Putting a company logo on a car in Dubai requires an RTA advertisement permit, a compliant design that includes Arabic text alongside English, professional installation, and the vehicle must be registered commercially under a company trade licence — not under a private individual’s name. The permit costs AED 250–500 annually for logo and partial branding on a light vehicle. Operating with an unpermitted commercial logo carries fines from AED 500 and a Mulkiya block.
You have a business, a car, and a logo. The idea of combining all three seems straightforward — put the logo on the door, drive around Dubai, and let the vehicle do some marketing work for you.
Dubai’s regulations treat a vehicle displaying a commercial logo as a mobile advertisement operating on public roads. That changes the process from “stick a decal on the door” to “obtain a permit, meet design standards, use professional materials, and keep the vehicle’s paperwork updated.” None of this is complicated once you understand what’s required — but skipping any step creates a compliance problem with real financial consequences.
Here’s exactly what the legal process looks like.
Can You Put a Logo on Your Car in Dubai?
Yes — on a commercially registered vehicle. Not on a personally registered one.
Commercial vehicles (eligible): If the car is registered under a company trade licence — whether a UAE mainland company, a free zone entity, or a sole proprietorship — it can legally display the company logo with an RTA advertisement permit. The logo must correspond to the company name and activities as registered on the trade licence.
Personal vehicles (not eligible): A car registered in a private individual’s name cannot legally display a commercial company logo in Dubai. This is not a grey area or a paperwork technicality — it is a straightforward prohibition under Dubai’s vehicle advertising regulations. Moving a commercial logo onto a personal car, however small the decal, is non-compliant advertising on an ineligible vehicle.
If your company operates vehicles registered personally under a director’s or owner’s name, those vehicles need to be re-registered under the company entity before they can carry commercial branding. The vehicle registration category determines eligibility — not the size of the logo.
What Approvals Are Required
Two regulatory steps apply before any commercial logo goes on a vehicle:
1. RTA Advertisement Permit
The Roads and Transport Authority requires a permit for any commercial vehicle displaying advertising — logos, contact numbers, service descriptions, or any graphic promoting a business. The permit is vehicle-specific, issued annually, and must be renewed before expiry.
Application process: Submit a compliant design mockup and supporting documents through madamedia.com. Permit approval typically takes 3–7 business days. No commercial logo can be installed before the permit is issued.
Cost: AED 250–500 per year for partial branding (logo and contact details) on a light vehicle. Full wraps cost AED 1,000 per year. See our vehicle branding permit fees guide for the complete fee schedule.
For the full permit application process, see our RTA advertisement permit guide.
2. CID NOC (If Changing the Vehicle’s Base Colour)
If the logo is being applied as part of a wrap that changes the vehicle’s registered colour — for example, a white car being partially wrapped in brand colours — a CID No Objection Certificate from Dubai Police is also required before installation.
Logo-only decals applied to the existing vehicle colour (door logos on a white car that stays white) generally do not require a CID NOC — only the RTA permit.
For the CID process, fees (AED 120), and one-month validity window, see our CID permission guide.
Design Rules Every Car Logo Must Follow
The RTA reviews the logo design for compliance before issuing the permit. Several specific rules apply:
Arabic text is mandatory. Every commercial vehicle logo in Dubai must include Arabic text alongside English. If your company name is in English, the Arabic equivalent must appear on the vehicle at a size of at least 50% the height of the English text. This is the most commonly missed compliance requirement for logo branding — and the most common cause of first-submission permit rejection.
Company name must match the trade licence. The name on the vehicle must be exactly as registered. An abbreviated name, a trading name, or a stylised version that doesn’t match the official registration record is a rejection reason.
No window or light coverage. The logo cannot cover any windshield, driver or passenger side windows, lights, indicators, or licence plates. Door and body panel placement avoids these zones automatically — but rear window logos using solid vinyl are rejected.
No prohibited content. Standard RTA content restrictions apply even to logos: no photographs of real people, no prohibited colour combinations resembling emergency services, no restricted content categories.
For the complete compliance reference, see our RTA vehicle branding design guidelines.
Types of Car Logo Branding Available
Door logos (most common): The company name and logo on the driver and passenger front doors. This is the standard for company cars, sales vehicles, and executive transport. It communicates business identity without changing the car’s overall appearance significantly.
Rear window logos: Applied as perforated (one-way vision) vinyl on the rear windshield, allowing the driver to see out while displaying the logo externally. Maximum 50% coverage of the rear windshield. No solid vinyl on rear windows.
