Most shops need their sign to work twice: readable in daylight and bright but not glaring after dark. The right type of illuminated sign depends on your frontage, budget and brand. This page compares the types side by side, explains what they cost to buy and run, what makes them last in Dubai, how to light an existing sign, and what the new rules mean for the classic white light box.
On this page, an LED sign board means a sign with fixed lettering lit by LEDs. If you want a screen that shows video and changing content, see LED screens, LED billboards and advertising screens or digital menu boards.
Types of LED sign board
There are six common types of LED sign board: the light box, the push-through panel, lit 3D letters on a board, the LED name board, the fret-cut illuminated panel, and the externally lit board. They differ in how the light reaches the viewer, which changes the look by day and night, the price, and how well each one fits Dubai's 2026 shopfront rules.
| Type | How it's lit | Look at night | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light box | LEDs inside a box shine through a printed or coloured face | The whole face glows | Lowest per square metre | Projecting signs, menus, budget fascias (with a dark or coloured face) |
| Push-through panel | Thick acrylic letters pushed through a routed aluminium or ACP face, lit from behind | Only the letters glow; the panel stays dark | Mid | Shopfronts that want a clean, compliant look |
| Lit 3D letters on a board | Individual front-lit or halo-lit letters fixed to an ACP or aluminium panel | Letters glow, or a halo lights the panel behind | Mid to high | Premium shopfronts, receptions |
| LED name board | Edge-lit or back-lit acrylic panel with printed or cut lettering | Soft, even glow | Low to mid | Offices, clinics, villas, doors |
| Fret-cut illuminated panel | Letters cut out of a metal face with acrylic behind, lit from inside | Crisp lit letters in a solid face | Mid | Slim fascias, projecting signs |
| Externally lit board | A non-lit sign lit by trough lights or spotlights | The whole board is washed with light | Low to mid | Heritage frontages, metal letters, upgrading existing signs |
Light box signs
A light box is a metal frame with LEDs inside and a translucent face on the front. It is the simplest and cheapest way to get a sign read at night, and the face can be printed with any logo or colour. Single-sided boxes go flat on a fascia; double-sided ones project from the wall so people see them walking along the street.
The catch in 2026: a white or very bright face is exactly the "bright white background" the new rules prohibit on shopfronts. A light box still works if the background is dark or coloured and only the name and logo let light through. For the full range, see light box signs.
Push-through (routed) panels
The face is a sheet of aluminium or ACP with your letters cut out by CNC router. Thick acrylic letters are pushed through the holes so they stand 5–20 mm proud of the face, and LEDs inside the box light only the letters. By day it looks like raised letters on a solid panel. At night only the name glows.
This is one of the best compliant options for a Dubai shopfront: the background stays dark, the letters are crisp, and the panel hides the LEDs and wiring.
Lit 3D letters on a board
Individual letters, front-lit or halo-lit, fixed to a painted ACP or aluminium panel that covers your fascia. It is the most premium-looking LED sign board and the most flexible, because each letter can be a different size or colour and the logo can be built separately. See 3D letter signs and halo-lit letters for materials and finishes.
LED name boards
An LED name board is a slimmer, smaller lit sign: an acrylic panel lit from its edge or from behind, with printed, engraved or cut lettering. They suit office doors, clinic receptions, villa gates and small shops that don't need a full fascia. Many people search for a "custom LED name sign". This is the product they usually mean. More below.
Fret-cut illuminated panels
Similar to push-through, but the acrylic sits flush behind the cut-out letters instead of standing proud. It gives a flatter, very neat finish and works well where the fascia is shallow, or for projecting signs that need to look the same from both sides.
Externally lit boards
The sign itself is not lit. Instead, trough lights, spotlights or gooseneck lamps light it from outside. This suits signs that would lose their character if lit from inside (painted boards, brushed metal letters) and is often the cheapest way to make an existing sign visible at night. The next section covers this in detail.
Which type suits your frontage?
A quick guide from the situations we see most:
- Small shop on a busy street with a tight budget (Deira, Karama, Bur Dubai): a push-through panel or a light box with a dark face. Both read well at night, fit the rules and cost less than individual letters.
- Shallow fascia or no fascia at all: fret-cut panel or slim lit letters fixed directly to the wall.
- Mall unit: follow the mall's design manual. Most ask for individual letters, often halo-lit, and a set brightness.
- Restaurant or café: lit 3D letters for the name, plus a double-sided projecting light box so people walking along the pavement see you from the side.
- Clinic, pharmacy or office on an upper floor: upper-floor facade signs are restricted under the 2026 rules, so focus on a lit sign at the building entrance, a directory panel and an LED name board at your door.
- Heritage-style or brushed-metal sign you want to keep: externally lit with trough lights.
