Signage Approval

Signage approval in mainland Dubai comes from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which issues the trade-name signage permit for shopfronts. In free zones, the zone authority approves signs instead, for example the Dubai Development Authority in the TECOM communities. We prepare the sign drawings, collect the NOCs and file your signage permit so the sign is approved before it goes up.

A shop sign is the cheapest piece of a fit-out to get right and one of the most common to get wrong. Dubai's shopfront rules now cover the number of trade names, the language order, orientation, size, lighting and where on the building a sign can go, and authorities inspect storefronts against them.

Most of the cost of a rejected sign comes from fabricating it before approval. We check the design against the rules first, so the sign you pay to make is the one that passes.

What is Signage Approval?

Signage approval is the authority's sign-off on a business sign before it's installed. For most shops, cafes and clinics in mainland Dubai, that means a trade-name signage permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), tied to your trade licence.

The approval covers the sign's design, size, language, lighting and position on the facade. A new sign, a redesign or a move to a new spot each needs its own signage permit, even if the trade name stays the same. Signs installed without approval can be fined and removed.

Who Gives Signage Approval in Dubai?

Mainland Dubai: the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issues trade-name signage permits for shopfronts and inspects storefronts for compliance.

DDA communities such as Dubai Internet City, Media City, Studio City and Knowledge Park: the Dubai Development Authority approves signs through its Advertising Single Window. Outside its free zone areas, DDA only reviews the structure for a structural NOC.

Other free zones: the zone's own authority handles signage, so the route depends on where your unit is. Send us your tenancy contract and we'll confirm it.

Billboards and roadside advertising: these follow RTA's Outdoor Advertising Manual, which is a separate approval track from shopfront signage.

Signage Approval Rules That Cause Most Rejections

Dubai tightened its shopfront signage rules, and these are the points that fail most often:

One trade name: each establishment may show one trade name, and each shopfront gets one sign or advertisement

Arabic above English: both languages are required, with Arabic placed on top

Horizontal only: vertical shopfront signs are not allowed, and projection is permitted from one side

In proportion: the sign must suit the height and width of the shopfront

Static content: no video or moving images, brightness limits apply, and bright white backgrounds are not allowed

Ground floor only: no signs on balconies or on the facades of offices, clinics and shops above ground level

Exact name match: the sign must match the trade name on your licence word for word

Documents Required for Signage Approval

Have these ready before the signage permit is filed:

Trade licence for your business, and the signage contractor's trade licence

Scaled, coloured sign drawing with dimensions, cross-section, materials and lighting

Photo mock-up showing the sign on the actual facade

Current photo of the shopfront or site

NOC from the landlord or building owner

Contractor appointment letter from the tenant, for building signage

Structural calculations and drawings, where a structural review applies

Risk assessment and method statement for illuminated signs or anything fixed above 2.5 m

NOCs from your sector regulator where relevant, such as DHA for clinics or KHDA for education

How Long Signage Approval Takes

DDA quotes 4 working days for a complete counter submission; DET timelines depend on the sign type. Most of the lost time comes from redesigns, so we check every design against the rules before it is filed.

How We Handle Your Signage Approval

From concept to permit, this is what we take off your plate:

We check your sign concept against DET or DDA rules before anything is fabricated

We adjust the drawings and mock-up so the size, language order and lighting comply

We collect the landlord NOC, contractor documents and any sector NOCs

We file the signage permit and answer every comment from the authority

If a sign has already been made and won't pass, we tell you exactly what has to change

Signage Approval FAQs

Quick answers to the questions shop owners ask most:

Do I need signage approval to change my shop sign? Yes. A new design, size or position needs a fresh approval, even if the trade name stays the same.

Is a signage permit the same as signage approval? Yes. In mainland Dubai, DET issues the approval as a signage permit tied to your trade licence.

Does my shop sign need Arabic? Yes. Arabic and English are both required, with Arabic placed above English.

Can I show my logo and a promotion on the same shopfront? No. Each shopfront is limited to one trade name or advertisement.

Who approves signs in Dubai Internet City or Media City? The Dubai Development Authority, not DET.

What happens if I install a sign without approval? The authority can fine you and order the sign removed.

Signage is often the last approval on a fit-out, so it pays to start it alongside the others. If your unit is in Internet City, Media City or another TECOM community, see our DDA approval service. For signs that face a main road or need work on the footpath, see our RTA approval service. Not sure which authority covers your location? Our guide to which authority approves your project explains it.

Send us your sign concept and a photo of the shopfront, and we'll tell you what has to change before anything is fabricated.