Shop signs in Dubai: shop front sign boards and name boards

The signs a shop front needs

A complete shop front usually has four layers of signage: a fascia sign board with the trade name above the entrance, a projecting sign that can be seen along the street, window and door graphics that show what you sell and when you're open, and interior signs that guide people once they're inside. Not every shop needs all four, but most need more than one.

The fascia sign

The fascia is the band above your shop front where the main sign goes. Its sign carries your trade name in Arabic and English, and often your logo, and it's the sign on your permit. Get this one right first: it sets the look for everything else.

The projecting sign

Most people don't walk towards a shop head-on. They walk along the pavement or mall corridor and only see the fascia when they're almost at the door. A projecting sign, fixed at right angles to the wall, is visible from along the street. For many street shops it brings in more walk-in customers than the fascia. See light box signs for projecting boxes.

Windows and door

Window graphics tell people what's inside before they commit to walking in: product images, services, "new arrivals", or simply frosted film for privacy with your logo cut out. The door is the place for opening hours, "open/closed", payment logos and contact details. See window graphics and printing and open signs.

Inside the shop

Menu boards, price signs, department signs, fitting room signs and a logo behind the counter complete the job. They're usually outside shopfront permit rules, which gives you more freedom with colours and lighting.

Types of shop name board

The shop name board on your fascia can be built six main ways: 3D letters on an ACP panel, a push-through panel with lit letters, a light box, neon, a non-lit printed or cut panel, or letters fixed directly to the building. They differ in look, cost, how well they read at night, and how easily they meet the 2026 rules.

In more detail:

• 3D letters are the most requested shop name board. Acrylic for colour and value, painted aluminium for larger outdoor letters, stainless steel or brass for premium brands, lit from the front or behind.
• Push-through panels and LED sign boards give a clean, modern look where only the letters glow, and they suit shops that want a compliant lit sign at a lower cost than individual letters.
• Light boxes are the cheapest lit option and the easiest to update, but on shopfronts they now need a dark or coloured face under the 2026 rules.
• Neon gives character and photographs well, especially for cafés, salons and boutiques. It reads best in shade and at night.
• Non-lit panels work where the shop closes at dusk or the arcade is well lit, and they can be lit later with trough lights.

How a shop fascia sign is built

A typical Dubai shop fascia sign has four layers: a steel or aluminium subframe fixed to the building, an ACP (aluminium composite panel) cladding that forms the smooth fascia surface, the shop name and logo mounted on it, and the wiring and power supplies hidden behind. Each layer affects how straight, durable and serviceable the sign is.

1. Subframe. Steel or aluminium sections fixed into the building structure. It carries the weight, keeps the fascia flat and gives something solid to fix letters into. A poor subframe is why some fascias ripple or sag after a few summers.
2. Fascia panel. Usually ACP, in your brand colour or a neutral colour that lets the letters stand out. Use a fire-rated grade for facades, thick enough not to bow in the heat, with neatly folded edges and sealed joints.
3. Letters and logo. Fixed to the panel or, for halo-lit letters, on stand-offs so light can wash across the panel. Arabic above English.
4. Power and controls. LED power supplies behind the fascia in a ventilated, reachable spot, with a timer or photocell so the sign runs only when it should.

Things we check at the survey

• What's behind the existing fascia. Old signs often hide damaged cladding, rusted brackets or loose wiring. We open it up before quoting so there are no surprises.
• The building's facade rules. Some buildings set fascia colours, heights or materials for every shop.
• Power. A switched supply near the sign. If there isn't one, your fit-out electrician or ours adds it.
• Access. Ground-floor fascias are usually quick; higher or deeper ones need a scaffold or cherry picker.
• Water and heat. Where rain runs off the facade, and whether the sign faces the afternoon sun, which affects materials and lighting choices.

Replacing an old sign: what happens on the day

1. Isolate the power to the old sign and disconnect it safely.
2. Take down the old sign and its brackets, and take them away for disposal.
3. Make good the fascia. Fill old fixing holes, clean the panel, and re-skin or repaint it where the old sign has left marks or a different colour.
4. Fix the template and mount the new letters or panel, then connect and test.
5. Clean up so the shop can open as normal.

Most street shop replacements take a single day or night, so you don't have to close.

If your fascia is sound, we can often keep the existing panel and mount new letters on it after cleaning or re-skinning, which saves a lot. See ACP and facade cladding if the fascia itself needs replacing.

Shop sign board size: how big should your sign be?

There is no single standard shop sign board size in Dubai. Your sign has to be proportionate to your shop front under the 2026 rules, fit the fascia or the mall's design manual, and be large enough to read from where customers see it. In practice, the main letters on a street shop are usually 250–450 mm tall, set on a fascia band that runs most of the frontage width.

