DP World’s flagship free zone proves the resilience of its integrated port+ free zone model, weathering four decades of global disruption and attracting billions in investment

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has marked its 40^th anniversary with record-breaking trade volumes of $190 billion over the last 12 months – a 15% year-on-year increase and its highest ever contribution to Dubai’s economy.

The milestone underscores the enduring strength of Jafza’s model – a purpose-built ecosystem integrating a major port, world-class logistics infrastructure and business-friendly policies. The free zone has helped Dubai navigate four decades of disruption — from regional conflicts and financial crises to pandemics and today’s global trade tensions.

Established in 1985 as the Middle East’s free zone with just 19 companies, Jafza now hosts more than 11,000 businesses. Its infrastructure connects businesses to over 3.5 billion consumers by sea, air and land.

In the past 20 years alone, Jafza has attracted more than $30 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) to Dubai and alongside Jebel Ali Port created over one million direct and indirect jobs.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, DP World, said: “It is fitting that Jafza has made its greatest ever contribution to trade in its 40^th year. Over the past four decades, it has proven to be an anchor of resilience and now serves as a blueprint for our approach to economic zone development. Whether replicating Jafza’s success or adapting it to local needs, we see every free zone as a platform for shared growth.”

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World GCC, added: “Dubai has undergone one of the most dramatic urban and trade transformations in modern history — from a modest desert town with basic infrastructure to a global metropolis that is considered one of the smartest and most future-ready cities in the world. Its population has grown from 500,000 to 3.6 million and its economy has diversified with less than 1% of its GDP coming from oil, which is now driven by tourism, real estate, trade, aviation, and finance. The Jebel Ali ecosystem has had a big role to play in that, with modern infrastructure and business-friendly policies that have created a multimodal trade platform connecting over 3.5 billion consumers.” 

A model for trade resilience

Jafza’s success has become a template for DP World’s global expansion. The concept is now in place across 11 economic zones in Europe, India, Africa and the Americas – with three more in development. These zones continue to drive investment, industrial growth and job creation, even amid geopolitical instability.

Today, Jafza attracts nearly 75% of Dubai’s FDI in manufacturing, trade and transport, as a hub for companies across sectors from electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, food, petrochemicals and advanced manufacturing.

As the foundation of DP World’s global strategy, Jafza remains a resilient and proven model for enabling trade in an increasingly fragmented world.