Free Zones in the UAE 2018 2 Free Zones in the UAE Contents Preface .....................................................................................................................................................................................5 PKF in the UAE .........................................................................................................................................................................6 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................................9 Economy ................................................................................................................................................................................10 Free Zones in the UAE ...........................................................................................................................................................13 Free Zones in the UAE ...........................................................................................................................................................14 Free Zones in Dubai ...............................................................................................................................................................17 Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) ................................................................................................................................................18 Dubai Cars & Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ) ......................................................................................................................20 Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) ........................................................................................................................21 Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ) .......................................................................................................................................23 Dubai South ......................................................................................................................................................................25 Meydan Free Zone ............................................................................................................................................................28 Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) ................................................................................................................................................29 Dubai Creative Clusters Authority ....................................................................................................................................30 Dubai Internet City (DIC) ...................................................................................................................................................31 Dubai Outsource City (DOC) .............................................................................................................................................32 Dubai Media City (DMC) ...................................................................................................................................................33 Dubai Production City (DPC) ............................................................................................................................................34 Dubai Studio City (DSC) - TECOM ...................................................................................................................................36 Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) ...........................................................................................................................................38 Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) ........................................................................................................................39 Dubai Science Park (DSP) ................................................................................................................................................41 Dubai Design District (d3) .................................................................................................................................................43 Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) ......................................................................................................................45 International Humanitarian City (IHC) ...............................................................................................................................49 Dubai Health Care City (DHCC) ........................................................................................................................................50 Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)...................................................................................................................................51 Trakhees ...........................................................................................................................................................................53 Free Zones in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates .................................................................................................................55 Sharjah Airport International Free Zone ............................................................................................................................56 Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZ)................................................................................................................................................58 Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) ............................................................................................................................................59 Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) .....................................................................................................................................................60 Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) ...................................................................................................................................................62 Fujairah Media Zone (FM Zone) / Creative City ...............................................................................................................63 Free Zones in the UAE 3 Umm Al Quwain Free Zone...............................................................................................................................................65 Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) ........................................................................................................................66 Ras Al Khaimah Maritime City (RAKMC) ..........................................................................................................................68 Free Zones in Abu Dhabi ........................................................................................................................................................69 Abu Dhabi Airport Business City ......................................................................................................................................70 twofour 54 (2454) ..............................................................................................................................................................71 Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) .......................................................................................................................74 ZONESCORP ....................................................................................................................................................................76 Masdar City ......................................................................................................................................................................78 About PKF International .........................................................................................................................................................81 PKF International ....................................................................................................................................................................83 PKF UAE Publications ............................................................................................................................................................84 Annexure A .............................................................................................................................................................................85 Annexure B .............................................................................................................................................................................87 4 Free Zones in the UAE Preface Foreign Trade and investment are key lifelines for the economic development for any nation whether developing or developed. All those concerned with economic development are only too aware of increasing competition and the sophistication of those vying for the attention of international and domestic investors. These factors, in conjunction with the prevalent complexities of international tax and finance, have created a space for utilizing different tools to enhance economic development. Free zones have emerged over the last few decades as a planning tool to help boost economic development. They have their advantages and pitfalls. Although the general concept of a Free Trade Zone is uniform in nature, one encounters a number of different types of Free Trade Zones in different countries. They