Mainland businesses setup in UAE refers to registering and setting up a business through the Department of Economic Development in any of the emirates in UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah).
There are over 50 different free zones available across the UAE. Most free zones will award you the license you ask for, but getting the right one for your business setup is critical to your budget and overall business success.
Offshore companies are set up for operating outside their registered jurisdiction or the location of their primary setup. So, UAE offshore companies cannot trade within UAE. For those outside the UAE, Offshore companies are often confused with Free Zones.