If you are fitting out a shop, office, clinic, restaurant or warehouse, exit signs are one of the items Civil Defence checks before you can open, and at every inspection after that. This page explains the types of exit sign, what the rules require, where signs must go, what they cost, how to test them, and how to add a custom look without failing an inspection.
What exit signs do, and why the rules are strict
An exit sign marks every exit and the route to it, so people can leave a building quickly in a fire, smoke or power cut, even if they have never been inside before. Because lives depend on them, exit signs in Dubai must be approved products, lit while the building is occupied, backed up when the power fails, and installed and maintained by approved contractors.
A good exit sign system answers three questions for someone who doesn't know the building:
- Where is the nearest way out? A sign over every exit door.
- Which way do I go from here? Directional signs with arrows wherever the route changes direction or isn't obvious.
- Can I still see it when the lights go out? A battery backup, central battery or photoluminescent material keeps the sign visible in a power cut.
Exit signs usually work together with emergency lighting, which lights the escape route itself, the floor, stairs and doors, when the power fails. Many products combine both in one fitting. When people search for "emergency exit lights", they often mean either or both.
Exit signs and emergency lighting: how they work together
Exit signs and emergency lighting do two different jobs. Exit signs show people where to go. Emergency lighting lets them see the floor, stairs and doors on the way when the normal lights fail. A compliant building needs both, and many fittings combine the two in one unit.
International practice, set out in standards such as EN 1838, splits emergency lighting into three kinds:
- Escape route lighting lights corridors, stairs and exit routes so people can move safely to an exit.
- Open area (anti-panic) lighting gives enough light in large rooms, such as open offices, shops and halls, for people to find an escape route without panicking.
- High-risk task lighting lets someone safely stop a dangerous process, such as a machine or a kitchen appliance, before leaving.
Emergency lights are typically placed near each exit door, at every change of direction and change of floor level, on stairs, near fire-fighting equipment and fire alarm call points, near first aid points, and just outside final exits. Your approved drawings show exactly where they go, and we install exit signs and emergency lights together so they match.
Types of exit sign
Exit signs differ in three ways: how the sign is lit (LED, photoluminescent or externally lit), how the backup power works (a battery in each sign or a central battery), and whether the sign is lit all the time or only during a power failure. The right combination depends on the building, the approved drawings and where the sign is mounted.
| Type | How it works | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintained LED exit sign | Lit all the time from mains, switches to its own battery when power fails | Over exit doors in most occupied buildings | The usual choice where signs must be lit while the building is in use |
| Non-maintained emergency light | Off normally, lights only when mains fails | Escape route lighting, stairs, corridors | Lights the route rather than marking the exit |
| Combined exit sign + emergency light | An exit sign and an emergency lamp in one fitting | Smaller premises, corridors, back-of-house | Saves fittings; check it covers the light levels needed |
| Self-test exit sign | Tests its own battery and lamp on a schedule and shows a fault light | Any building, especially large ones | Cuts manual test time; faults still need fixing |
| Central battery system | Signs are fed from one central battery room instead of batteries in each unit | Large buildings, malls, hotels, towers | Higher upfront cost, easier maintenance at scale |
| Photoluminescent sign | Glows after absorbing light; no power needed | Directional signs, low-level route marking, stairs | Needs enough normal light to charge; glow fades over time |
| Edge-lit or slim exit sign | LEDs light a clear acrylic panel from the edge | Offices, hotels, retail where looks matter | Must still be an approved product |
| Box / light box exit sign | Printed face lit from inside a slim box | General commercial use | The common wall-mounted exit light |
| Ceiling or hanging, double-sided | Hung from the ceiling or projecting from a wall, readable from both directions | Long corridors, open-plan floors, warehouses | Must hang low enough to be seen, high enough to clear heads |
| Weatherproof exit light | Sealed housing rated for outdoor use | External exits, car parks, loading bays | Look for an IP rating suited to rain, dust and humidity |
| Explosion-proof exit light | Sealed housing rated for hazardous atmospheres | Fuel, gas, chemical and some industrial sites | Specified by the site's hazard classification |
Maintained or non-maintained?
A maintained exit sign is on all the time and stays on during a power cut, running from its battery. A non-maintained fitting stays off until the power fails. Exit signs over doors are generally maintained, because they need to be visible whenever people are in the building. The DMCC health and safety bulletin states that exit signs are required to be illuminated while the building has normal power and is occupied. Non-maintained fittings are mostly used for emergency lighting of the route itself.
Battery or central system?
Self-contained signs have their own battery and charger inside. They are simple, need no special wiring beyond a permanent supply, and suit most shops, offices and restaurants. Central battery systems feed all the signs from one battery bank in a plant room. They cost more to install but are easier to test and maintain in large buildings, because batteries are in one place rather than in hundreds of fittings.
