Dubai Airport Freezone Authority, also known as DAFZA, saw a 42 percent increase in revenue last year, compared to 2012, it was announced on Wednesday.
The freezone licensed 196 new tenants and contributed to eight percent of Dubai’s trade, a statement said.
DAFZA also saw an increase in the number of registered companies which now exceed 1,600 in total.
The statement said 39 percent of companies come from Europe and North America, 38 percent from the GCC & Middle East, 17 percent from Asia, 3 percent from Offshore Islands, 2 percent from Africa and 1 percent from Australia.
New international investors who opened offices for the first time in the freezone included Liga Nacional de Futbol Profesional (LA LIGA), which will act as a base to attract sponsorships, as well as promoting Spanish football teams in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of DAFZA, said: “I am extremely proud of DAFZA’s accomplishments year-on-year as they are a reflection of our nation’s ambitions.”
Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, DAFZA’s director general, added: “Through our additional services and growth, we managed to grow our Fortune 1000 companies by 48 percent, allowing our total operation to contribute to Dubai’s trade by eight percent.”
In 2014, plans to open a new food court, with the expansion plan to include 20 new food outlets, 11 shops, a gym and business centre to be completed by Q1 2015. Additionally, DAFZA will add 1,192 new parking spaces.
The freezone, located within the boundaries of Dubai International Airport, is currently home to over 1,600 companies from various industry sectors, including aviation, freight and logistics, IT and telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food & beverage, jewelry and cosmetics.
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