Dubai: Jebel Ali Free Zone worked to create a healthcare hub in the pre-Covid years and continues to pay off.
Over the past four years, the free zone’s healthcare cluster has seen a seven-fold increase in export trade. In 2021, these companies accounted for nearly half of Dubai’s total pharmaceutical and healthcare trade. In the same year, AED3.8 billion worth of pharmaceutical products and medical devices were imported, an increase of 15% compared to 2020.
The top 10 import sources are France, Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, India, China and Japan. These countries accounted for 78% of JAFZA’s total imports.
At the height of the Covid phase, these infrastructures and networks delivered their value. As an example, in 2021, DP World partnered with UNICEF to use JAFZA facilities to accelerate the distribution of vaccines to “optimize critical supply channels for countries most stressed by the pandemic”.
As a one-stop destination for the healthcare industry, JAFZA hosts 412 healthcare and pharmaceutical companies from 60 countries. The free zone also offers facilities dedicated to biohazardous waste management.
“JAFZA also provides an ecosystem that facilitates easy business setup,” the statement added.
With the help of Imperial Logistics, a DP World company, operates a Medical Solutions Center in the Free Zone through which clients can distribute quality medical and pharmaceutical products to communities in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The four characteristics of JAFZA Healthcare and Medicine Center are:
- Companies producing vaccines, specialty and general medicines, medical and life science technologies, analytical equipment and instruments, consumables and accessories, pharmaceutical products, etc. can use ready-made facilities approved by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. The availability of logistics operators who provide cold chain services to regional markets and third-party logistics (3PL) companies is another benefit.
- There are more than 120 logistics and freight service providers in the healthcare sector in the free zone, which together transported 5,800 metric tons worth AED 272 million in 2021.
- Proximity to Jebel Ali Port, the largest port in the region, and Al Maktoum International Airport helps healthcare customers to have uninterrupted trade connections to all major destinations.
- UAE Advantage: Companies in JAFZA benefit from 100% business ownership, 0% corporate tax and access to competitive utilities and labor.
