RTA Permit and Approval for Vehicle Advertising in Dubai
For the procedure to go off without a hitch and save time and money, you must be familiar with the documents. The qualied members of Printzone Advertising LLC’s staff individually assisted in requesting and obtaining the required Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) permits for vehicle branding, graphics, and advertising. To save time and hassle, Printzone vehicle branding company in Dubai provides services for getting and using necessary vehicle branding and advertising licenses.
Benefits of Choosing Printzone for Your RTA Approval Needs
- We handle all paperwork, saving you time and effort.
- Our expertise ensures all requirements are met.
- We keep you updated on your application’s progress.
- Our staff provides expert advice throughout.
- We aim to maximize productivity at minimal cost.
How Printzone Handles Your RTA Approval
The journey from application to approval is made easy by our streamlined process:
We will help you
gather all of the
necessary
documentation.
Our team submits
your application
promptly
and accurately.
We maintain
communication with
RTA officials to ensure
timely processing.
Upon approval,
we'll provide you with
the official RTA
approval letter.
Vehicle Branding Categories for Permit
Basic Logo Branding
You can have the company logo, brand, or trademark replaced from your car for a nominal yearly fee. In line with your trade license, you may also include contact information, such as a P.O. Box number.
Partial Wrap Branding
Car graphics can cover particular portions of your vehicle, including the sides and rear bumper, where the trade name and other written information must be displayed in both English and Arabic.
Full Wrap Branding
Vehicle graphics can cover the entire car except the side & rear windows and roof. Trade names and text must be in English & Arabic. This method offers more coverage than the other two vehicle wrapping options.
RTA's Criteria and Process
Getting Vehicle Graphics Approval in Dubai
- Your proposal's design and photos need to be submitted to request permission to advertise.
- The RTA will go through a verification process, where the first step will be to check if all of the fonts are readable and follow the design specifications.
- An inspector will receive the application and thoroughly review it before deciding whether to approve or reject it.
- After clearing, you must complete an application and pay a fee that varies based on the dimensions of the image or logo, whether it is at or three-dimensional, and other factors.
Documents Required for an RTA Permit for Car Branding
For Business Vehicles
- Ad design of the vehicle's four sides + mock-up Letter of request addressed to the Roads and Transport.
- Authority to add an advertising sticker explaining the nature of the activity.
- Copy of the trade licenses issued in Dubai.
For commercial vehicles and motorcycles
- Ad design of the vehicle/motorcycle's four sides + mock-up
- Copy of the trade licenses issued in Dubai.
For Trailer and semi-trailer/mobile advertising vehicles
- Ad design of the vehicle's four sides + mock-up
- Copy of the trade license - Advertising activity, issued in Dubai.
Terms and Conditions for RTA
- Only the activities specified in the trade license may be advertised.
- All vehicle modifications require the approval and testing of emissions.
- The Dubai Police needs to be contacted for additional design approval if the vehicle graphics use more than 30% color.
- Rental car advertisements are permitted as long as the RTA is consulted and contract documentation from the rental company is provided.
- To display advertisements for third parties on a vehicle, an application for a contract or a registered trademark from the Ministry of Economy must be submitted.
- The applicant must present a No Objection Certificate from the Dubai car leasing company if they are using a rental car to place the advertisement.
- If the advertisement is to be displayed on trailers, semi-trailers, or mobile advertising vehicles, permission from the Vehicle Licencing Department is needed.
- If the ad is to be placed by an advertising agency outside Dubai, then the ad design and mock-up have the stamp of the country’s consulate or embassy
- Make sure there is no difference in the company’s trade name in Arabic as mentioned on the trade license.
- If the advertising agency is registered with Dubai SME, then they can avail of a 50% discount. But for this, an official letter is required with the application.
- Approval of Dubai Police (CID) is required to change the vehicle’s color for an ad.
- If the ad is about real estate, the ad agency should provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
- The Department of Land and Property must issue you with a design approval certificate if you are marketing materials on real estate.
- If the advertising agency is pasting the ad for a brand, then the brand’s owner's NOC and trademark ownership registered with the Ministry of Economy should be provided.
Graphics Requirement for RTA
- Car advertising in Dubai is allowed only if the ad agency has an RTA permit for it.