Photoluminescent signs
Photoluminescent ("glow in the dark") signs absorb light from normal lighting and glow when the lights go out. They need no wiring or batteries, so they are useful for directional signs, stair markings and low-level route markers along the floor, where smoke is less likely to hide them. They only work if the space gets enough light to charge them, and they don't replace illuminated exit signs where those are required. The DMCC bulletin notes photoluminescent marking to show the path and direction when power is lost.
The running man, and why exit signs are green
Exit signs in the UAE use the green "running man" pictogram with an arrow and door symbol, from the international standard ISO 7010. Dubai Municipality's technical guideline on safety signs sets green rectangular signs with ISO 7010 symbols (such as E001 and E002, emergency exit left and right) for escape routes and emergency exits, with text in languages the workforce understands, such as Arabic and English. Red "EXIT" signs, common in North America, are not the format used in Dubai.
Exit sign rules in Dubai
Exit signs in Dubai fall under the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, enforced by Dubai Civil Defence. In short: every exit needs a sign over it, routes need directional signs, signs must be lit while the building is occupied and stay visible in a power failure, products must meet accepted test standards, and installation must be done by Civil Defence-approved contractors.
Here is what the published guidance says, in plain language:
- A sign over every exit, on every floor. "Every exit on every floor shall be clearly indicated by an exit sign placed over the exit door" (DMCC bulletin).
- Directional signs along the route. Directional signs must show the path and direction to exits.
- Lit while occupied. Exit signs must be illuminated while the building has normal power and is occupied.
- Visible in a power failure. Battery-operated emergency sources are maintained under Chapter 6 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, and photoluminescent marking helps show the path when power is lost.
- Approved products and installers. Exit and directional signs should be installed by Civil Defence-approved contractors under the supervision of a Civil Defence-approved consultant, using products of acceptable test standards.
- Regular checks. Signs should be inspected for damage and wear, and their illumination checked every 30 days.
- Clear symbols and languages. Green ISO 7010 escape signs with Arabic and English text, per the Dubai Municipality guideline.
How long must exit signs stay lit in a power cut?
The required battery duration depends on the building type and is set by the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code and your approved design. As an international reference, the US life safety code NFPA 101 requires illuminated exit signs to stay lit for at least 90 minutes after the power fails (Isolite), and many products sold in the region are rated for 90 minutes or 3 hours. We match the rating to your consultant's drawings rather than guessing.
Who signs off your exit signs?
For a new fit-out, exit signs appear on the fire and life safety drawings prepared by a Civil Defence-approved consultant. An approved contractor installs them, and Civil Defence inspects the result before issuing its completion certificate. In free zones such as DMCC, the free-zone authority's health and safety team may also inspect. We work from your consultant's drawings, or can coordinate with one if you don't have drawings yet.
What inspectors most often flag
- A sign missing over a door that is part of the escape route
- No directional sign where the route turns, splits or goes through a door that isn't obviously an exit
- Signs blocked by shelving, signage, décor or ceiling features
- Dead batteries: the sign is on, but fails when the power is cut
- Non-approved or damaged signs, including DIY or decorative "EXIT" signs
- No record of monthly checks and annual tests
Checklist before your Civil Defence inspection
- Walk every escape route from the furthest point of each floor. At every point you should see an exit sign or a directional sign.
- Check each sign is lit, the right way round, and pointing the right way.
- Switch off the lighting circuit (or use the test key) and confirm every sign and emergency light stays on.
- Make sure nothing blocks a sign: new shelving, partitions, banners or décor.
- Have your test log, product documents and the approved drawings ready.
- Fix or replace any sign with a fault light, a cracked face or a dead battery before the visit.
Where exit signs go: placement, size and mounting
Exit signs go above every exit door and at every point where the escape route changes direction, so that from anywhere in the building you can see either an exit sign or a directional sign pointing to one. They must be clearly visible, not blocked, and large enough to read from the furthest point they serve.
Placement rules of thumb
- Over every exit door, centred above the door where possible.
- At every change of direction, junction or split in the route, with an arrow pointing the right way.
- Where the exit isn't visible, such as around corners, behind racking, or across open-plan floors, add directional signs so there is always one in view.
- On both sides of doors that people approach from two directions, or use a double-sided hanging sign.
- Stairs and landings: signs at each level showing the direction of travel, plus photoluminescent step and handrail markings where specified.
- Keep them clear. Nothing should hang in front of an exit sign: banners, shelving, decorative lighting or promotional signs.
How big should an exit sign be?
