SEDD Design Pre Approval
Sharjah Municipality Parking Reservation Approval
RTA Pre Approval
Government of Ajman
DESIGN & APPROVAL
OUTDOOR & INDOOR BRANDING
SIGNAGES
VEHICLE BRANDING
FLAGS & BANNERS
OTHER SERVICES
In the UAE you cannot simply put up a sign — most signage needs municipality approval first. K.A.T SIGNS handles permits and pre-approvals end to end: technical drawings, submissions and follow-up across Sharjah, Dubai, Ajman and Abu Dhabi, so your signage is legal, compliant and installed without costly re-work or removal notices. Because the same team then produces and installs the approved sign, the whole journey from application to mounted signage runs as one accountable process.
Why do UAE signs need permits?
Because each emirate’s municipality controls what appears on the street — the size, illumination, placement and content of signage — for safety, visual consistency and language rules. It is not a formality you can skip; it is the difference between a sign that stays up and one that gets a removal order.
The core requirements are strict: your signboard name must match your trade licence exactly, Arabic text is required alongside English, and outdoor and large-format advertising carries its own separate approvals. Ignore these and you risk fines, forced removal, and paying twice when a non-compliant sign has to be re-made from scratch.
What does end-to-end permit handling involve?
We manage the whole application so you do not have to learn each authority’s process or chase submissions yourself:
- Preparing compliant technical and dimensioned drawings.
- Checking that the sign name matches the trade licence and content is bilingual.
- Submitting to the relevant municipality or authority.
- Following up, answering queries and securing the approval.
We only fabricate once approval is granted — so you never pay for a sign that has to be re-made to meet municipality rules. Permit handling quoted per project.
Which approvals might you need?
It varies by emirate and sign type, and we identify the right route up front so nothing is missed.
| Sign type | Typical approval | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Shopfront / fascia | Municipality signboard permit | Name matches licence |
| Illuminated 3D letters | Municipality + safety | Size and lighting limits |
| Hoarding / large format | Outdoor advertising permit | Location approval |
| Mall unit | Municipality + mall fit-out | Tenant guidelines |
How does the approval process run?
We front-load the paperwork so production only starts on an approved design:
- Review your trade licence, location and sign concept.
- Produce compliant, dimensioned technical drawings.
- Submit to the correct authority and manage any queries.
- On approval, we fabricate and install the sign.
How does this connect to your other services?
Permits sit at the very front of the process. Once approved, the same team produces the printed and cut elements and our certified installers fit them — so approval, production and installation are one continuous chain rather than three disconnected suppliers passing blame.
How long do signage approvals take in the UAE?
Timelines vary by emirate, by the authority involved and by the type and complexity of the sign, so there is no single number — a straightforward shopfront permit moves faster than a large outdoor advertising approval, and a mall unit adds the centre’s own fit-out review on top of the municipality’s. What reliably shortens the wait is getting the submission right the first time: compliant, dimensioned drawings, a sign name that matches the trade licence exactly, and correct bilingual content. Because we prepare applications the way each authority expects and respond quickly to queries, we minimise the back-and-forth that causes most delays, and we keep you updated at each stage so you can plan production around a realistic approval date.