- At least 50% of the graphics on the vehicles must be in Arabic.
- Heavy graphics or text must not be included on any side of the vehicle's pictures.
- Any type of religious symbol or slogan should not be in the ad content. The lone exception may be an organization that is both nonprofit and religious.
- Pictures in the ad violating public morality are not allowed.
- Only Arabic and English should be used for the ad content.
- Use of 3D images in ads for vehicles is not allowed.
- No symbol that promotes smoking can appear in advertising materials.
- No flags of any country are to be displayed in the ad.
- Real people photos are not allowed in the advertisement.
- The text and images in the advertisement should be evenly distributed, not all on one side.
- Pictures should not be placed on the top part of the vehicle.
- Vehicle windshields should not have any ads displayed.
- Front, side, and back windows must not be covered with the design.
- You can only add a maximum of 5 images to an ad on each side of the vehicle.
- The company can only mention the activities mentioned in the trade license, mentioning any other activity in the ad is not allowed.
- QR codes are not allowed in vehicle branding designs.
- The company must pay AED 100 to obtain a new RTA vehicle advertisement permit if the original one is lost or damaged.
- AED 100 is applicable for any changes in the permit.
- After the application, we keep you updated on the status of your application.
Additionally, if you’re using second-hand, heavy vehicles for sale in Dubai for ad placement, keep in mind that the requirements for vehicles may vary depending on the type of ad and the clients’ needs.
Validity of the RTA Permit to Advertise on Vehicles
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Frequently Asked Questions
An RTA vehicle branding permit is official authorization from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority allowing a commercial entity to display logos, text, or graphics on registered vehicles. Commercial vehicle advertising in Dubai is subject to RTA approval and applicable regulations. Operating a branded vehicle without the required approval can result in fines, penalties, or other enforcement action.
Yes. Commercial branding on vehicles in Dubai is subject to RTA advertising requirements regardless of the size of the branding. A small door logo, contact details, or a full vehicle wrap promoting a business may require a valid RTA advertising permit.
Personal and leased vehicles may be subject to different requirements for commercial branding.
• Personal Vehicles: Personal vehicles generally require the appropriate authorization before displaying commercial advertising.
• Leased Vehicles: Leased company vehicles can be branded when the required documentation is provided, including a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the leasing company where applicable, along with your company’s Dubai trade license.
RTA vehicle advertising guidelines require Arabic to make up at least 50% of the advertising content. Your official trade name should also be displayed in Arabic and English in accordance with your trade license and applicable RTA requirements.
To ensure road safety and cultural compliance, the RTA strictly prohibits:
• QR codes and barcodes (to prevent driver distraction)
• Reflective, high-chrome, or mirror-like vinyl materials
• Real photographs of individuals or sensitive social content
• Religious symbols, political messages, or national flags
• Graphics covering windshields, driver side windows, or passenger side windows
Vehicle advertising is restricted on windscreens and on the front side windows on the driver’s and passenger’s sides. Branding on rear windows may be permitted for specific vehicle categories, such as delivery vans and panel vans, subject to applicable RTA regulations and approval.
To process your application smoothly, Printzone submits the following documents on your behalf:
• Copy of a valid Dubai issued Trade License matching the vehicle ownership
• Vehicle Registration Card (Mulkiya) registered under the company name
• RTA compliant design mockups showing all four sides of the vehicle (accurate scaling, clear bilingual text)
Additional documents may be required depending on the vehicle type or branding circumstances, for example, an NOC for leased vehicles.
When the application contains complete and compliant artwork and documentation, RTA vehicle advertising approvals can take from a few business days to a few weeks. Processing times can vary depending on the vehicle category, application details, and whether amendments or additional approvals are required. Printzone pre-checks design mockups before submission to help reduce avoidable delays.
If an RTA application is rejected, the authority may identify the element that does not meet its requirements (such as font size or missing Arabic text). Printzone can revise the vehicle branding artwork based on the feedback, update the mockup, and resubmit the application through the appropriate process.
Any changes you make to the approved design after receiving RTA approval, such as new text, graphics, contact details, or layout, may require you to reapply for approval before the updated branding goes on the vehicle. Contact Printzone before making changes and we will check whether a new submission is needed.
