Free Trade and Industrial Zones in the UAE Research Paper

Free Trade and Industrial Zones in the UAE - Research Paper Example The establishment of free trade and industrial zones may well be considered as a unique step which other Middle Eastern countries have not yet emulated. The UAE has proven though that there are advantages gained for diversifying through such approach. Two very successful free trade zones, Jabel Ali Free Zone Area (JAFZA) and Dubai Airport Free Zone Area (DAFZA), have contributed significantly to the economy. Indeed, free trade zones are not without its share of problems and these also have negative impact to the economy. Nevertheless, the benefits far outweigh the costs. JAFZA has made very relevant contributions to the UAE’s economy since its establishment. In fact, its share in the Dubai’s economy is very strategic. It accounts for more than 25 per cent of the total trade being conducted in the city. In just 25 years, it saw the establishment of many companies in its vicinity. The year 2010 is considered as its most successful year. By the end of this year, there were 480 companies that set up facilities in the area. 55 of these are multinationals and were draw by JAFZA’s â€Å"customer focused value proposition that brings together products, all relevant services as well as value added benefits under one roof to form an ecosystem that is conducive to business† (Banga, 2011). The entry of such investments has, in turn, benefited the UAE in more ways than one. It is one of the entities that continue to fuel the country’s growth, resulting in UAE’s distinction as one of the countries in the region with the most stable economies. JAFZA has been a major factor in increasing the country’s gross domestic product. This is proven by information from the International Monetary Fund and the Dubai Statistics Department which says that â€Å"growth over the last 15 years in the number of companies at JAFZA are 3 times that of the  UAE  GDP, and that it outpaced the rate of growth of Dubai's GDP by nearly one and a hal f times† (AME Info, 2010). It is not just in the area of investments that the UAE has benefited from the operations of JAFZA. The Free Zone has also created thousands of jobs for the locals and for migrant workers. In 2001, there were about 40,000 people employed in the companies operating in it but this number further increase in meteoric fashion that by 2010, a workforce of 115,000 was achieved (Banga, 2011). JAFZA has definitely been very advantageous to the emirates. Despite the positive contributions though, the existence of JAFZA and free trade zones, in general, has negative repercussions as well. Per free trade zone rules, the companies that operate here are not required to comply with the laws of the UAE regarding visa requirements, employment, and labour market nationalization. With such freedoms, foreign investors can develop flexible labour schemes that may guarantee higher profits without fear of government intervention to protect the workers’ rights. Hence , this puts the workers in the free zones at a disadvantageous position. While the companies within the premises of the free zone earn bigger, they also enjoy tax holidays or exemptions. JAFZA, similar to other free trade zones elsewhere, guarantee that â€Å"multinational companies enjoy full ownership and profit repatriation within the confines of the free-trade zones† (Kanna, 2011, p.142). This means that the country does not get any share in the profits generated through the operations of the foreign companies existing in