Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), DP World’s flagship free zone in Dubai, is marking its 40th anniversary this year, celebrating a period of significant growth in its trade relations with China. Since 2020, trade between the UAE and China through Jafza has more than doubled in both volume and value, with the UAE serving as a crucial gateway for Chinese exports to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
A Growing Hub for Chinese Businesses
Jafza has cemented its position as a key hub for Chinese companies seeking to expand their global footprint. Currently, the free zone hosts over 450 Chinese companies, employing more than 1,500 people across diverse sectors such as automotive, retail, machinery, and equipment. This impressive roster includes 11 Fortune 500 companies, highlighting the deep commercial engagement between the two nations. Jafza has also become a pivotal node for trade within China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO, DP World, commented on this enduring partnership: “The UAE and China have both reaped the benefits of strong trade infrastructure and free zones in recent years. In today’s unpredictable global climate, free zones offer economic stability, business continuity, and efficient trade facilitation. At DP World, our model is built on collaboration with governments and industry, and that is exactly what we’ve achieved with our Chinese partners over the years. They’ve had a big role to play in our success over the last four decades and we look forward to strengthening this further.”
Bolstering Bilateral Trade and Global Connectivity
The year 2024 marked 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE. Today, the UAE stands as China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa, actively supporting the broader objectives of the BRI, which aims to enhance trade routes and economic cooperation across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Both countries have set an ambitious target to achieve $200 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
Jafza’s seamless integration with Jebel Ali Port, which provides 20 weekly services to 16 ports across China, forms a vital link in the growing automotive, spare parts, and aftermarket trade between the two countries. Leveraging Dubai’s status as the largest trade hub in the Middle East and China’s position as a leading automotive exporter, the Jafza ecosystem significantly supports the increasing Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) trade volume between the two regions. Last year, Jebel Ali Port handled over 960,000 vehicles, with China being the largest automotive trade partner.
Four Decades of Economic Impact
Established in 1985, Jafza has attracted over $30 billion in foreign investment over the past two decades, creating millions of direct and indirect jobs. The free zone has also recorded a 17% year-on-year growth in new business registrations, reinforcing its reputation as a premier destination for international manufacturers and exporters.
Today, Jafza supports nearly 11,000 companies from 157 countries and is integral to Dubai’s vision of becoming a global trade hub. Its successful model has been replicated by DP World across several strategic global locations, including Egypt, India, and Somaliland. In partnership with Jebel Ali Port, the Free Zone continues to serve as a multimodal logistics ecosystem connecting over 3.5 billion consumers worldwide.
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