In line with the objectives of the Dubai Civility Committee for Preserving the Civility of Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is undertaking efforts to regulate and standardize the placement of commercial signage on storefront facades. This initiative aims to preserve the emirate’s overall aesthetic appeal, reduce visual pollution, and enhance road safety standards.

These measures are based on the specifications and standards outlined in the Technical Guide for Out-of-Home Advertising, introduced in 2024 in accordance with the highest international standards. The guide was issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Municipality, in coordination with Mada Media, the entity responsible for regulating, developing, and managing the out-of-home advertising sector in the Emirate of Dubai.

The approved technical guide regulates all specifications, requirements, and technical standards related to the installation of commercial signage on storefront facades, including the following:

• One Trade Name Only:
  The guide clearly stipulates that only one trade name may be displayed per store. The placement of multiple advertisements or trade names on storefront facades is prohibited, while adhering to the dimensions specified in the guide, in order to prevent visual pollution.
• Installation Method and Languages:
  Vertical installation of commercial signage on storefront facades is not permitted. Signboards must instead be installed horizontally, displaying Arabic text on the upper section and English text below, with protrusion allowed from one side only.
• Proportional Dimensions:
  The dimensions of the signage must be proportionate to the height and width of the storefront façade, without excessive height, width, or thickness, in order to preserve visual harmony.
• Lighting and Brightness Controls:
  All lighting and brightness conditions specified in the guide must be observed. Illumination levels must be calibrated using approved measurement devices and may not exceed the permitted brightness levels. The use of bright white backgrounds should also be avoided.
• Static Signage Content:
  The installation of signage containing variable or moving content, such as videos or animated imagery, is prohibited.
• Offices and Clinics:
  The placement of signage on building balconies or on the exterior facades of offices, clinics, and retail outlets located above the ground floor is not permitted.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is responsible for issuing permits related to commercial signage, as well as monitoring and inspecting such signage to ensure compliance with the approved standards. The Department also calls upon all relevant entities and business owners to cooperate by adhering to these regulations in support of the Steering Committee’s vision to preserve Dubai’s urban character.

The Department further emphasized the importance of all commercial establishments complying with the guideline manual, maintaining the overall appearance of storefronts, and avoiding random decorative elements or excessively bright lighting. These efforts contribute to achieving the objectives of the Steering Committee for Preserving the Urban Appearance of the Emirate of Dubai, with the aim of making Dubai the world’s finest, most beautiful, and most sophisticated city.

For full details and technical specifications related to the placement of commercial signage on storefront facades, please refer to Section 3.4 of the Technical Guide for Out-of-Home Advertising, available for download via the following link: Technical Guide for Out-of-Home Advertising