Start from what people need to read, then check it fits:

These are typical ranges from shopfronts we see, not legal limits. The rules that do apply:

• Proportionate to the shopfront. The 2026 rules require signs to be proportionate to the height and width of the shopfront, without excessive height, width or thickness.
• Readable. A common rule of thumb is about 25 mm of letter height for every 3 m of reading distance for comfortable reading.
• Leave margins. Letters look better and read faster with clear space around them, roughly half a letter height above and below.
• Arabic and English together. Allow for both lines, with Arabic above. Arabic often needs to be set slightly larger to look balanced, so plan the fascia height for two lines, not one.
• Malls set their own sizes. Mall design manuals typically limit the sign as a share of the shopfront area, and set letter heights, depths and lighting. Always check the manual before designing.

We draw every sign at true scale on a photo of your frontage, so you can see the size before anything is made. Also see our guide on sizing and placement.

Shop signs and the 2026 rules

In May 2026 Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism tightened the rules for shop signs: one trade name only, Arabic above English, horizontal signs, static content, controlled brightness, no bright white backgrounds, projection from one side only, and no signs on balconies or upper-floor facades of offices and clinics. Every new or replaced shop sign should be designed to them.

The rules were reported by Gulf News and Khaleej Times. What they mean for a shop front:

• One trade name. The name on your licence, once. No second brand, sub-brand or advertising on the facade.
• Arabic above English, both matching the licence exactly, horizontal rather than stacked vertically.
• No white light boxes. A bright white glow sign board fails. Use a dark or coloured background with lit letters.
• Static and controlled. No flashing, scrolling or colour-changing name signs, and brightness within approved levels.
• Proportionate size. Not the biggest sign that fits, but one in proportion to the shopfront.
• Projecting signs from one side only.
• Window graphics showing offers and products are separate from the trade-name sign, but they shouldn't carry a second trade name.

If your current sign breaks these rules, replacing only the face or letters is often enough. We check what applies at the survey, prepare drawings and submit the permit. See our signage approvals guide.

Street, mall or community centre: what changes

Where your shop is changes who approves the sign, what it can look like and when it can be installed. Street shops deal mainly with the authority. Mall units need the mall's design approval first, then the authority. Community centres and managed buildings sit in between, with a landlord manual as well as a permit.

Mall units in more detail

Malls protect their look, so each has a design manual for tenant signs. It usually controls:

• Sign size as a share of the storefront, letter heights and depths
• Allowed sign types, often individual lit letters or halo-lit letters, sometimes no light boxes
• Lighting colour temperature and brightness, and no flashing
• Materials, including fire-rating requirements
• Drawings and documents for approval, typically scaled drawings, material details, the trade licence and a landlord NOC
• Installation windows, usually overnight, with a supervisor on site

We prepare drawings in the format each mall asks for and coordinate with the mall fit-out team. Tell us the mall early, because its manual shapes the whole design.

Street shops in older areas

In areas like Deira, Bur Dubai and Karama, fascias are often shared across a row of shops with mixed sign sizes and old light boxes. A clean, compliant sign here stands out quickly. Check with the landlord whether the fascia band is shared, and whether the building has a standard sign height to line up with neighbours. See our area pages for local notes.

Businesses on upper floors

Under the 2026 rules, offices and clinics above the ground floor can't put signs on balconies or upper-floor facades. If your business is upstairs, focus on what people see at street level and inside: a listing on the building's entrance directory, a lit sign or panel at the lobby where the landlord allows it, clear signs at the lift and on each floor, and a lit name board at your own door. See wayfinding and office signs.

How much do shop signs cost in Dubai?

A basic shop name board in Dubai can start from under two thousand dirhams, while a complete lit shop front with 3D letters, a projecting sign and window graphics usually costs several thousand, and flagship frontages more. Size, sign type, lighting, fascia work and installation access drive the price.

Rather than one price, here are typical packages. Your quote comes with your mockup.

For individual sign prices, see our sign board prices.

What changes the price

• Size and number of letters on the name board.
• Sign type and lighting: non-lit is cheapest, then light box, push-through, front-lit letters, and halo-lit or metal letters.
• Fascia work: reusing a sound fascia saves a lot; a new subframe and ACP panel adds cost.
• Extra signs: projecting sign, window graphics, door vinyl, interior signs.
• Access and timing: height, scaffolding, and night installation in malls.
• Removal: taking down and disposing of the old sign.
• Permits and approvals: drawings and authority or mall fees, shown separately.

What's included in our shop sign quote

1. Site survey, measurements and a check behind the existing fascia
2. True-scale mockup on a photo of your frontage, day and night
3. Every sign itemised: name board, projecting sign, windows, door, interior
4. Materials, lighting and power supplies written out
5. Drawings for the mall and the authority, and submission (fees shown separately)
6. Removal of the old sign and making good
7. Installation, testing, timer or photocell
8. Warranty: 1 year on materials, LEDs, power supplies and workmanship

How to spend less without looking cheap

1. Put the budget into the fascia name first, then add projecting and window signs.
2. Keep the existing fascia if it's sound; new letters on a cleaned or re-skinned panel look new.
3. Light only the name, not the tagline.
4. Order everything together. One survey, one set of drawings and one installation visit cost less than three separate jobs.
5. Give yourself time. Rush jobs and extra night visits cost more.

