Jafza registers 19% trade growth in 2021, overcoming global economic headwinds

DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) generated over Dh454.7 billion in trade in 2021, up 19 per cent year-on-year. The rise in trade compares to the Dh382.8 billion facilitated by Jafza in 2020. The growth in Jafza’s trade gains even greater significance considering it was achieved in a challenging year that saw ports worldwide deal with congestion due to lockdowns and other restrictions.

However, trade from Jafza continued to flow seamlessly due to its proximity to the region’s largest deep-sea port, Jebel Ali Port, and Al Maktoum International Airport, as well as its multimodal connectivity model.

Complementing this growth was an 18.6 per cent increase in the number of new companies registered in the free zone, bringing the total number to more than 9,000.

More than 25 per cent of the new companies registered in the free zone belonged to the retail and general trading segment, the highest representation in Jafza. This was followed by electronics and electrical with a nearly 10 per cent rise, and the vehicle and transport sector which had more than 9 per cent rise in numbers.

Several sectors in the free zone also recorded significant improvements in trade. The electrical and machinery sector topped, followed by construction materials, consumer electronics, and auto parts and spares.