Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), managed by DP World, has celebrated its 40th anniversary with significant achievements, reporting record-breaking trade volumes of $190 billion over the past year. This figure represents a 15 percent increase from the previous year and marks the highest contribution Jafza has made to Dubai’s economy, as announced by DP World on Tuesday.

Established in 1985, Jafza was the first free zone in the Middle East, starting with only 19 companies. Today, it boasts over 11 000 businesses, and its infrastructure connects these enterprises to more than 3.5 billion consumers through land, sea, and air transport.

Over the last 20 years, Jafza has attracted over $30 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) to Dubai. Together with Jebel Ali Port, it has generated more than one million direct and indirect jobs in the region, according to DP World. The success of Jafza has set a standard for DP World’s global expansion, with the model being replicated in 11 economic zones across Europe, India, Africa, and the Americas, with three additional zones currently under development.

Jafza serves as a major hub for Dubai, drawing nearly 75 percent of the emirate’s FDI in sectors such as manufacturing, trade, and transport. The free zone supports diverse industries, including electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, food, petrochemicals, and advanced manufacturing.

The Jafza model effectively integrates the Jebel Ali Port with world-class logistics infrastructure and business-friendly policies, creating a dedicated economic ecosystem. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, emphasized the resilience of Jafza, stating that it serves as a blueprint for economic zone development and growth.

According to DP World, the Jafza model has played a crucial role in helping Dubai navigate various global and regional challenges over the past four decades, including conflicts, financial crises, and pandemics. Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director of DP World GCC, noted that Dubai’s population has surged from 500,000 to 3.6 million, with the economy diversifying significantly, now relying less on oil and focusing on sectors like tourism, real estate, trade, aviation, and finance.

Damithan highlighted how the Jebel Ali ecosystem has been integral to this transformation, providing modern infrastructure and business-friendly policies that establish a multimodal trade platform connecting over 3.5 billion consumers.