Advertising & Branding /
Shop Sign Permit in Dubai: Who Approves It and in What Order
Dubai law requires a permit before any shop sign goes up. Confirm which authority covers your unit, prepare one matched drawing set, and hold fabrication until the permit is issued.
By Ashker
A new shop in Dubai can lose weeks because a sign was built before anyone confirmed the permit route. Dubai's Decree 6 of 2020 is blunt about the rule. No advertisement may be displayed without a permit issued first. A fascia sign naming your business counts, so the paperwork has to lead the fabrication, not follow it.
This guide sets out the sequence that keeps a shop sign project out of trouble. It covers which authority applies to your unit, the Arabic text rule, and the documents a typical application asks for. It also explains realistic timings and when to release production. Every requirement cited here comes from an official Dubai source, and fees change, so confirm them before paying.
Which authority issues a shop sign permit in Dubai?
It depends on where the unit sits, so check that first. Decree 6 of 2020 gives facade signs naming a commercial outlet to the Department of Economic Development. That department is now the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; free zones use their own authority.
For example, the Dubai Development Authority issues advertising permits inside TECOM free zones only. Outside those zones, the DDA reviews structures and sends applicants to Dubai Municipality. Since April 2025, Mada Media's unified platform has handled advertising permits delegated by the RTA and Dubai Municipality.
Quick Answer
In Dubai, the permit route depends on where the unit sits. Decree 6 of 2020 assigns mainland facade signs to the economic department, while free zone authorities handle their own.
What must a Dubai shop sign say, and in which language?
Arabic must be the main language of any shop sign in Dubai. Article 11 of Decree 6 of 2020 requires the Arabic text to cover at least half the advertising medium. It must also sit in the upper section or the right-hand side of the sign.
The same article requires the Arabic to be free of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Have a competent Arabic reader check the actual production proof, not only a typed translation. Letter joins, spacing and line breaks often go wrong only after the layout is set.
Quick Answer
Dubai's Decree 6 of 2020 requires Arabic as the main sign language, covering at least half. Arabic must sit at the top or right and be free of spelling errors.
What documents does a shop sign application need?
Each authority publishes its own list, so work from the one that covers your unit. The Dubai Development Authority list is a useful benchmark for what reviewers expect. It asks for a location map, trade licence, facade photograph, scaled coloured drawing with dimensions and materials, and a mock-up.
The DDA also asks for a no objection certificate from the plot owner. Structural calculations and drawings are added wherever structural review applies. For electrical signs, or signs fixed above 2.5 metres, it requires a risk assessment and method statement as well.
Quick Answer
Expect a trade licence, site photo, scaled drawing, mock-up and landlord no objection certificate. The Dubai Development Authority adds structural and risk papers for electrical signs or high wall fixings.
How long does approval take, and what does it cost?
Decree 6 of 2020 says a complete application must be decided within ten working days of submission. The DDA quotes four working days for its free zone advertising permit. Incomplete files restart the process, which is where most delays come from in practice.
Fees vary by authority, sign type and size. The DDA currently lists ground floor shop signage at AED 500 a year, plus AED 20 in knowledge and innovation fees. Check the current figure for your own route on the official portal rather than reusing a neighbour's receipt.
Quick Answer
A complete Dubai sign application should be decided within ten working days under Decree 6 of 2020. DDA free zone shop signage costs AED 500 yearly, plus small transaction fees.
When should fabrication of a shop sign actually start?
Start fabrication only after the permit is issued against the final approved drawing revision. Write that condition clearly into the purchase order so nobody releases production too early. A landlord email approving the look is helpful, but it is not a permit from the authority.
The risk is real money, not paperwork. Article 17 of Decree 6 of 2020 sets fines from AED 1,000 to AED 15,000 for each violation. A repeat within a year doubles the fine, capped at AED 30,000, and the authority may also remove the sign.
Quick Answer
Release shop sign fabrication only once the Dubai permit covers the final approved drawing. Decree 6 of 2020 allows fines up to AED 15,000 and removal at the owner's expense.
Main Takeaways
Dubai requires a permit before any shop sign is displayed, under Decree 6 of 2020. Mainland facade signs sit with the economic department, while free zones use their own authority. Arabic must be the main language, covering at least half the sign area. Prepare one matched, numbered drawing set, and release fabrication only after the permit names that exact revision.
Planning your shopfront sign the safe way
The order of steps matters more than raw speed on a shop sign. Confirm the authority first, then the landlord's design rules, then the Arabic wording, and only then book the manufacturing slot. Each step depends on the one before it being settled. Skipping ahead is how new businesses in Dubai end up paying for the same shop sign twice.
If you are fitting out a unit now, send the trade licence, frontage photos and landlord guidelines together in one email. Auronix Advertising coordinates shop signage in Dubai with partner fabricators and can prepare the drawing set for review. Our signage permits and approvals service can also manage submissions. Raised lettering options are covered on the 3D letter signs page.
Sources & References
FAQs
Do I need a permit for a shop sign inside a Dubai mall?
Decree 6 of 2020 covers signs naming an outlet inside a commercial centre as well. Ask mall management which permit route and design rules apply before any artwork is finalised.
Can my sign show only an English brand name?
No, Dubai's Decree 6 of 2020 requires Arabic as the main language of an advertisement. Arabic must take at least half the medium, positioned at the top or right side.
Does the sign name have to match my trade licence?
Plan on the names matching exactly. Applications are checked against the trade licence you submit, and any difference in spelling or wording is a common reason for corrections and resubmission.
Who submits the application, me or the sign company?
Either party can, depending on the portal and authority, but agree it in writing first. The quotation should say who submits, who answers comments and who pays any resubmission costs.
What does a landlord no objection certificate need to show?
It should identify the unit, the property owner or manager, and the proposal it approves. Reference the drawing revision number so the consent clearly matches the sign design actually submitted.
Is a permit needed for window stickers on a Dubai shop?
Usually yes, because Decree 6 of 2020 treats window graphics as advertising. The DDA, for instance, lists window stickers separately at AED 1,000 a year in TECOM free zone areas.
What happens if the sign is installed without a permit?
The competent authority can fine the business between AED 1,000 and AED 15,000 under Article 17. It can also remove the sign at the violator's cost and revoke existing permits.
Does changing the sign design need a new permit?
Treat any change to wording, logo, size or position as needing fresh approval. Send the revised drawing back through the same approval route before ordering any changes from the fabricator.
How early should the permit process start before opening?
Start as soon as the trade licence and tenancy are confirmed. Ten working days is the legal decision period for complete files, but corrections and landlord approvals often add time.
Are temporary opening banners covered by the same rules?
Yes, a temporary opening banner is still an advertisement under Dubai's Decree 6 of 2020. Ask the relevant authority about short-term permit options before hanging one on the shop frontage.
