Jafza celebrates the Free Zone's robust growth

The annual event was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai World, HE Hisham Abdullah Al Shirawi, Chairman, Economic Zones World, HE Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World, Talal Al Hashemi, Chief Operating Officer and Ibrahim Mohamed Al Janahi, Chief Commercial Officer of EZW, a large number of key customers and top executives of DP World, Dubai Customs, Dubai Chamber, RTA, DCA, DWC, DNRD, Dubai Police, Dubai Trade and other strategic partners.

During her welcome address, HE Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb said: "It's you, our valued customers and strategic partners, who have been the driving force behind the remarkable recovery of Dubai and continued success and growth of Jafza in all these years.

"Jebel Ali Free Zone exists because of the great vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as a leading trade and business hub on the global stage. And through the on-going success and support of Jafza community we are achieving this.

"I firmly believe that working together to achieve a wider vision is the path to true success. Today's event is all about this shared vision of collective success."

The Gala Dinner provided an opportunity to Jafza team, Jafza's key customers and Jafza's strategic partners to interact with each other and strengthen communication and relationship. The event was fully in line with Jafza's integral plan to support its customers growing through affective networking.

The second part of the event was entertainment driven with a highly innovative live painting show, laser show and a music performance with intermittent fountain show happening every 30 minutes in the background. The event concluded with a raffle draw.

In 2012 Jafza has seen 26% growth in the number of new companies than in 2011. The growth is quite significant especially that most of the new companies are large multi-nationals and market leaders in their respective fields.

27% of the new companies are from Europe, 25% from the GCC, 21% from Asia Pacific, 9% from Americas and 18% from Africa and West Asia.

In 2012 the biggest number of investors came from the developed world. In terms of countries, 11% of the new companies are from the UK, 9% from India, 5% each from Germany, France and China.

The growth clearly indicates shift in the outlook of developed economies about the Middle East as a lucrative market apart from being one of the largest oil producing regions in the world.

Jafza is one of the key drivers of Dubai's economic growth and development. It accounts for more than 25% of Dubai's total trade and 50% of its total exports.

Jafza also accounts for over 21% of Dubai's GDP and approximately 40% of net foreign direct investment into the UAE on year-to-year basis.