Business Setup in UAE Once you have finalized that you are going to form a new company in the UAE. It’s very imperative to make the right choices of your legal business structure. This legal business structures options available in the UAE are mentioned below: Mainland Companies Free Trade Zones Companies Offshore Companies How to setup your business in UAE mainland? UAE Mainland Companies: To setup your mainland companies you will have to reach the Department of Economic Development (DED). UAE is made of 7 emirates which is Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. The first step to setup a business in UAE mainland, it is mandatory to appoint a “Local Sponsor”. It is important as you will have a local person who knows the right approach while you are doing business in the UAE. Along with appointing a Local Sponsor, you will have to choose the business activity you will be conducting. Based on the business activity you have to