Jafza continues to fuel growth of India-UAE trade as second cepa anniversary nears

Jafza continues to fuel growth of India-UAE trade as second cepa anniversary nears

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is emerging as the powerhouse driving the unprecedented growth of India-UAE trade, with a 28% year-on-year surge in new Indian businesses setting up in the trade and logistics hub.

DP World's flagship economic zone has seen 190 new companies from India established in 2023, bringing the total number of Indian businesses in Jafza up by 15% year-on-year to over 1,500.

The surge in customers was announced following a series of Jafza trade events in Mumbai and Hyderabad that were held in coordination with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the UAE-India Business Council (UIBC).

Bharat Mart, whose foundation stone was laid in February 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the spotlight at the events.

Scheduled to open in 2026, Bharat Mart will allow Indian traders to reach local and international customers in the Middle East, Africa and Europe by providing comprehensive supply chain solutions that integrate retail, warehousing, and logistics services into one streamlined operation. The project has generated nearly 3,000 business leads in less than one month.

Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer, Parks &