Latest news with #DFZC
CairoScene
24-07-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Businesses Can Now Access All Dubai Free Zones With One Passport
A massive new driving centre is coming to Dubai with simulators, e-learning platforms, and smart testing yards, giving 500 trainees a day a faster, tech-forward path to their license. Jul 24, 2025 Dubai's newly launched 'One Freezone Passport' programme now allows businesses to operate across all of the emirate's free zones under a single licence. Introduced by the Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC), the initiative aims to simplify procedures and support expansion for companies operating within Dubai's network of more than 20 free zones. These zones span various sectors including trade, media, and education, and collectively contribute billions of dirhams to the UAE's non-oil foreign trade, which rose by 18.6% in the first quarter of the year to reach AED 835 billion. As the first corporate member in the programme, Louis Vuitton has maintained warehouse operations in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) while opening a new corporate office at One Za'abeel in the DWTC Free Zone. The expansion was completed within five days, cited as a demonstration of the speed and efficiency of Dubai's business licensing processes.
Gulf Today
23-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
New initiative to ease doing business in Dubai's free zone
The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC), today announced the successful implementation of the One Freezone Passport, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business across Dubai's free zones. The initiative provides businesses with seamless access to multiple free zones while maintaining a single licence. This milestone underscores Dubai's commitment to fostering an agile and investor-friendly business environment, aligning with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Building on this momentum, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), which operates Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone (DWTC Free Zone), has welcomed the global luxury brand Louis Vuitton as the first company to leverage this pioneering initiative. The global luxury leader will now maintain its warehouse operations in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) while establishing its corporate office at One Za'abeel, part of DWTC Free Zone. This development highlights the programme's effectiveness in streamlining business expansion across Dubai's economic zones. The streamlined free zone licence expansion process, completed in just five days, showcases Dubai's unparalleled efficiency in business setup and operational facilitation. This achievement aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33's objectives of establishing Dubai as a premier global destination for business setup and expansion. Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Assistant Secretary General at Dubai Free Zones Council, said, 'The One Freezone Passport is a transformative initiative that cements Dubai's position as a global economic powerhouse. By enabling businesses to expand seamlessly across our world-class free zones, we are reinforcing Dubai's reputation as a premier investment destination. The swift and successful onboarding of Louis Vuitton through this program exemplifies the efficiency and attractiveness of Dubai's regulatory framework for international businesses.' Abdalla Al Banna, Vice President of Free Zone Regulatory Operations at DWTC, said, 'The successful onboarding of Louis Vuitton, one of the world's most prestigious luxury brands, through the citywide One Freezone Passport initiative demonstrates both the calibre of businesses Dubai continues to attract and our commitment to fostering an efficient business environment. The company's decision to expand operations into DWTC Free Zone from JAFZA reinforces international confidence in Dubai's business ecosystem. This innovative programme from Dubai Free Zones Council enhances Dubai's attractiveness for global enterprises by enabling seamless operations across the city's free zones, actively contributing to Dubai's vision of becoming the world's leading destination for international investment and business setup.' Amna Al Ali. Vice President, Licensing and Registration at Jebel Ali Free Zones, reconfirmed that the One Freezone Passport initiative represents a transformative approach to free zones operations in Dubai. The programme enables companies licensed at a single free zone to benefit from facilities located in other free zones across the emirate without requiring additional licensing. This innovative framework supports Dubai's vision by allowing companies to expand their operational footprint through a streamlined and fast-paced process, enhancing the emirate's competitive advantage in the global business landscape. The successful implementation of Louis Vuitton's expansion reinforces DWTC Free Zone's position as a catalyst for business growth and innovation in Dubai. The initiative builds on Dubai's successful track record of implementing forward-thinking programmes that drive economic growth, strengthening the emirate's position as a global economic hub while enhancing operational efficiency for international businesses. Through these combined efforts, Dubai continues to attract and retain global business leaders across various sectors, reinforcing its status as a premier destination for international commerce. The DWTC Free Zone offers a competitive and robust ecosystem, set within a regulated environment. Home to global companies, SMEs innovators, and entrepreneurs across over 40 diverse sectors, the DWTCA Free Zone offers a dynamic and business-friendly environment in the heart of the city with a key focus on offering tailor-made services to meet wide-ranging tenant requirements. WAM
