Jafza registers 8% growth in companies on annual basis

Commercial and administrative transactions

The number of commercial and administrative transactions increased by 5 per cent on annual basis between 2011 to 2015 to reach 938,000 transactions last year. Administrative transactions including General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, card services and medical services touched 871,000. Commercial services that ranged close to 67,000 transactions varied between licensing and leasing, registration and renewal of licenses and leases.

Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, said, “Jafza has been able to accomplish high figures of transactions due to our continued efforts on developing and modernising electronic and smart services thus reducing the transaction time considerably. Jafza has been working in line with HH Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to shift from e-governance to M-governance.”

He added, “Jafza also launched ‘Dalili: The customer services process guide’ for companies in Jafza that provides a detailed structure of processes for commercial and administrative services. We have also introduced the MSP, Multi Service Professional Programme, wherein all employees involved with administrative and commercial services are trained in all the sections related to customers; from back office to customer service including a thorough knowhow of the entire admin and commercial processes. Through this programme, our staff are ready to offer assistance to customers without any delay with complete knowledge of the process.”.

Employment within the Zone
The workforce in the Free Zone, both sponsored and non-sponsored was 144,000 at the end of 2015, an 8.5 per cent rise over the past five years.

The increased employment is attributed to the new companies established in Jafza in addition to other expansions and the new production lines undertaken by commercial, industrial and other companies to serve the fast-growing markets in the Middle East and Africa region.

Developments
In 2015, Jafza inaugurated the first phase of Jafza One wherein the first tower with an area of 43,000 square metres is available to customers. While over 70 companies have booked office space in the first tower, the occupancy rate is more than 40 per cent as some of the companies are undergoing fit out arrangements.

Jafza One, the unique commercial complex in new Dubai, is located at the heart of Jafza, the world’s leading Free Zone. Jafza’s flagship commercial property, it is a premium ‘one-stop-shop’ business facility. Designed to satisfy a comprehensive range of corporate requirements, the complex has been developed to maximise commercial growth and enable companies to operate and thrive in a hassle-free, seamless environment.

Jafza One is located in the heart of Jafza on the logistics corridor between Jebel Ali port, Al Maktoum International Airport and Sheikh Zayed road in close proximity to all of Dubai’s major business and residential districts, as well as the World Expo 2020 Dubai exhibition venue.

Jafza One comprises 24-storeyed twin towers offering commercial area of 100,000 square metres. Along with a 600-seat innovatively designed auditorium for public events, Jafza One also has a convention centre and exhibition hall with a total floor area of 1,500 sq.m. for supplementary exhibition areas. In addition, there are 22 conferences and meeting rooms and four floors of parking space with a capacity of 4,000 vehicles.

The second phase of Jafza One is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, making it one of the highlights in the free zone that will meet customer needs.

Jafza is currently also working to develop an array of expansion projects, including:
On-Site Residences for employees: With a capacity estimated at 582 rooms of varying sizes, including complex services and modern facilities, the complex will ensure comfort and luxury in a healthy and safe environment. The expected completion of this project in the second quarter of this year.

Warehouses and Light Industrial Units (LIUs): Over the past few years, Jafza has seen high occupancy rate for its warehouses and LIUs, reaching 100 per cent in some months. Due to this demand for space, Jafza is building a new complex for LIUs —110 units are divided into two types according to space; 51 unit with an area of 702 square metres, and 59 units of 349 square metres.
Dubai Logistics Corridor: Completion of the last phase of the corridor through the establishment of a bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Maktoum International Airport and Jafza to ease traffic on the bridge and facilitate transportation of goods to and from the free zone.