Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a subsidiary of DP World, revealed that it attracted 267 new companies from 48 countries during the first half of 2017, marking a growth of 6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Jafza has maintained its position as a preferred investment destination for large-scale industrial and commercial projects coming into the UAE, said a statement.

Jafza also leased more than 340,000-sq-m of space for facilities for a variety of sectors and industries during the period, it said.

Plots of land were most in demand with 318,000 sq m, with 11,500-sq-m of warehousing space, over 2,000-sq-m of office space and 3,700-sq-m in showrooms, it added.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Jafza’s performance in the first half of the year highlights its position as a major hub for trade and logistics in the region, and one of the engines of economic growth in Dubai and the UAE.”

“The new investment opportunities for businessmen and investors created have contributed significantly to the diversification of the economy and the growth of Jafza, helping us achieve the objectives of the national agenda,” he added.

Companies of Middle Eastern origin accounted for 59 per cent of the new companies that joined Jafza, followed by Asia-Pacific companies (20 per cent), European companies (13 per cent) and North America and African companies (4 per cent each), said a statement.

The integration of Jafza is a model DP World is implementing across its global network.

Jafza has a wide variety of sectors. Electronics companies account for (17 per cent) of new companies; followed by equipment and machinery businesses (14 per cent); food, agricultural products, vehicles and transport (12 per cent each); service companies (9 per cent),
general trading, steel and construction materials (8 per cent each), it stated. – TradeArabia News Service