Partial panel branding: Logo plus contact details across the doors and rear — the standard “spot graphics” format for business cars. Identifies the vehicle and provides a contact method without full wrap coverage.
Magnetic logos: Removable magnetic decals are used by some businesses where vehicles serve dual personal and commercial purposes. Standard RTA advertisement permit rules still apply to magnetic logos when they’re on the vehicle — the removability doesn’t create a compliance exemption. Note that magnetic logos don’t adhere reliably at highway speeds and are not recommended for vehicles regularly operating on Dubai’s main roads.
For a full breakdown of branding options and what each covers, see our vehicle branding types guide.
Step-by-Step: The Legal Process for Putting a Logo on Your Car
Step 1: Confirm vehicle registration category. Check the Mulkiya — it must show the vehicle registered under a company, not a private individual.
Step 2: Prepare the logo design for RTA submission. The design must include the company name in Arabic and English, be formatted as a compliant mockup (all four vehicle sides on white background, 300 DPI minimum), and meet all RTA content and placement rules.
Step 3: Apply for the RTA advertisement permit through madamedia.com. Approval takes 3–7 business days. Do not proceed to installation before the permit is issued.
Step 4: Professional installation. The logo must be applied with automotive-grade cast vinyl using proper surface preparation — IPA wipedown, temperature-controlled environment, and knifeless tape to protect the paint. A poorly applied logo that peels or bubbles within months is not just a brand problem — it can be cited during vehicle inspection as a maintenance issue.
Step 5: Keep the permit on file. The RTA advertisement permit is valid for one year. Store a copy in the vehicle documents alongside the Mulkiya. Permit renewal follows the same madamedia.com process annually.
For how mockup preparation works and what the submission involves, see our vehicle branding mockup guide.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Fines
No permit. Any commercial logo on a business vehicle without a valid RTA advertisement permit is non-compliant. Fines start from AED 500 and the vehicle’s Mulkiya file is blocked until the issue is resolved.
Missing Arabic text. A logo with only English text will not pass RTA review. If installed without a permit — or installed after a non-compliant review — the branding must be removed before a compliant version can be produced.
Logo on a personally registered vehicle. A common situation where a business owner puts the company logo on their personal car. Non-compliant regardless of logo size.
DIY application in uncontrolled conditions. Dubai’s combination of heat, dust, and sand contaminants destroys adhesion on improperly prepared surfaces. A logo applied in a dusty car park without IPA wipedown typically fails within weeks. Beyond the cosmetic problem, a peeling logo on a business vehicle creates a negative brand impression that’s worse than no logo at all.
Covering window areas. Any opaque vinyl on the driver or front passenger windows is a safety violation regardless of the permit status. Perforated vinyl on the rear windshield has a 50% maximum coverage limit.
How Much Does Putting a Logo on a Car in Dubai Cost?
Government fees:
- RTA advertisement permit: AED 250–500 per year (partial branding on light vehicle)
- Knowledge and innovation fees: AED 20 additional
Printajo service fees (one-time installation):
- Logo and contact details on both doors: from AED 800
- Full spot graphics package (doors, rear, service panels): AED 800–1,500
- Cast vinyl material, laminate, and professional installation included
For full pricing across all coverage types and vehicle categories, see our vehicle branding cost guide.
FAQ: Car Logos in Dubai
Do I need RTA approval for a small logo on my car door? Yes. Size doesn’t determine the permit requirement — commercial purpose does. Any logo promoting a business on a commercial vehicle requires a valid RTA advertisement permit, regardless of how small the logo is.
Can I put my company logo on my personal car? No. Dubai regulations prohibit commercial logos on vehicles registered in a private individual’s name. The vehicle must be registered under a company trade licence to be eligible for an RTA advertisement permit.
What happens if I drive without a logo permit? Fines start from AED 500, and a block is placed on your vehicle’s traffic file. The Mulkiya cannot be renewed until the block is cleared. The branding must be removed before the vehicle returns to the road.
Does the Arabic text rule apply to logos? Yes. Any commercial text — including the company name displayed as a logo — must be accompanied by Arabic text at minimum 50% the height of the English text. A logo in English with no Arabic equivalent will not pass the RTA permit review.
How long does the process take from start to installation? Allow 2 weeks: 3–5 days for design and mockup preparation, 3–7 business days for RTA permit approval, and 1 day for professional installation. Starting the process with a confirmed design and complete documents keeps this timeline on track.
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