Designing a shop sign that brings people in

A shop sign works when a passer-by can read your name and understand what you sell in the second or two they look at it. That means one clear name, a logo that reads at a distance, strong contrast, the right size for the street, and supporting signs in the windows that explain what's inside.

• Name first, everything else second. The fascia carries the trade name and logo. Services, phone numbers and offers go on the windows and door.
• Say what you are. If your name doesn't explain what you sell, add a short descriptor in the windows or on the projecting sign ("Pharmacy", "Bakery", "Mobile repairs").
• Contrast with the building. Light letters on a dark fascia or dark letters on a light one. Check the colours against the building and your neighbours.
• Match your brand. Use the same colours and fonts as your packaging, uniforms and social media, so the shop is recognisable from photos.
• Design for day and night. A sign that only works when lit looks empty in the afternoon. We show both on the mockup.
• Think about photos. Many customers find shops on maps and social media. A clean, well-lit frontage photographs better and makes your map listing more convincing.

Browse shop name board designs for ideas.

Five common shop sign mistakes

1. Too many words on the fascia, so nothing is readable.
2. Letters too small for the street, often because the fascia was designed on a screen rather than on a photo of the site.
3. A white light box that looks cheap and no longer meets the rules.
4. No projecting sign on a street where everyone approaches from the side.
5. Windows covered in faded, peeling graphics that undo a good fascia.

Window and door graphics that work

Window and door graphics do three jobs: they show what you sell, they give privacy where needed, and they carry opening hours and offers. The best ones are simple, sized to be read from the pavement, made from the right vinyl for the job, and easy to change when your offer or hours change, for example during Ramadan.

Practical tips:

• Leave some glass clear. Fully covered windows make a shop look closed. Keep a band at eye level clear, or use frosted film with a clear logo so people can see in.
• Size text for the pavement. Service names and offers need to be readable from a few metres away, not just up close.
• One-way vision has limits. It dims the view out and reduces daylight inside, and it looks best from a distance. Use it where branding matters more than light.
• Plan for changes. Hours change during Ramadan and on holidays. Put hours on a separate panel so they can be swapped without redoing the door.
• Use the right vinyl. Short-term promotions can use cheaper vinyl. Long-term graphics in sun-facing windows need a durable, UV-resistant film so they don't fade or crack.

See window graphics and printing for materials and prices.

Planning around your opening date

Shop signs are often the last thing on a fit-out programme and the first thing a customer sees, so plan backwards from your opening date. For a street shop, allow about three to four weeks from first survey to installation. For a mall unit, allow longer, because the mall's approval comes before the authority's.

A typical plan, counting back from opening day:

If your opening date is close, tell us at the first call. We can often run design, approval and fabrication in parallel, fit temporary window graphics while the main sign is being approved, and install the fascia the moment approval comes through.

What to have ready: trade licence, tenancy contract (Ejari) or landlord NOC, the mall or landlord signage manual, your logo as a vector file, and the location of the power supply.

After opening: looking after your shop front

• Clean the fascia sign every few months with a soft cloth and mild soap; dust dulls lit letters faster than you'd expect.
• Check before summer: lighting, fixings, sealant, and the power supply behind the fascia.
• Replace faded window graphics before they peel. Tired windows make a new fascia look old.
• Update hours signs for Ramadan and holidays.
• Keep the projecting sign tight on its bracket and check it after strong winds.

We offer yearly maintenance visits, and we service signs we didn't install.

Shop signs by trade

Every trade has its own sign habits. Pharmacies need a green cross people can spot at night, cafés need warmth and a sign that photographs well, jewellers need finishes that look expensive up close, and grocery stores need big, cheap-to-run signs across wide frontages. Our design gallery shows examples by trade.

• Pharmacies and clinics: lit green cross projecting box, clean lit letters, clear opening hours. See pharmacy and medical designs.
• Restaurants and cafés: warm-lit or halo-lit letters, a projecting sign, neon inside, backlit menu. See restaurant and café designs.
• Boutiques and fashion: halo-lit or brushed metal letters, minimal windows with seasonal graphics. See boutique designs.
• Salons and barbers: script or neon name, projecting sign, price list inside. See salon and barber designs.
• Grocery and supermarkets: large fascia with lit letters on a dark panel, window graphics for offers. See grocery designs.
• Mobile and electronics: bold lit letters, brand-partner rules, promotional windows. See mobile shop designs.
• Jewellers: gold or brass letters, halo lighting, refined windows. See jewellery designs.
• Bakeries, hardware, auto and furniture: see all shop name board designs.