PHOTO
Sultan bin Sulayem: Changes reflect needs of an ever evolving market
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a DP World Company, and the UAE’s flagship trade and logistics hub for the Middle East region and Africa, has issued a new set of guidelines for the Jebel Ali Free Zone Companies Implementing Regulations 2016 that enables foreign companies to transfer and continue operations in the free zone without the need to open a branch or establish a new company.
For the first time, Jafza has brought together all the legal entities such as the Free Zone Establishment (FZE), Free Zone Company (FZCO) and Branches under one regulation and has introduced a new legal definition such as Public Listed Companies (PLC). Companies can restructure and rearrange their operations by converting from an FZE or FZCO to a PLC and vice-versa, enabling continuity of businesses in the free zone. Foreign companies will also be able to transfer to the free zone keeping intact all their commitments so attracting international businesses to Jafza.
In another amendment, businesses can now be set-up with capital sufficient for the activities applied for in place of the existing regulation that mandates a minimum amount of capital. This leaves owners to decide the adequacy of their capital for their business. Meanwhile, the number of shareholders in a FZCO will now be set at a minimum of two and a maximum of 50.
The concept of different classes of shares provides flexibility to owners to offer different voting rights to shares. This could allow structures with management rights shares providing flexibility to owners for raising equity while retaining management rights over the company.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said: “The new regulations streamline all the mandatory legalities related to the registration, administration, legal benefits and obligations of organisations in the free zone. These changes reflect the needs of an ever evolving market in terms of providing facilities that are prompt, secure and form the best international practice.”
Under the new regulations, the current FZE and FZCO type of entities will let customers list their company on the stock exchange by establishing a new legal definition namely the Public Listed Company. This will allow PLCs incorporated in the free zone to access capital through capital markets. The relevant Markets Laws in the UAE apply to a PLC.
-Ends-
About Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza)
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is one of the world’s leading free trade zones. A DP World-owned company, the free zone was created in 1985 to promote trade and support container throughput at the Jebel Ali Port. Today it is one of the largest free zones globally and the region’s most efficient logistics hub. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between the world’s most productive container terminal, Jebel Ali Port, and Al Maktoum International Airport, Jafza provides the best in multi-modal connectivity.
Jafza accounts for almost 32% of total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) flow into the country. The free zone contributes 21% of Dubai’s GDP on a yearly basis and it sustains the employment of more than 144,000 people in the United Arab Emirates. In 2015, Jafza generated trade worth USD 87.6 billion.
As the leading business hub between Asia, Europe and Africa, the fastest growing producing and consumer markets globally, with over 30 years’ experience, Jafza focuses on long-term customer relationships. Jafza builds alliances with global investors by providing them with world-class infrastructure and support, plus quality-driven value-added services and incentives. Jafza enables its customers to access huge business opportunities in the region with ease and efficiency.
http://www.jafza.ae | Follow @jafzadubai on Twitter, @jafzadubai on Instagram
For further queries please contact Mr Bassam Rjoob (Corporate Editor) on +971-50-9915444.
© Press Release 2017
