Free Zone Designation

The designation of a new free zone requires the recommendation of the Free Zones Company and the approval of the Minister of Trade and Industry.

Enterprises and activities are approved by the Free Zones Company.

Single-enterprise free zones would only be considered for designation and be recommended to the Minister where the nature and scale of operation are considered appropriate and subject to the location, security and customs arrangements being satisfactory to the Free Zones Company and the Comptroller of Customs.

Once relevant application forms have been satisfactorily completed and submitted to the Free Zones Company, together with all required documentation, approval and designation of a new free zone can be completed within four weeks and approval of the enterprise to carry out an activity in the free zone can be completed within two weeks thereafter.

An application for designation of a single enterprise free zone must be accompanied by an application to carry out an approved activity in the Free Zone.