Autoworld to invest Dhs45m in new Jafza facility to boost regional trade

Autoworld International, a regional distributor for India’s Bajaj Auto, announced a Dhs45m investment to develop a new logistics and distribution facility in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), aiming to strengthen its automotive supply chain across the Middle East and Africa.

The 162,000-square-foot facility will include an assembly plant for Bajaj motorcycles and three-wheelers, alongside warehousing for spare parts, tyres, and lubricants. The project, expected to be completed by 2026, is positioned to meet rising demand in high-growth, cost-sensitive markets across the region.

“This facility marks a major step forward in our growth strategy. Jafza’s connectivity, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment have helped us serve high-growth markets across Africa and the GCC since 2008,” said Vishal Kumar Lakhani, director at Autoworld.

The facility will also support the introduction of new product lines via partnerships with global manufacturers, further entrenching the company’s regional footprint. The investment is projected to create over 100 direct and indirect jobs.

Read: Abdulla bin Damithan on how DP World’s Jafza has become a global trade powerhouse

Jafza plays a key role in emirate’s auto trade

Jafza continues to play a central role in Dubai’s automotive trade, accounting for nearly 48 per cent of the emirate’s total automotive trade by value in 2024.

The free zone facilitated automotive trade worth nearly Dhs102bn last year and hosts 940 automotive firms from 88 countries.

Autoworld partnership with Jafza

“Autoworld’s expansion underscores the strength of Jafza’s integrated trade and logistics ecosystem,” said Abdulla Al Hashmi, COO, Parks and Zones, DP World GCC. “We are proud to support long-term partners like Autoworld, who are helping connect world-class manufacturing with high-potential markets through Dubai.”

Autoworld, which has operated from Jafza for more than 16 years, currently distributes Bajaj vehicles to over 25 countries, using Dubai as its primary hub.

The investment aligns with DP World’s broader ambitions to boost the automotive sector, including plans to build the world’s largest car market in Dubai, projected to double the current annual sales of Dhs6.6bn.