Sign illumination lights: internally vs externally lit signs
There are two ways to light a sign. Internally lit signs have LED modules inside a box or letters, so the sign glows. Externally lit signs are lit from outside by trough lights, spotlights or gooseneck lamps, so light falls onto the face. Internal lighting reads further at night; external lighting keeps the natural look of the materials.
| Internally lit | Externally lit | |
|---|---|---|
| Light source | LED modules or strips inside the sign | Trough light, spotlights or goosenecks outside the sign |
| Look | The face or letters glow | The face is lit like a picture on a wall |
| Reads from a distance at night | Very well | Well, if evenly lit |
| Works with | Acrylic faces, lit letters, light boxes | Painted boards, metal letters, stone, wood, ACP with vinyl |
| Maintenance | Modules and drivers inside the sign | Lights are easy to reach and replace |
| Cost | Built into the sign | Added separately; often cheapest for existing signs |
Choosing sign illumination lights
If you are lighting an existing sign from outside, the fitting matters:
- LED trough lights (linear bars mounted above or below the sign) give the most even light across a long fascia. They are the neatest option for shopfronts.
- Spotlights and floodlights suit tall or square signs, pylons and monument signs. Two lights crossing from each side reduce shadows.
- Gooseneck lamps give a classic look for boutiques, cafés and heritage-style frontages, but need several fittings along a long sign.
Three rules for external lighting: aim the light onto the sign rather than towards the street, use outdoor-rated (IP65 or higher) fittings, and choose a colour temperature that suits the sign (warm white for wood, brass and cream; neutral or cool white for modern colours). Uneven lighting, with bright pools and dark gaps, is the most common problem. Spacing the fittings correctly fixes it.
Lighting inside the sign: modules and spacing
Inside a sign, LED modules are laid out in rows. The spacing between rows has to suit the depth of the box and the face material, or you get hot spots: bright dots visible through the face. As industry guidance from Sign Builder Illustrated explains, deeper boxes let light spread further so modules can be spaced wider, while shallow boxes need closer spacing or wide-angle modules. We plan the layout for every sign rather than using a standard pattern. That is the difference between an even glow and a spotty one.
How much does an LED sign board cost in Dubai?
An LED sign board in Dubai usually costs from about a thousand dirhams for a small light box or name board to several thousand for a full illuminated shopfront with 3D letters. The price depends on the size, the type of sign, the materials, how the letters are lit, and how hard the site is to install on.
Here are our starting prices. Your exact price comes with your mockup after the survey.
| LED sign board | Typical size | Starting from | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED name board (office, clinic, villa) | 40–80 cm wide | AED 450 | 3–5 days |
| Single-sided light box | Per square metre | AED 650 | 4–6 days |
| Double-sided projecting light box | 60–90 cm | AED 900 | 5–7 days |
| Push-through ACP panel | Per metre of fascia | AED 1,400 | 7–10 days |
| ACP board with front-lit 3D letters | Per metre of fascia | AED 1,600 | 7–10 days |
| External trough lighting for an existing sign | Per metre of sign | AED 250 | 3–5 days |
More sign types are on our sign board prices page.
What changes the price
- Size. Bigger faces need more LEDs, a stronger frame and a bigger power supply.
- Type. A light box is the cheapest per square metre. Push-through and individual lit letters cost more because each letter is cut, fitted and lit.
- Materials. ACP, aluminium and acrylic are standard. Stainless steel or brass letters cost more.
- Lighting. Front-lit is standard. Halo-lit letters and double-sided boxes add cost.
- Installation. Ground-floor fascias are quick. Signs at height need access equipment, and malls often require night work.
- Power. If there is no switched supply near the sign, an electrician needs to add one.
- Permits. Drawings and authority fees for shopfront signs.
What's included in our quote
- Site survey, measurements and a check of the wall or fascia
- Design mockup on a photo of your frontage
- LED layout planned for your sign's depth and face
- Outdoor-rated LED modules and power supply, with the brand named on the quote
- Fabrication and testing in our workshop
- Permit drawings and submission where needed (government fees shown separately)
- Installation, connection, timer or photocell, and testing
- Warranty: 1 year on LEDs, power supply and workmanship
Why the cheapest quote often costs more
Two LED sign quotes for the same frontage can differ a lot, and the gap is usually in parts you can't see: unbranded modules, a power supply with no spare capacity, extruded acrylic instead of cast, thin ACP, or no permit included. Those signs look the same on the day they go up. The difference shows in the first or second summer, as dark patches, a failed driver or a yellowed face, and a repair visit at height often costs more than the saving. Compare quotes line by line using the list above.