There are three main permit types: a logo and trade name permit (company name and contact details), a partial wrap permit for branding that covers part of the vehicle, and a full wrap permit for graphics covering the whole vehicle. Official fees depend on the vehicle category and permit type:
Vehicle advertisement permit fee:
| Vehicle Type | Logo & Trade Name | Partial Wrap | Full Wrap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Vehicle / Bus (up to 16 passengers) | AED 250 / Annually | AED 500 / Annually | AED 1,000 / Annually |
| Pickup / Cooler Truck / Light Commercial | AED 250 / Annually | AED 1,000 / Annually | AED 1,500 / Annually |
| Bus (Standard – as per RTA category) | AED 250 / Annually | AED 1,000 / Annually | AED 1,500 / Annually |
| Heavy Bus (as per RTA classification) | AED 250 / Annually | AED 1,500 / Annually | AED 2,500 / Annually |
| Light Equipment | AED 250 / Annually | AED 1,000 / Annually | AED 1,500 / Annually |
| Heavy Equipment | AED 250 / Annually | AED 1,500 / Annually | AED 2,500 / Annually |
| Motorcycles | Any wrap – AED 250 / Annually | ||
| Special Status Vehicles | Any wrap – AED 2,500 / Weekly | ||
| Event-Based Advertisement (Light Vehicles) | Any wrap – AED 2,500 / Weekly | ||
Additional charges: AED 10 Knowledge Fee and AED 10 Innovation Fee per permit.
Note (Recommended for Safety) - Final permit fees may vary depending on the vehicle category as defined by RTA. The official classification in the vehicle registration (Mulkiya) will determine the applicable charges.
An RTA vehicle advertising permit is generally valid for one year from the date of issue. Businesses should monitor the permit expiry date and begin the renewal process in advance to avoid interruptions to their vehicle registration or advertising authorization.
A Dubai RTA vehicle branding permit applies to the Dubai-registered vehicle for which the permit was issued. When travelling between Emirates, additional local requirements may apply depending on how and where the branded vehicle is used, particularly if it is used as a fixed advertising display. Businesses should confirm requirements with the relevant authority when operating outside Dubai.
Additional approval from the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) may be required when vehicle advertising involves changing the vehicle’s original color from the color recorded on the Mulkiya. Certain specialized commercial vehicles, such as mobile advertising trucks and trailers, may also require additional approvals depending on their use and vehicle category. Learn more about our CID approval service .
When a branded vehicle is sold, transferred, or removed from a fleet, the RTA vehicle advertising permit may need to be formally canceled through the relevant RTA process. Any applicable cancellation requirements or fees should be confirmed with RTA. Existing vehicle branding may also need to be removed before ownership transfer or decommissioning.
Operating a vehicle with unauthorized commercial branding in Dubai can result in fines, penalties, or other enforcement action, including possible vehicle impoundment depending on the circumstances. Obtaining the required RTA approval before installing commercial branding helps businesses comply with applicable vehicle advertising requirements.
Printzone provides an end-to-end vehicle branding service that can include RTA-ready design mockups, Arabic and English content preparation, document coordination, authority fee processing, permit application support, and physical vehicle wrapping after approval. This allows you to manage your branding and permit requirements through one service provider.
Our graphic design team creates high-resolution vehicle branding mockups showing the relevant sides of the vehicle, prepared with applicable RTA advertising requirements in mind while keeping your company’s branding, messaging, and visual identity.
Final approval is issued by RTA and depends on the vehicle, the advertisement content, the submitted artwork, and current regulations.
Yes. Printzone assists with commercial fleet branding and can coordinate RTA approval applications for multiple vehicles. Whether you operate a small delivery fleet or more than 100 vehicles, we coordinate design consistency, documentation, applications, and installation planning to help minimize operational downtime. See our fleet branding services .
No. Commercial vehicle advertising approval should be obtained before installing the branding on the vehicle. Installing graphics before the required approval may expose the vehicle owner to fines or other enforcement action and could require changes or removal if the design is not approved.
Call or WhatsApp us at +971 50 877 3876, email your company trade license and vehicle details to info@printzonedubai.com, or visit our facility in Al Quoz Industrial Area, Dubai. Our team can assist with design, documentation, permit processing, and vehicle branding.
You can also request a quote through our quotation and contact page .
- +971508773876
- info@printzonedubai.com
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