WhatsApp quoteIf you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, JAFZA deserves a close look for its world's largest port-adjacent free zone and routine renewal process. Day to day, setting up a company in JAFZA gives you 100% ownership, a UAE trade licence and the option to sponsor residence visas for yourself and your family. GoldenKey has licensed import-export business businesses for customers in JAFZA and knows which sub-activities to list so you are not asked to amend the licence later. On the ground, germans are a well-organised business community with a German Emirati Joint Council and hundreds of Mittelstand subsidiaries, so the JAFZA authority, the banks and the immigration officers see German applications every day and process them without hesitation.
Why JAFZA
On the ground, dP World logistics ecosystem integration. JAFZA is located in Jebel Ali Port area, Dubai — adjacent to Jebel Ali Port (world's 9th busiest), and the authority's processing time for a standard file is around 10 working days.
How JAFZA works with GoldenKey
Step 1Consultation and activity selection
Day to day, we confirm that your activity is available in JAFZA, choose the licence type and agree the visa package and office option that match your plan. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder.
Step 2Name reservation and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved with the JAFZA authority and initial approval is obtained; this stage rarely takes more than two working days (Monday to Friday).
Step 3Document submission and payment
With the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested documents and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf. For opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.
Step 4Licence issued and next steps
JAFZA issues the licence, incorporation certificate and lease; from there we open the establishment card, process visas and arrange your bank introduction.
Documents required
Put simply, the document list for opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder is short, and most clients already have everything on it.
- A passport issued by Germany with at least six months' validity
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
- Your current residency visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
- Educational certificates attested by the Germany authorities and the UAE embassy, for professional activities
- Attested parent-company papers and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
Pricing
The figures below for opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the licensing authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Use the table below to compare packages for opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation.
Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.
Why the UAE
As a rule, banking, logistics, telecoms and digital government services in the UAE are among the most advanced in the region, which keeps the running costs of opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder predictable. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder a route to relocation as well as a business decision.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. Our quotations for opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything. GoldenKey builds its own CRM and client portal, so you can see the status of your JAFZA request, download your supporting documents and pay invoices from your phone.
Book a call with GoldenKey and we will confirm your eligibility, your costs and your next steps for opening an import-export business in the UAE as a German founder in a single conversation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the JAFZA licence take?
Put simply, once your documents are complete, the authority in most cases issues the licence within 10 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
How many visas can I get with a JAFZA licence?
As we tell every client, visa quota is tied to the package and office you choose. JAFZA packages typically start from a zero-visa option and scale to five or more visas with a physical office, and additional visas can be added later for the per-visa fee shown in our pricing.
Can a JAFZA company do business on the UAE mainland?
A JAFZA company can sell to mainland customers through a mainland distributor, invoice services to mainland clients nine times out of ten, and apply for a dual-licence arrangement where the emirate offers one. Direct retail or on-site contracting on the mainland needs a mainland licence.
Is import & export allowed in JAFZA?
Yes. Germans can own 100% of an import-export business in the UAE. {brand} recommends JAFZA for this activity and confirms any sector approvals before you commit.
Which licence type covers import & export?
Just as important, import & Export is classified as a commercial activity, and GoldenKey selects the exact activity code so your licence matches what you actually do.
