Advertising & Branding /
SEDD Signboard Permit in Sharjah: Documents, Rules and Fees
Sharjah's SEDD wants a valid licence, the signboard design, a permit form and trademark proof for any logo. Trade names must match the licence, with Arabic at 60 percent and English at 40.
By Ashker
Opening a shop in Sharjah means dealing with the Sharjah Economic Development Department, known as SEDD, before your signboard goes up. SEDD treats the signboard permit as one of the main procedures linked to issuing a trade licence. That makes it part of opening day planning, not an afterthought. Get the documents right and the service itself is very quick.
This guide sets out what SEDD publishes about signboard permits, taken directly from its own service page and FAQ. It covers the documents to prepare, the Arabic and English size rule, and the height limit. It also explains the fee structure and the approved calligrapher requirement. Fees and rules can change, so confirm them with SEDD before paying for production.
Which documents does SEDD require for a signboard permit?
SEDD's FAQ lists four items for a signboard permit application. They are a signboard permit form, the signboard design, a copy of the valid licence, and a trademark registration certificate from the Ministry of Economy. The certificate applies whenever a logo appears on the sign.
If the sign carries another company's logo, SEDD asks for more evidence. You need a no objection letter, the owner's Ministry of Economy trademark certificate and a copy of the trademark licence. Collect these early, because brand owners based abroad can take weeks to respond.
Quick Answer
SEDD requires a signboard permit form, the design, a valid licence copy and Ministry of Economy trademark proof for logos. Third-party logos also need the brand owner's no objection letter.
What are SEDD's Arabic and English rules?
The trade name on the signboard must be identical to the name on the licence. SEDD's FAQ states the trade name font should take 60 percent in Arabic and 40 percent in English of the sign's area. The design must also follow SEDD's approved layout.
This differs from Dubai, where Decree 6 of 2020 sets Arabic at a minimum of half the medium. Do not reuse a Dubai artwork file in Sharjah without resizing the text. Have both languages checked on the final proof by a competent reader before submitting.
Quick Answer
In Sharjah, the shop signboard trade name must match the licence exactly. SEDD sizes the trade name at 60 percent Arabic and 40 percent English of the total sign area.
How big can a Sharjah shop signboard be?
SEDD's FAQ says the main signboard height must not exceed four feet in total. It also expects the sign to cover the entire area of the shop front. An exception applies where the sign must stay consistent with neighbouring signboards in the same or nearby buildings.
Check the neighbouring signs carefully before your designer starts work, because consistency can override the standard height. Measure the frontage accurately, including any columns, recesses or existing fixings. A sign drawn to the wrong width means redrawing the artwork and resubmitting the whole file.
Quick Answer
SEDD limits Sharjah shop signboard height to four feet and expects the sign to cover the shop front. Matching neighbouring signs in the same building can override the standard height.
What does a SEDD signboard permit cost?
SEDD's FAQ lists the main signboard fee at AED 200. Additional signboards are charged at length times width times AED 10. Its service page adds further separate items, listing a logo at AED 1,000, an image at AED 500 and a background at AED 250.
Side signboards are listed at length times width times AED 20. Electronic signboards between one and four feet are listed at AED 1,500 each. Confirm the measuring unit and current figures directly with SEDD, because the FAQ and service page present the fees slightly differently.
Quick Answer
SEDD lists the main Sharjah signboard fee at AED 200 and a logo at AED 1,000. Additional and side signs are charged by area, so confirm current figures before paying.
Who can design and install the sign in Sharjah?
SEDD says applicants must use a calligrapher approved by SEDD, and the application can then be submitted through its e-service. The company carrying out the work must hold a licence issued in Sharjah. Check both points carefully before appointing any designer, calligrapher or installer.
SEDD's service page gives a processing time of one business day once the application is complete. The permit's validity is linked to the trade licence and renews along with it. If the design changes later, for example after a rebrand, SEDD requires a brand new permit.
Quick Answer
Sharjah signboards must go through a SEDD-approved calligrapher and a Sharjah-licensed installing company. SEDD processes complete applications in one business day, and each permit renews along with the trade licence.
Main Takeaways
SEDD needs a signboard permit form, the signboard design, a valid licence and Ministry of Economy trademark proof for any logo. The trade name must match the licence, sized at 60 percent Arabic and 40 percent English. Signboard height is capped at four feet unless the sign must match neighbouring signboards. Use a SEDD-approved calligrapher and a Sharjah-licensed installing company.
Getting your Sharjah signboard approved first time
A Sharjah signboard permit moves very quickly when the file is complete from the start. Match the trade name to the licence letter for letter, size the two languages correctly and keep the sign within four feet. Gather any trademark proof early, especially for international brands and franchises. Then let an approved calligrapher prepare and submit the application for you.
To start, send your licence copy, logo files and frontage photos with accurate measurements. Auronix Advertising coordinates SEDD signage approval in Sharjah and SEDD design approval with licensed partners in Sharjah. We can also check your artwork against SEDD's published rules before submission. If you also trade in Dubai, compare the different steps in our Dubai shop sign permit guide.
Sources & References
FAQs
How long does SEDD take to issue a signboard permit?
SEDD's service page lists one business day for a complete signboard application. Delays usually come from missing documents, absent trademark proof or artwork that does not match the licence exactly.
Can I use my Dubai shop sign design in Sharjah?
Not without changes, because SEDD requires 60 percent Arabic and 40 percent English trade name sizing. Dubai's Decree 6 of 2020 sets Arabic at a minimum of half the sign.
Does the SEDD permit need renewing?
The permit is linked to your licence validity and renews whenever the licence itself is renewed. A changed design always needs a new permit, according to SEDD's published FAQ page.
Do I need a trademark certificate for my logo?
Yes, SEDD asks for a Ministry of Economy trademark registration certificate when a logo appears. The logo on the sign must match the features shown on that registration certificate exactly.
What if the trade name on my sign differs from my licence?
SEDD requires the trade name on the signboard to be identical to the licence. Correct the artwork or amend the licence before submitting, rather than hoping it passes the review.
Can a Dubai sign company install my sign in Sharjah?
SEDD's FAQ says the company executing the work must hold a licence issued in Sharjah. A Dubai company can coordinate the project, but the installing company itself needs Sharjah licensing.
Where do I apply for a SEDD signboard permit?
SEDD lists its branches, website, service centres and mobile application as official service channels for this permit. The application itself goes through an approved calligrapher using SEDD's online e-service platform.
Is an electronic or LED screen sign treated differently?
Yes, SEDD lists electronic signboards as a separate fee category. Its service page shows AED 1,500 for sizes between one and four feet, with larger screens charged by their area.
Can my signboard be taller than four feet?
Only where it must stay consistent with neighbouring signboards in the same or nearby buildings, according to SEDD's FAQ. Otherwise the four-foot height limit applies to the main shop signboard.
What is the most common reason a SEDD submission is rejected?
SEDD does not publish rejection statistics for signboard permit applications. Its rules point to mismatched trade names, wrong language proportions and missing trademark proof as the checks to pass first.
