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Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) | The influence of free zones on global investment patterns continues to grow. Traditionally offering businesses and manufacturers a designated area with tax exemptions and streamlined customs, they are now shaping where and how industries invest, supporting advanced manufacturing, innovation and resilient growth that increasingly extend beyond their borders. Their historic role in facilitating trade remains vital, but today’s investors are prioritising capability, speed to market and resilience.
This transformation is being driven by a set of global forces. Supply-chain realignment, accelerated by geopolitical shifts and technological change, is boosting demand for agile production hubs that can efficiently serve multiple regions. Meanwhile, competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) has evolved: host economies are now competing on industrial capability, digital readiness and sustainability rather than marginal tax advantages. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Global Trade update in July earlier in 2025, global trade in goods and services grew by about 1.5 per cent in Q1 2025, underlining the resilience of interconnected markets despite policy uncertainty.
Technology is also redefining what makes a location competitive. Automation, AI and robotics are changing production economics, while advanced connectivity and data infrastructure enable manufacturers to integrate design, production and logistics within a single ecosystem. Research also notes that the most connected economies are those that invest in digital infrastructure, diversified trade links and innovation-led growth.
That shift is evident in the way investors assess destinations for manufacturing and logistics. Beyond cost and tax incentives, they now look for seamless connectivity, sector-specific capabilities and clear, stable regulation. The most successful free zones have evolved into platforms for industrial and technological collaboration, enabling faster scale-up and deeper integration into global value chains.
A case in point: Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone
Since its inception in 1985, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has evolved from a regional trade facilitator into a global benchmark for integrated logistics and manufacturing. In 2024, it handled AED713bn in non-oil trade, 15 per cent higher year on year, and is home to nearly 12,000 companies from more than 150 countries. Its proximity to one of the world’s busiest ports, advanced infrastructure and efficient regulatory environment make it a model for how free zones can attract and retain high-value investment.
Jafza’s example highlights the way in which modern free zones can align infrastructure, regulation and innovation to drive growth. Around the world, well-designed economic zones are applying similar principles to encourage resilient industrial development, digital connectivity and job creation. From Africa to the Americas, free zones are evolving to match local strengths – whether in labour-driven manufacturing, commodity processing or regional logistics – reflecting how the model adapts to diverse economic contexts.
What will the next wave of FDI require?
The policy competition is shifting from incentives to capability. Jurisdictions seeking to capture high-value manufacturing should focus on technology-neutral regulation, efficient digital processes, strong infrastructure and skilled labour pipelines. When these elements converge, free zones can become engines of long-term value creation, driving employment, technology transfer and sustainable industrial growth.
The next era of industrial FDI is likely to favour jurisdictions that can combine trade-facing logistics with productive, high-value manufacturing capability. Free zones are well positioned to provide that combination quickly and at scale. For exporters and manufacturers seeking speed, resilience and lower operational friction, they offer a proven pathway to competitiveness. Jafza remains a powerful example of how that potential can be realised in practice without dominating the narrative, demonstrating the free-zone model’s continuing relevance in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Fonte: FDI Intelligence | Foto: Pixabay/Reprodução
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