DP World secured AED854 million in investment commitments for Jebel Ali Free Zone during the first four months of 2026, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a regional base for manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, food production and industrial trade.The commitments cover expansions and new facilities by Jafza-based tenants, with activity spread across steel, food products, furniture, third-party logistics, vehicle handling, heavy equipment trading and healthcare-linked operations. More than 43 per cent of the total investment value was signed during March and April, indicating that investor appetite strengthened as the year progressed despite uneven global trade conditions and continuing pressure on supply chains.
Jafza, operated as part of DP World’s wider Jebel Ali ecosystem, is now home to about 12,000 companies. Its proximity to Jebel Ali Port gives businesses direct access to sea, road and air connections, allowing firms to serve markets across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and beyond from a single Dubai base.
Abdulla Al Hashmi, Global Chief Operating Officer, Parks and Economic Zones at DP World, said the investment pattern showed that companies were placing greater emphasis on resilience as well as growth. He said commitments in essential sectors such as food and healthcare reflected a shift towards long-term anchoring of regional and global operations in Dubai.
The investment inflow comes as Dubai continues to position Jebel Ali as one of the main engines of its non-oil economy. Jafza marked four decades of operations last year with trade volumes of about $190 billion over 12 months, a 15 per cent annual increase. The zone has expanded from 19 companies at launch in 1985 into one of the region’s largest integrated industrial and logistics clusters.
DP World has also been strengthening infrastructure around Jebel Ali Port, including rail-linked logistics, automated storage systems and multimodal freight corridors. The port remains the Middle East’s largest container gateway and a critical node for cargo moving between Asia, Africa, Europe and the Gulf.
The new Jafza commitments fit into DP World’s broader push to move beyond port handling into end-to-end logistics, industrial zones, freight forwarding, warehousing, trade finance and supply chain services. The group reported record 2025 revenue of $24.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $6.4 billion, with total gross container throughput rising to 93.4 million TEU.
Jebel Ali’s role has become more significant as companies reassess supply chain risk after disruptions in the Red Sea, shifting freight costs and geopolitical uncertainty affecting key maritime routes. Dubai’s advantage lies in combining port capacity, customs infrastructure, free-zone regulation, warehousing and regional distribution networks in one location.
Manufacturers using Jafza are also benefiting from Dubai’s drive to expand industrial output and attract higher-value activity. The presence of food producers, healthcare firms and logistics operators points to demand from businesses seeking inventory buffers, faster regional delivery and proximity to consumer markets.
The automotive and heavy equipment segments are another important part of the investment picture. Finished vehicle logistics operators are investing in additional handling capacity, while heavy equipment traders are using Jafza to serve construction, infrastructure and industrial customers across the wider region.
Healthcare-linked investment has gained prominence as Dubai works to build stronger pharmaceutical, medical supply and healthcare distribution capabilities. Food-sector commitments also align with a wider regional focus on food security and dependable import channels.
Jafza’s investment performance is likely to support Dubai’s wider trade diversification strategy. The free zone has long been one of the largest contributors to foreign direct investment in manufacturing, trade and transport-related activity, and its model has been used by DP World as a template for economic zones in other markets.
The latest figures also underline Dubai’s continuing appeal for companies looking for a stable operating base amid fragmented trade flows. While competition among Gulf logistics hubs is intensifying, Jebel Ali retains an advantage from its established infrastructure, scale, shipping links and large tenant base.
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