, the zone’s lease terms and any service charges; for the mainland, the maintenance split and Ejari
- Travel time for staff, and truck routes to your customers
Looking for a warehouse in Jebel Ali in Dubai? Most of our stock never reaches the website – it moves too fast. Tell us the size, power and area you need and we will send matching units with photos and specs, usually the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jebel Ali Industrial Area part of JAFZA?
No. JAFZA is a free zone next to Jebel Ali Port. The Jebel Ali Industrial Areas (First, Second and Third) are mainland communities with private landlords and mainland licensing.
Can any company rent a warehouse in JAFZA?
JAFZA leases its warehouses to companies licensed in JAFZA. A mainland company would normally need a JAFZA licence or entity to lease there.
What sizes are JAFZA warehouses?
JAFZA’s light industrial units are roughly 313-619 m² (about 3,400-6,700 sq ft); its industrial warehouses start from about 543 m², with larger logistics parks beyond that.
Is rent in JAFZA quoted per square metre?
Usually, yes. Divide a per-m² rent by 10.764 to compare it with per-sq-ft rents on the mainland.
Sources
- Jafza – Warehouses
- Jafza – official site
- Wikipedia – List of communities in Dubai (Jebel Ali Industrial numbers)
- Property Finder – Warehouses for rent in Jebel Ali Freezone
Header photo: Jebel Ali Port 2 Imresolt by Imre Solt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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