To get CID permission for a vehicle color change in Dubai, apply through the Dubai Police app under Vehicle Services → Vehicle Color Change Request. You’ll need your Emirates ID, Mulkiya, plate number, current and desired colours, and five vehicle photos. The fee is AED 120. Approval typically arrives within 3 business days. The NOC is valid for one month only — the colour change and Mulkiya update must be completed within that window.
Whether you’re changing a company fleet vehicle’s colour to match a rebrand or wrapping a commercial van in a new colour as part of a business branding project, the CID NOC from Dubai Police is the first legal step in the process — and the one most people start too late.
The NOC is only valid for 30 days from approval. That means: permit received on June 1, colour change must be completed by June 30. For a single vehicle this is comfortably achievable. For a fleet of 10 vehicles where the wrapping workshop can complete 2–3 vehicles per week, staggering applications is essential — applying for all 10 simultaneously creates a 30-day window that the workshop schedule can’t always meet.
Here’s the complete process.
Why CID Permission Is Required
Dubai Police’s CID department issues the NOC for three specific legal purposes:
Verification against criminal records. Before a vehicle’s colour changes, CID checks that it has no open criminal cases, active seizures, or outstanding violations that would be complicated by a colour change. A vehicle with an open case cannot receive a NOC until the case is resolved.
Prevention of illegal use. Vehicle colour is a key identification marker in traffic enforcement and criminal investigations. Colour changes that aren’t formally registered create records gaps that can be exploited. The permit requirement closes this gap.
Maintaining accurate official records. Both the RTA registration system and Dubai Police vehicle databases store colour as a core identification field. The CID NOC triggers the update chain that keeps these databases synchronised with the physical vehicle.
The NOC is required for both paint resprays and vinyl wraps that change the dominant registered colour. The fact that a vinyl wrap is physically reversible does not exempt it from this requirement.
What You Need Before Applying
Prepare all of the following before opening the Dubai Police app. Incomplete applications are returned, which delays the 3-day approval clock from restarting.
Required for all applications:
- Emirates ID (valid, not expired)
- Vehicle Registration Card (Mulkiya) — for each vehicle being changed
- Plate number, vehicle category, and code (from the Mulkiya)
- Current vehicle colour (exactly as listed on the Mulkiya)
- Desired new colour(s) — you can select up to 2–3 colours for dual-tone designs
- Contact email and phone number
- Five photos of the vehicle — taken specifically for this application:
- Front view
- Rear view
- Left side view
- Right side view
- Full body view (angled to show the complete vehicle)
Photo requirements: Photos must be clear, taken in good lighting, showing the vehicle’s full exterior without obstructions. They must reflect the current colour of the vehicle as registered on the Mulkiya. Photos taken after any modification to the vehicle will create a mismatch with the Mulkiya record.
For commercial vehicles being wrapped for business branding: Note that the CID NOC covers the colour change only. Commercial vehicles displaying business logos, contact details, or any advertising also require a separate RTA advertisement permit before the branding is installed. These are two different permits, applied for through two different systems. See our RTA advertisement permit guide for the full process.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Download and Open the Dubai Police App
The CID NOC application is processed entirely through the Dubai Police mobile application — not the website, not in-person. The app is available on iOS and Android.
After installation, open the app and navigate to: Vehicle Services → Vehicle Color Change Request
Step 2: Log In With UAE Pass
UAE Pass is the recommended login method — it auto-fills your Emirates ID information and reduces manual entry errors. If you don’t have UAE Pass, log in with your Dubai Police account credentials.
Step 3: Enter Vehicle and Colour Details
Complete the application form with the following:
- Emirates ID (will auto-populate if using UAE Pass)
- Vehicle Registration Card details (Mulkiya number, plate number, category, code)
- Current colour — must match the Mulkiya exactly. If your Mulkiya says “White” and the vehicle has been repainted grey without a prior update, resolve that discrepancy first.
- New desired colour(s) — select from the available colour list. Up to 2–3 colours can be selected for dual-tone or custom colour combinations.
Step 4: Upload the Five Vehicle Photos
Upload the five required photos: front, rear, left side, right side, and full body. Photos must be clear and recent — taken within a few days of the application.
The app will validate that all five angles are uploaded before allowing the application to proceed. Ensure file sizes are within the app’s upload limits and that images are not compressed to the point of being unclear.
Step 5: Submit and Pay the Fee
The total application fee is AED 120, broken down as:
- AED 100 — Application fee
- AED 10 — Knowledge fee
- AED 10 — Innovation fee
Payment is made through the app via credit card or approved digital wallet at the point of submission.