What an LED sign costs to run
LED sign boards are cheap to run compared with the fluorescent tubes they replaced. As a worked example, a 3 m × 0.8 m light box might draw around 100–150 watts. Running it 12 hours a day uses roughly 36–54 kWh a month, which at DEWA's commercial tariff of 23–38 fils per kWh plus the 6 fils fuel surcharge (DEWA) is about AED 10–24 a month before VAT. Your quote shows the actual wattage of your sign.
LED sign boards and the 2026 shopfront rules
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism tightened the rules for shopfront signs in May 2026. Illuminated signs must show one trade name only, with Arabic above English, horizontally, with static content, controlled brightness and no bright white backgrounds. For LED sign boards, the last point matters most, because it rules out the classic white light box.
The rules were reported by Gulf News and Khaleej Times. Here is how each one affects an LED sign board:
- No bright white backgrounds. A white light box with coloured letters printed on it no longer passes on a shopfront. Choose a dark or brand-coloured background with only the letters lit, a push-through panel, or lit 3D letters on a solid board.
- Static only. The trade-name sign cannot scroll, flash or change colour. LED message boards and screens are separate advertising items with their own approval. See digital signage.
- Controlled brightness. Brightness must stay within approved levels. We fit a dimmer or photocell, or set the power supply so the sign is bright enough at night without glare.
- Arabic above English, matching your trade licence. Both lines are lit to the same standard, and the Arabic sits on top.
- One trade name, horizontal, in proportion to the shopfront. No extra brands or vertical name signs on the facade.
If your current sign is a white light box, it doesn't necessarily have to come down tomorrow, but any new or replacement sign should follow these rules. Often the cheapest route is to keep the frame and change the face. We check what applies to your unit at the survey, prepare the drawings and handle the permit. See our signage approvals guide.
What makes an LED sign last in Dubai heat
An LED sign board lasts in Dubai when four things are right: outdoor-rated LED modules laid out for the box depth, a power supply sized with spare capacity and kept cool, faces made from UV-stable materials, and every joint sealed against dust and humidity. Two signs can look identical on day one and perform very differently by the third summer.
Here is what we look at, and what you can ask any sign company about.
LED modules
- Outdoor rating. Modules for outdoor signs should be rated IP65 or higher, so they cope with dust and humidity.
- Named brand and datasheet. Ask which modules are used. Good modules come with a datasheet showing brightness, beam angle and rated life. Unbranded modules dim unevenly or fail in patches.
- Layout. As covered above, row spacing must match the box depth and face material. The wrong spacing shows as hot spots.
- Colour consistency. All modules in one sign should come from the same batch, so one letter doesn't look bluer than the next.
The power supply
The power supply (driver) is the part most likely to fail, usually from heat. A driver running close to its maximum load inside a closed sign box on a summer afternoon has a short life. We size drivers with spare capacity, choose outdoor-rated units, and fit them where air can move and where they can be reached without taking the sign apart.
Faces and frames
- Acrylic faces should be cast, UV-stabilised acrylic. Cheaper sheet can yellow or crack in direct sun.
- Flex faces (stretched fabric) suit very large light boxes. They need a good tensioning frame or they sag.
- ACP panels should be a fire-rated grade and thick enough not to bow in the heat.
- Frames in aluminium or galvanised steel, painted or powder-coated, so they don't rust at the joints.
Heat, dust and water
Dubai summers push the inside of a sign box well above the air temperature. Ventilation holes (with dust protection), drain points at the bottom, and sealed cable entries keep it running. Seals and fixings also move as the sign heats and cools every day, so outdoor signs benefit from a check before each summer.
Six questions to ask any sign maker
- Which LED modules will you use, and can I see the datasheet?
- What is the IP rating of the modules and the power supply?
- How much spare capacity does the power supply have, and where will it be mounted?
- Is the acrylic cast and UV-stabilised? Is the ACP a fire-rated grade?
- How will you avoid hot spots on the face?
- What does the warranty cover: LEDs, power supply, workmanship, and for how long?
If the answers are vague, the sign will be too. We put the answers in writing on every quote.
Designing an illuminated sign people can read
A good illuminated sign reads clearly from where your customers are, both in daylight and at night. That comes down to letter size for the viewing distance, strong contrast, simple fonts, a balanced Arabic and English layout, and brightness set for night viewing rather than maximum output.
- Size for distance. A common rule of thumb is about 25 mm (1 inch) of letter height for every 3 m (10 feet) of viewing distance for easy reading. A sign read from across a road usually needs letters of 250 mm or more.
- Contrast. Light letters on a dark background read best at night and meet the 2026 rules. Avoid mid-tone letters on mid-tone backgrounds.
- Fonts. Choose bold, simple letterforms. Very thin strokes are hard to light evenly and blur from a distance.
