HIGHLIGHTS
- Registered through a licensed agent — no own physical office; no UAE residence visas by default, except when the company owns UAE freehold property.
- Requires a director and a secretary — 2 officers minimum.
- Holds international assets, including shares in UAE and foreign companies, and can acquire Dubai property under the offshore structure.
- Permitted activities are limited to trading — service and consulting activities are not available.
- Accounting records must be kept for 10 years.
- The right choice only when a counterparty or structure specifically requires Jebel Ali — it costs more than other UAE offshore jurisdictions.
What Is a JAFZA Offshore Company?
A JAFZA offshore company is a UAE legal entity registered in the Jebel Ali Free Zone under the Jebel Ali Free Zone Offshore Companies Regulations through a licensed registered agent — direct registration is not available to founders. It requires a minimum of two officers (a director and a secretary) and no minimum paid-up capital. Registration can be completed remotely; a personal visit is required for opening a bank account. The structure suits international holding, asset consolidation and trading activity.
How Much Does a JAFZA Offshore Company Cost?
Two government fees: one for initial registration and one for annual renewal. These are the only fees set directly by JAFZA — the registered agent's service fee is charged separately and varies by provider.
| Fee type | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Government registration fee (one-time) | 10,000 |
| Annual renewal fee | 2,500 |
What Can a JAFZA Offshore Company Do?
It can hold assets, own shares in other companies, and conduct international and general trading outside the UAE. It cannot provide consultancy or professional services — JAFZA offshore is limited to trading and holding activity, unlike most other UAE offshore jurisdictions. It also cannot trade within the UAE domestic market, hire employees under UAE residence visas, lease a physical office, or provide banking, insurance or other regulated financial services. If you need a structure that allows residence visas, local trading or service activities, see our guide to UAE business setup options.
Trading only, two officers, higher fees. JAFZA offshore costs more than RAK ICC and Ajman, requires a director and a secretary, and restricts activities to trading — no service or consulting.
How Do You Set Up a JAFZA Offshore Company?
Incorporation runs only through a licensed registered agent — the agent handles all submissions and communication with the Authority. The process typically takes 4–8 weeks.
Choose a Registered Agent and Confirm Fit
Engage a JAFZA-approved registered agent. The agent confirms that an offshore structure fits your goals, intended activities and personal tax situation before proceeding — direct registration is not available to founders.
1-2 days
Provide KYC Documents
Submit the documents requested by the agent — typically passport copies of shareholders and directors, proof of address, and company-structure details.
2-5 days
Agent Prepares and Submits Incorporation Documents
The registered agent drafts the Memorandum and Articles of Association reflecting your shareholder, director and secretary structure, prepares the application for JAFZA, and arranges signing before the Registrar.
1-2 weeks
Receive Corporate Documents
Once the Registrar approves the application, JAFZA issues the certificate of incorporation along with supporting documents such as share certificates.
2-4 weeks
Open a Corporate Bank Account
With the certificate of incorporation, the agent assists with bank selection and account opening. This can take several weeks depending on the bank and client profile — a personal visit is required.
4-10 weeks
Can a JAFZA Offshore Company Own Dubai Property?
Yes — Dubai freehold property in approved developments, subject to Dubai Land Department and developer acceptance. The company requests a NOC to Own Property through the Dubai Trade Portal, a standard step handled by the registered agent. Only in this case may the company apply for a residence visa for its members, subject to eligibility requirements. This makes JAFZA a practical structure for foreign investors holding Dubai real estate under a corporate umbrella — though RAK ICC also allows property ownership, under different conditions.
Can a JAFZA Offshore Company Open a Bank Account?
Yes — the JAFZA Offshore Companies Regulations expressly permit an account at a UAE-licensed bank. Onboarding is the same compliance-driven process as any other UAE offshore structure: banks weigh source-of-funds documentation, business activity and UBO profile rather than the choice of free zone. The actual constraint is the banking call itself, where the compliance officer tests the entity's substance and the founder's source-of-funds story. See our guide to opening an offshore bank account in the UAE.
What Are the JAFZA Offshore Company Regulations?
Ongoing compliance obligations
- Corporate tax — taxed on worldwide income under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022: 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above. The 0% Qualifying Income rate does not apply (no UAE substance). Registration and an annual return are mandatory even at zero tax — see corporate tax registration.
- Beneficial owner disclosure — anyone holding 25%+ of shares or voting rights must be disclosed and records kept current, in line with UAE anti-money-laundering rules.
- Accounting records — kept for 10 years under Regulation 59 of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Offshore Companies Regulations 2023.
How Does JAFZA Offshore Compare to RAK ICC and Ajman?
The UAE has three offshore registries, each under a different framework — see the full comparison in UAE Offshore Company Formation. For most founders, RAK ICC is the default: lower setup and renewal costs, one director accepted, and no meaningful difference in banking access or Dubai property rights. Ajman is the budget option — lower fees, but a narrower use case and no Dubai property ownership. JAFZA makes sense only when a specific counterparty or transaction requires a Jebel Ali-based entity.
Bottom Line
JAFZA offshore is a legitimate holding structure with a long track record in Dubai. It costs more than RAK ICC at setup and renewal, requires two officers where RAK ICC accepts one, and offers no advantage in banking or Dubai property ownership. In our experience, most founders who come to us asking about JAFZA end up with RAK ICC — it does the same job more simply and at lower cost.
Reviewed by
Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
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Published July 6, 2026 · Updated July 6, 2026 · How this article was made →