After payment, a confirmation screen and reference number are generated. Save this reference number — you’ll need it to track the application status.
Step 6: Receive the CID NOC Certificate
Once approved, the NOC certificate is issued digitally and accessible through the Dubai Police app and website under your account. Approval typically arrives within 3 business days of a complete, accepted application.
The NOC certificate confirms:
- The vehicle (by plate number and registration details)
- The approved new colour(s)
- The applicant’s details
- The NOC issue date
Critical: the NOC is valid for 30 days from the issue date.
The colour change must be completed and the Mulkiya updated within this 30-day window. If the deadline passes without completion, the entire application must be restarted from Step 1. The fee is not refunded or carried forward.
What Happens If the Application Is Rejected
Rejections are returned with a stated reason through the app. Common rejection reasons and their resolutions:
Outstanding violation or case: The vehicle has an open traffic case or unpaid fine. The violation must be resolved through the Dubai Police or RTA traffic system before the NOC application is resubmitted.
Colour mismatch on the Mulkiya: The current colour entered in the application doesn’t match the Mulkiya record. The Mulkiya must be updated to reflect the vehicle’s actual current colour before the application proceeds.
Photo quality issue: Photos are unclear, incomplete, or don’t show the full vehicle from all required angles. Retake and resubmit.
Vehicle under seizure or restriction: Vehicles with active restrictions cannot receive a NOC. These must be resolved through the relevant authority before reapplication.
Rejections do not carry a waiting period — a corrected application can be resubmitted immediately after the stated issue is resolved.
Fleet Applications: Managing Multiple Vehicles
Each vehicle requires its own separate CID NOC application. There is no batch application process — one application, one vehicle.
For a fleet of vehicles being wrapped simultaneously, the 30-day validity window is the critical constraint. If the workshop can complete 3 vehicles per week, submitting all 10 NOC applications on the same day creates pressure to complete every vehicle within 30 days. Submitting applications in batches — aligned to the workshop’s installation schedule — gives each vehicle its own 30-day window from when it enters production.
The staggered application timeline: Apply for NOC → vehicle enters workshop before the 30-day expiry → wrap completed → RTA inspection → Mulkiya update. Build this sequence vehicle by vehicle, not all at once.
For the full commercial vehicle colour change process — including the RTA inspection and Mulkiya update steps that follow the CID NOC — see our commercial vehicle colour change guide.
After the CID NOC: What Comes Next
The CID NOC is Step 1 of the colour change process — it authorises the change. The vehicle cannot legally operate in the new colour until the remaining steps are completed:
- CID NOC ← This article covers this step
- Wrap or paint installation
- RTA vehicle inspection (AED 170 for vehicles over 3 years old)
- Mulkiya update (AED 380 amendment fee)
For the Mulkiya update process and full fee breakdown, see our Mulkiya update guide.
If your vehicle is being wrapped for commercial business branding — logos, contact details, advertising — the RTA advertisement permit is also required before installation. The CID NOC and the RTA advertisement permit are applied for separately but must both be in hand before the wrap goes on.
FAQ: CID Permission for Vehicle Color Change
How long does CID approval take? Typically 3 business days for a complete and correctly submitted application. Incomplete applications — missing photos, mismatched details — are returned without entering the review queue.
How long is the CID NOC valid? 30 days from the issue date. The colour change and Mulkiya update must both be completed within this window. If the deadline passes, the application must be resubmitted from the beginning.
Can I apply for the CID NOC before I’ve chosen a wrapping company? Yes, but confirm the wrapping company’s installation timeline before applying. If the company can’t complete the installation before the 30-day window closes, you’ll need to reapply. Apply when you have a confirmed installation date.
Is the CID NOC required for vinyl wraps or only paint jobs? Both. Any change to the vehicle’s dominant registered colour — whether achieved through paint or vinyl wrap — requires a CID NOC. The vinyl wrap being removable does not exempt it from this requirement.
Can I apply from outside Dubai? The application is through the Dubai Police app and can be submitted from any location. However, the vehicle photos must show the physical vehicle, so someone with access to the vehicle needs to take and upload the photos.
What if I change my mind about the colour after the NOC is issued? The NOC specifies the approved colour(s). Installing a different colour from what was approved means the vehicle won’t pass the RTA inspection. If your colour preference changes after the NOC is issued, submit a new application for the revised colour before proceeding to installation.
Is there a vehicle age limit for applying? No age restriction on the application. However, vehicles over 3 years old pay AED 170 for the RTA inspection that follows installation; vehicles under 3 years receive the inspection free. Both age categories require the CID NOC.
Commercial vehicle colour change guide → | RTA approval service → | Vehicle branding service →