- Less text. The trade name and logo. Phone numbers, service lists and slogans belong on window graphics, not on the lit sign.
- Arabic and English together. Arabic often needs to be set slightly larger to match the visual weight of the English. Both must match your trade licence.
- Day and night. Check the design unlit as well. A sign that only works when it's switched on looks empty in the afternoon.
- Brightness. Brighter is not better at night. A photocell or timer dims or switches the sign so it reads without glare and stays within approved levels.
Timers, photocells and dimmers
Three small controls make a big difference to how an LED sign looks and how long it lasts:
- A timer switches the sign on and off at set times, so it runs during trading hours and not all night.
- A photocell switches the sign on at dusk and off at dawn automatically, which suits signs that should light whenever it's dark.
- A dimmer lowers brightness. Useful for signs that face homes or a narrow street, or in malls with set brightness levels.
We fit a timer or photocell to every outdoor sign as standard, and a dimmer where brightness needs to be controlled.
We show the mockup day and night on a photo of your frontage, so you can judge both before anything is made. For more on sizing and placement, see our guide on choosing the right sign type.
Upgrading an old sign to LED
If your sign still uses fluorescent tubes, or its LEDs have gone patchy, you often don't need a new sign. Many light boxes and lit letters can be refitted with new LED modules and a new power supply, and many can take a new face at the same time. That usually costs much less than replacement and cuts running costs.
Options, from cheapest to most complete:
- Relight. Replace the old tubes or failed LEDs and the power supply. The sign looks the same, but brighter and more even.
- Reface. Keep the frame, fit a new face. This is the easiest way to bring a white light box in line with the 2026 rules: a dark face with only the letters lit.
- Add external lighting. Keep the sign as it is and fit trough lights or spotlights above it.
- Replace. When the frame is corroded, the sign is the wrong size for the rules, or the business name has changed.
Signs your LED sign needs attention
- Dark patches or single dark letters. Usually a failed module row or a loose connection.
- Flickering, especially on hot afternoons. Often a power supply running too hot or near the end of its life.
- Uneven colour. Mixed module batches from past repairs, or LEDs that have aged differently.
- Yellowed or cracked face. Non-UV-stable acrylic that has had too much sun.
- Water marks or rust at the bottom. Blocked drain points or failed seals, which will damage the wiring if left.
Fixing these early is cheap. Left until a whole section fails, they often mean a new face or a full relight.
At the survey we open the sign, check the frame and wiring, and tell you which option makes sense. We also service signs installed by other companies.
LED name boards for offices, clinics and homes
An LED name board is a compact lit sign for a door, reception, clinic or villa. Most are an acrylic panel lit from the edge or from behind, with your name printed, engraved or cut into it, and they run from a small power supply or a building supply. They are a tidy way to make a business or home easy to find at night.
Popular options:
- Office and reception name boards with your logo, often in frosted acrylic on stand-off fixings.
- Clinic and pharmacy boards with the clinic name in Arabic and English, sometimes with a lit symbol such as a green cross.
- Villa name boards and house numbers. See house and villa signs.
- Custom LED name signs for restaurants and salons, where a lit name adds to the interior.
Tell us where it will go, and whether there's power nearby. For a softer, hand-drawn look, see neon signs.
Open signs and small LED window signs
LED open signs and window signs are small, bright signs for the glass: "Open", "Closed", opening hours, or a single word like "Pharmacy" or "Coffee". We make them in your brand colour to fit your window, in LED or LED neon, rather than the generic red-and-blue signs sold online.
For styles, sizes and prices, see open signs. If your window faces strong afternoon sun, choose a brighter LED sign over neon, which can wash out in direct sunlight.
For erasable boards you write on by hand, see LED writing boards.
How we make and install your LED sign board
A typical LED sign board takes 2–3 weeks from survey to installation: a few days for survey and design, 5–10 working days to build, and a short installation, with the permit running alongside where one is needed. Here is each step.
- Free site survey. We measure the fascia, check the wall, find the power supply and photograph the frontage. Book a survey.
- Design and quote. You get a day and night mockup on a photo of your frontage, with sizes, materials and LED specification, plus an itemised price.
- Approve. Approve the design and quote from your account. Changes are included until you're happy.
- Permit. For shopfront signs we prepare the drawings and submit them, plus mall or landlord approval if needed.
- Build and test. We cut the panel and letters, lay out the LEDs for your box, wire the power supply, seal the joints and run the sign for [24] hours in the workshop.
- Install. Our own team fixes, connects and tests the sign, fits the timer or photocell, and removes the old sign if needed. Malls and busy roads are often done at night.
- Aftercare. You get the warranty, photos and a service contact. We can add a yearly check before summer.