Setting Up a
Branch of a Foreign Company
Any
company wishing to set up a project in Jebel Ali
Free Zone must first complete a simple
questionnaire. From the information provided, the
Free Zone Authority can make a first assessment of
whether the company's needs can be met.
After
consideration of this questionnaire, the company
will be provided with:
A
licence application including an appendix with
details of the documents required concerning the
company's legal status; A pro-forma of information
required for planning; and A consumer request for
electricity supply.
On
receipt of these documents, the Free Zone Authority
will consider the proposal. If provisional approval
is given, the company will be asked to prepare and
submit the documents called for in the appendix to
the license application.
After
the checking of these documents, a meeting will be
called to discuss and finalize the project details.
If everything is satisfactory, the Authority will
issue conditional approval for the project.
Thereafter, a lease agreement and, if required, a
personnel second
agreement will be prepared by the Authority
for signature by the company.
At
the time of signing, the applicant will be required
to provide the insurance policies called for in the
agreements and should pay the agreed rental and
license fee prior to collection of the license.
If
the company wishes the Free Zone Authority to
sponsor employees on its behalf, applications for
entry permits may be
submitted
once the license
has
been issued. The bank guarantee called for in the
personnel second agreement will be required at this
stage together with visa charges.
If
the company's project involves the erection of a
structure, detailed plans must be submitted after
the lease has been signed. When the plans have been
agreed, a building permit will be issued.
Administrative
work, such as importing equipment or engaging labour
for installation of equipment, may proceed in
parallel with construction work. But application for
entry permits for operatives to be sponsored by the
Free Zone Authority will not normally be accepted
until a completion certificate for the construction
has been issued.
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