Size exit signs by the distance they need to be read from. The European emergency lighting standard EN 1838 uses a simple rule: an internally illuminated sign can be read from up to about 200 times the height of its pictogram, and an externally lit or non-illuminated sign from about 100 times. So a lit sign with a 150 mm pictogram can serve roughly 30 m, and a non-lit one about 15 m.
| Pictogram height | Max viewing distance, internally lit (≈200×) | Max viewing distance, non-lit (≈100×) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 mm | about 20 m | about 10 m | Small rooms, shop back areas |
| 150 mm | about 30 m | about 15 m | Offices, corridors, restaurants |
| 200 mm | about 40 m | about 20 m | Open-plan floors, retail |
| 300 mm | about 60 m | about 30 m | Warehouses, car parks, large halls |
Your approved drawings set the actual sizes and positions. Dubai Municipality's safety sign guideline also gives minimum text sizes by viewing distance for signs that include text.
Mounting options
- Wall-mounted above the door: the most common exit light, usually fixed just above the door frame so doors, people and furniture don't block it.
- Ceiling-mounted or hanging: for long corridors and open-plan spaces, hung low enough to be seen under beams and ducts, and high enough to clear heads and equipment.
- Projecting (side-mounted), double-sided: fixed at right angles to the wall so it can be seen along a corridor from both directions.
- Recessed: set into the ceiling or wall for a flush look in hotels and offices; the housing must suit the ceiling type.
- Low-level: photoluminescent or lit strips near the floor along the route and on stairs.
Common placement mistakes
- Arrows pointing the wrong way after a sign is moved or a layout changes. Walk the route and check every arrow.
- Signs hidden by fit-out work: bulkheads, dropped ceilings, feature lighting or tall shelving added after the signs went in.
- Exit signs over doors that aren't exits, such as store rooms or kitchens, which send people the wrong way.
- One-sided signs in two-way corridors, so people approaching from one side see only the back of the sign.
- Signs too high above tall doors or in atriums, where they fall outside people's normal line of sight.
Each illuminated sign needs a permanent, unswitched power supply so the battery stays charged. Signs wired to a light switch will drain and fail. We check the circuit at installation.
How much do exit signs cost in Dubai?
An exit sign in Dubai typically costs from under a hundred dirhams for a basic photoluminescent sign to a few hundred for an approved LED exit light with battery backup, before installation. Self-test, weatherproof, explosion-proof and designer units cost more. The total for a premises depends on how many signs your approved drawings require and how easy they are to install.
| Item | Starting from (supply) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photoluminescent exit or directional sign | AED 25 | No wiring |
| LED maintained exit light, wall-mounted, with battery | AED 120 | The standard over-door sign |
| Combined exit sign and emergency light | AED 220 | Sign and route lighting in one |
| Self-test LED exit light | AED 320 | Automatic battery and lamp testing |
| Double-sided ceiling or hanging exit sign | AED 180 | Corridors, open-plan floors |
| Weatherproof exit light | AED 280 | Outdoor and wet areas |
| Explosion-proof exit light | On request | Hazardous areas |
| Installation per sign (existing circuit) | AED 80 | New circuits quoted separately |
What changes the total
- Number of signs. Set by the building layout and approved drawings. Open-plan and multi-level spaces need more directional signs.
- Type. Self-test, central battery, weatherproof and explosion-proof units cost more.
- Wiring. A permanent supply at each sign location. Existing circuits are quicker; new ones add electrical work.
- Ceiling type and height. High ceilings, gypsum, grid or exposed services change the fixing method and access equipment.
- Out-of-hours work. Malls and live buildings often need night installation.
- Testing and certification after installation, and documentation for the inspection.
Why cheap exit lights are a false saving
Unbranded exit lights sold online can look identical to approved units, but they often use small batteries that don't last the rated time, chargers that cook the battery in Dubai heat, and faces that yellow in a few years. They may also not be an accepted product for your inspection. A sign that fails its first annual test has to be bought again, installed again and tested again. Approved products with a clear rating and warranty cost more once and less over the life of the building.
Running costs
LED exit signs use very little power, typically a few watts each. Most of the ongoing cost is maintenance: monthly checks, an annual full-duration test, and replacing batteries every few years. A maintenance contract usually costs less than failing an inspection.
Choosing exit signs for your building
The right exit sign system depends on the building. A small shop needs a few wall-mounted maintained signs; a warehouse needs large, double-sided hanging signs; a hotel wants slim, discreet units; an outdoor car park needs weatherproof fittings. Here is what usually works, subject to your approved drawings.
- Shops and restaurants. Maintained LED exit signs over the front and rear exits, directional signs in back-of-house corridors and kitchens, and photoluminescent signs where there's no power. Keep décor, menus and promotional signs clear of them.
- Offices and co-working spaces. Slim or edge-lit maintained signs that suit the interior, directional signs in open-plan areas, and self-test units to cut maintenance time on larger floors.
- Clinics and pharmacies. Maintained signs at every exit and along treatment corridors, with extra attention to routes for people with limited mobility.