Hi Dubai
22-07-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Louis Vuitton Becomes First Corporate Member of Dubai's One Freezone Passport Initiative
The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) has successfully launched the One Freezone Passport initiative, a first-of-its-kind program allowing companies to operate across multiple Dubai free zones under a single business licence. This major development aims to simplify cross-zone expansion, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to position the emirate as a global business leader. In a significant milestone for the initiative, Louis Vuitton has become the first corporate member to benefit from this streamlined framework. The global luxury brand will retain its warehouse operations in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) while establishing a corporate office at One Za'abeel, within the Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone (DWTC Free Zone). The transition process was completed in just five days, showcasing Dubai's remarkable efficiency and ease of doing business. Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Assistant Secretary General at DFZC, said: 'The One Freezone Passport is a transformative initiative that cements Dubai's position as a global economic powerhouse... The onboarding of Louis Vuitton exemplifies the efficiency and attractiveness of Dubai's regulatory framework.' Abdalla Al Banna, Vice President of Free Zone Regulatory Operations at DWTC, highlighted the international trust in Dubai's economic model: 'The decision by Louis Vuitton to expand into DWTC Free Zone reinforces the city's global appeal. The programme enhances Dubai's competitiveness by allowing seamless operations across multiple zones.' Amna Al Ali, Vice President of Licensing and Registration at JAFZA, described the initiative as a 'transformative approach' that enables companies to access facilities in other free zones without requiring additional licences—a move that greatly improves operational agility. This development not only reinforces DWTC Free Zone's status as a hub for growth and innovation but also exemplifies Dubai's forward-thinking approach to business facilitation. The initiative is expected to attract further interest from international companies seeking a fast-tracked and flexible expansion strategy within a regulated and investor-friendly environment. The DWTC Free Zone currently supports over 40 business sectors, providing tailored services to global corporations, SMEs, and entrepreneurs alike, right in the heart of Dubai's commercial landscape. News Source: Dubai Media Office
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai Free Zones Council reviews initiatives to advance sustainable growth
The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC), chaired by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, held its 31st meeting to discuss strategic initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth and enhancing the global competitiveness of Dubai's free zones. The Council underlined the importance of fostering a flexible and integrated legislative environment to support business operations and boost investor confidence. The meeting began with a review of the progress made in implementing the guidelines of the UAE National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organisations Committee (NAMLCFTC) across Dubai's free zones. Discussions focused on alignment with the National Risk Assessment (NRA) outcomes, data integrity, operational challenges, and overall compliance readiness. Council members also reviewed the requirements issued by the National Committee, including targeted practices and the roadmap for the 2025–2027 assessment cycles. A set of recommendations was presented to improve compliance efficiency and support the UAE's preparedness for upcoming evaluations. A key focus of the meeting was the implementation of Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025, which regulates the operations of free zone entities in Dubai. The Resolution is a major milestone, allowing businesses to expand locally without the need to establish new legal entities. The Council reviewed the Resolution's implementation phases, dual licensing criteria, and integration with digital platforms, aligned with global competitiveness benchmarks and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which seeks to double the size of the emirate's economy over the next decade and position Dubai among the top three global cities. Discussions also covered efforts to streamline procedures and ensure a seamless experience in obtaining services and licences from local and federal entities, particularly for activities that require external approvals. The Council addressed challenges related to overlapping jurisdictions and procedural inconsistencies. Proposed solutions included full digital transformation, the adoption of unified standards, risk-based classification of activities, and the fast-tracking of strategic projects. The meeting also included updates on the development of special economic zones, a review of the Council's achievements, and a discussion of key strategic initiatives.
