Jafza, DIFC partner to create dual-zone framework for investors and businesses

Dubai: Two of Dubai’s biggest economic powerhouses — Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) — have signed an agreement to develop a framework enabling dual-zone operations for companies looking to expand across trade, industry, and finance in the emirate.

The new model will allow investors to operate seamlessly between Dubai’s industrial and logistics hub in Jafza and its financial and legal centre in DIFC, simplifying how global firms manage trade, manufacturing, financing, and corporate structuring under one jurisdictional umbrella.

Under the framework, businesses can use DIFC for setting up holding companies, family offices, or foundations to manage investments, governance, and succession planning. Meanwhile, Jafza offers access to manufacturing, storage, and distribution infrastructure, duty exemptions, and multimodal connectivity through Jebel Ali Port. Together, the zones give companies end-to-end support — from financing and capital structuring to production and logistics.

The initiative directly supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which targets doubling the size of Dubai’s economy and strengthening its position as a leading global hub for trade, finance, and innovation.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said the framework aligns with Dubai’s goal of linking finance and industry to drive growth.

“By joining forces with Jafza, we are enabling companies to anchor their strategic and financial functions in Dubai while integrating production, logistics, and distribution. This paves the way for innovation, expansion, and long-term growth across Dubai’s ecosystem,” he said.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said the collaboration represents a new stage in connecting trade and capital.

“A company can establish an entity in Jafza to handle production or regional distribution, while using a DIFC vehicle to manage financing or hold overseas assets, achieving greater cost efficiency and control,” he said.

As part of the agreement, Jafza and DIFC will jointly launch investor engagement initiatives — including roadshows, webinars, and case studies — to promote the dual-zone model and support businesses seeking to base both trade and finance operations in Dubai.

The partnership reflects Dubai’s ongoing push to create integrated economic ecosystems, giving global companies a single gateway for operations that combine capital management, industrial activity, and market access under one strategic platform.