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Opportunities in Dubai Airport Free Zone

Companies can take advantage of the vast business opportunities in the UAE by setting up operations in the Dubai Airport Free Zone, a seminar held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce on 10 November was told.

In the run up to the GCC-Europe Expo, Mr Ibrahim Ahli, Director of Marketing for Dubai Airport Free Zone, provided an outline of the facilities, incentives and advantages for companies operating from the free zone.
The seminar enabled A-BCC members to assess the business prospects and new investment opportunities that are available in the free zone.
On behalf of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, Director of Trade Services, opened the event and welcomed the Dubai officials to the Chamber. 
Mr Ahli began by explaining the current strength of the Dubai and wider UAE economy, which he stated has “performed admirably” over the past few years. 
“The UAE GDP in 2007 reached $198.665 billion with a growth of 7.4% from 2006,” he told the seminar, citing figures from the Minister of Economy H E Sultan Mansouri. The remarkable factor to note is that the growth is not solely based on oil, Ibrahim Ahli said.
“Indeed, while the rise in oil income has offered an opportunity for the UAE to create a balanced growth in almost all economic sectors, the increase of the non-oil sector has contributed significantly in that unprecedented growth.
“The non-oil sector,” he continued, “has been growing from 16% to the total GDP in 1990 to 61.1% of the total GDP in 2007, which is underpinned by the government’s wisdom in the implementation of a successful diversification policy.”
He pointed out that the UAE has been placed “28th in the world and the best country in the Arab world in promoting prosperity and general satisfaction with life in a global survey of 104 states,” according to a report by independent research, policy and advisory group, the Legatum Institute.
The report states that Dubai has securely moved past dependence on oil exports towards a more diversified economy based on attracting capital and talent.
These achievements, Mr Ahli, said are attracting increased foreign investment and creating vast business opportunities.
“Dubai has become a vital centre of trade” for all companies looking to operate in the Gulf region, he said. This is because it ensures safety, security, stability and offers transparency of laws and legislation.
“Those who choose to set up business in Dubai will find a hospitable and simple process, an active open economy and an opportunity to penetrate neighbouring markets.
“The free zones, where foreign companies are allowed 100% ownership, are key elements of the diversification, industrialisation and development strategy of Dubai,” the Dubai Airport Free Zone executive stated.
He told the A-BCC seminar that the airport free zone was “one of the world’s most modern and fastest growing free zones.”
There are over 140 British companies already operating within the zone, “which is the largest number within the whole Middle East and North African region at any airport free zone,” he said, citing this as proof that investment in Dubai is already attracting a great deal of interest among British companies.
Ibrahim Ahli assured his audience that, despite the current turmoil in global financial markets, “the fundamentals of the UAE’s economy are still resilient”. The economy and markets were doing well and there was huge demand in all sectors.
Continuing, Mr Ahli, briefly outlined the many incentives offered by the Airport Free Zone, which are summarised below:    
Tax Incentives
100% Corporate tax exemption
100% Import & Export Tax exemption
100% Personal Income Tax exemption
Investment Incentives
100% Foreign company ownership
100% Repatriation of capital and profits
Access to over 1.5 billion consumers with rapidly increasing demand
Abundant and inexpensive energy
Easy availability of inexpensive workforce
Competitive Advantages
 Located within the boundaries of Dubai International Airport
Fast & efficient Cargo Clearance Services (8-24 hours)
 International Freight Forwarders & Logistics companies at DAFZA
Online customer service (e-Services)
 Land with easy access to airport apron
'One-stop-shop' Administration services
On-site customer inspection
Companies at DAFZA can operate 24 hours a day
DAFZA Online Electronic Services:
This service was specially developed to cater the need of Dafza's customers for speeding up all types of services required by the customer which ranges from on-line proceeding of visa applications, residence, license, health, ID cards etc and also the renewal of these documents.
Also, investors around the world who are interested can apply on-line and also can have access to the website of any company at Dafza.
Excellent Cargo & Logistics Facilities
Located adjacent to Dubai International Airport, and therefore within easy access of DAFZA, the Dubai Cargo Village is a state-of-art complex with the capability of handing over 500,000 tonnes of freight annually, a figure which will be raised to over 1 million tones in the next few years.
Represented within are offices of Dubai Civil Aviation, Dnata, Customs, Airlines, Immigration and Chamber of Commerce.
 Dubai's national airfreight handling company is one of the fastest-growing companies in the region. Representing a large number of the world's leading airlines, Dnata's premises within DAFZA offer highly trained staff and dedicated equipment at its 9,000m2 Free Zone Logistics Centre.
A range of cost-effective packages have been attracting a number of budget airlines and key airfreight players as the facility can handle any type of freight.
In addition, DHL, Air Express, FedEx also offer their services within the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority.
For further information see www.dafza.ae