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Jebel Ali Free Zone

A guide to Jafza’s property and modification approvals, and how they relate to the separate engineering permits a project may need.

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A free zone built around trade

Jafza is part of DP World and supports businesses through land, warehouses, offices and other facilities near Jebel Ali Port.

  • Business and property services

    The free zone supports company and facility needs, including changes to leased premises.

  • Modification NOCs

    Jafza has an NOC service for changes or upgrades inside and outside a leased unit.

  • Technical approvals

    Its modification checklist refers to building or modification permits and, for plot facilities, Trakhees records. Establish the full approval route for the facility.

JAFZA’s developer approval and Trakhees’ technical permit are separate deliverables. Confirm both against the property and proposed works.

Read the official overview

Plan the developer and building approvals together

For a warehouse or industrial facility, establish the property route before committing to a submission sequence.

  • Is the site actually within JAFZA?

    A Jebel Ali address alone does not identify the authority: the area includes plots under DM, DDA and JAFZA. Check the lease or plot information and existing approvals.

    Use the proposed production or warehouse layout to describe the full work. This lets the project team identify the developer permission and the technical building application separately.

    View JAFZA’s property modification guidance

  • Which approval comes first?

    In Gravity’s JAFZA projects, JAFZA developer approval comes first, followed by the relevant Trakhees building or modification submission.

    A developer approval does not replace the technical permit. Put both deliverables in the programme and confirm the selected service’s current attachments before uploading.

    Compare the Trakhees services

  • Who coordinates the client-portal submission?

    In Gravity’s recent JAFZA projects, applications go through the client’s Dubai Trade portal. Coordinate with the client’s representative from the beginning.

    Agree who prepares the package, who submits it and who returns comments to the design team. Keep the application reference and latest submitted drawings together.

    Open Dubai Trade

Documents and preparation

These are starting records for the project team. Check the selected JAFZA service for its formal attachment list.

  • Lease and plot records

    Gather the lease or plot information and available property records. Confirm that the site is within JAFZA before selecting the service.

  • Existing and proposed layouts

    Bring together the approved plans and complete proposed facility layout. Identify the changes clearly so the developer and building-authority submissions describe the same work.

  • Client-portal coordination

    Identify the client’s representative for the Dubai Trade submission. Agree who handles uploads, requests for information and the approved documents.

Plan the time and budget

Processing time

Allow for the developer submission, any requests for information and the following technical-permit stages. A published service processing period is not the duration of the complete facility project.

Fees and other costs

Check the current charges for the selected JAFZA and Trakhees services. Keep developer and authority charges separate from design and contractor costs in the project quotation.

Check the official requirements

Application guidance reviewed 24 October 2026. Background information checked 17 October 2026. Confirm current requirements before applying.

Checks before submission

Resolve these points before submitting or arranging the start of works.

  • Avoid an address-only assumption

    Confirm the plot’s authority from its records. Do not use “Jebel Ali” as a substitute for the property’s actual jurisdiction.

  • Keep both approvals in the programme

    Allow for JAFZA developer approval and the following Trakhees submission. Do not treat either document as the other.

  • Check the exact service checklist

    Requirements differ by property and work type. Use the selected service’s current attachment list and retain the developer approval with the technical application.

Practical guides

Go further into the documents, decisions and approval steps that matter to your project.

Common questions

Does every warehouse in Jebel Ali follow JAFZA?

No. Jebel Ali includes areas under DM, DDA and JAFZA. Confirm the actual plot and property records first.

Which approval comes first for a JAFZA project?

In Gravity’s JAFZA projects, JAFZA developer approval comes first and the relevant Trakhees technical submission follows.

Does the consultant submit independently through a separate JAFZA account?

In Gravity’s recent projects, the application goes through the client’s Dubai Trade portal. Submission needs coordination with the client’s representative.

Does a JAFZA developer approval replace the building permit?

No. The developer and technical building approvals serve different purposes. Identify the required permit and completion steps with the project team.

Project support from Gravity

A brief history

  1. 1985

    The first companies

    Jafza’s official history records 19 companies at its start in 1985.

  2. 2007

    Integrated services

    The free zone’s timeline records the integration of government services within Jafza.

  3. 2008

    Jafza Views

    The opening of the Jafza Views towers expanded the free zone’s office facilities.

Read the official background

Official support and location

Jafza Head Office

Ground floor, Jafza Building 15, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai.
View official location & hours800 JAFZA (52392)

Jafza also directs customer-service visitors to Jafza 14. Confirm the appointment location and entry arrangements before travelling.

Official sources

Application guidance reviewed 24 October 2026. Background information checked 17 October 2026. Confirm current requirements before applying.

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