- Hotels and serviced apartments. Recessed or slim designer units in public areas, photoluminescent stair markings, and a central battery or self-test system to manage many fittings.
- Warehouses and factories. Large (200–300 mm pictogram) double-sided hanging signs visible over racking, weatherproof units at loading bays, and explosion-proof units in hazardous zones.
- Schools and nurseries. Maintained signs at every exit and along corridors, clear directional signs children can follow, and photoluminescent stair markings. Keep displays and artwork away from signs.
- Gyms and studios. Signs visible over equipment and in dim studio lighting, with maintained units in spaces where lights are dimmed for classes.
- Car parks and outdoor areas. Weatherproof, vandal-resistant exit lights with sealed housings suited to dust, heat and humidity.
- Construction sites. Temporary exit and directional signs that move as the site changes. See construction site signs.
Testing and maintenance
Exit signs must work on the one day they're needed, so they need regular checks. At minimum, check that every sign is lit and undamaged every month, test the battery backup with a short simulated power cut, carry out a full-duration test once a year, and keep a written record. Batteries typically need replacing every few years.
A practical routine that follows the published guidance and common international practice:
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Every 30 days | Check each sign is lit, clean, undamaged and not blocked. Operate a short test on battery. | Facility team or maintenance contractor |
| Every 6 months (recommended) | Walk the escape routes against the drawings; check new partitions or fit-outs haven't blocked signs | Facility team |
| Every year | Full-duration battery test, repairs, replacement of failed batteries and lamps, updated records | Approved maintenance contractor |
| Every few years | Replace batteries as they reach end of life | Approved maintenance contractor |
| After any change to the layout | Update signs to match the new escape routes and drawings | Consultant + approved contractor |
The DMCC bulletin specifically calls for exit and directional signs to be inspected, and their illumination checked, every 30 days. Self-test signs automate much of the monthly battery check and show a fault indicator, but someone still needs to look at them and fix faults.
How to do the monthly check
- Walk the building and look at every exit sign and emergency light. Each should be lit (maintained signs) and show a green charge indicator.
- Note any sign that is dim, flickering, damaged, dirty or blocked.
- Simulate a power cut for each sign, using its test button, test key or the dedicated test switch for that circuit, for a short period.
- Confirm each one stays lit on battery, then restore power and check the charge indicator comes back on.
- Record the date, the result for each sign and any faults in the log book.
- Report faults for repair straight away, and don't leave a route unmarked.
Signs a battery is failing: the charge indicator is off, the sign dims or goes out within minutes on a test, or the unit is several years old and has never had a battery replaced. Heat shortens battery life, so signs in hot areas such as kitchens, plant rooms and outdoor spaces need closer attention.
We offer annual maintenance contracts that include monthly checks, the annual test, battery replacements and the records you need for inspections.
Custom and designer exit signs: what's allowed
You can have exit signs that suit your interior, but the sign must still be an approved, compliant product with the correct green pictogram, lit and backed up as required. Slim, edge-lit, recessed and minimal-frame exit signs are fine when approved. A decorative neon or custom "EXIT" sign is not a substitute.
- Designer housings. Slim, edge-lit or recessed units in white, black or brushed metal frames are available as approved products. We help you choose ones that suit hotels, restaurants and offices.
- Brand-coloured frames can work where the product allows it, but the sign face itself keeps the standard green and white.
- Neon "EXIT" signs are popular décor in bars and cafés, and people search for them. They are fine as decoration, but they are not emergency exit signs. They have no approved battery backup and don't meet the pictogram standard. Place them away from real exits so they don't confuse people, and keep the approved signs in place. For decorative neon, see neon signs.
- Wayfinding that matches your brand. Room signs, floor directories and general directional signs can be fully branded. See wayfinding signs. Only the life-safety signs must follow the standard format.
How we supply and install exit signs
We work from your approved fire and life safety drawings. We supply approved exit signs and emergency lights, install them on permanent circuits, test each one on battery, and hand over the records you need for the Civil Defence inspection. For a typical shop or office, installation takes one or two days.
- Survey and drawings. We check your approved drawings, or coordinate with your consultant if you don't have them yet. Book a survey.
- Quote. An itemised quote listing each sign type, quantity, location, wiring and testing.
- Supply. Approved products matched to the drawings, including self-test, weatherproof or designer units where specified.
- Install. Signs fixed at the specified positions and heights on permanent unswitched supplies, with directional arrows set correctly.
- Test. Each sign tested on battery, and a full-duration test where required.
- Handover. Test records, product documents and a layout of installed signs for the inspection.
- Maintain. Optional monthly checks and annual testing, with battery replacement.
We also supply the other safety signs you'll need: fire equipment, no smoking, assembly point and hazard signs. See safety signs.