Permits and compliance

Your Vehicle Advertising Permit in Dubai, Approved Without the Back and Forth

Every branded business vehicle in Dubai needs a Permit to Advertise on Vehicles. Here is who issues it, what it costs, what to send and why applications get rejected, and how we get yours approved first time.

Fees and rules checked November 2026 against Mada Media and RTA sources

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We prepare and submit the application
Mockups drawn to the design guidelines
Usually 3-7 working days

Sticker Printing in Dubai design by Printajo

5,000+projects delivered

AED 270
Car permit fee from: 3-7 days
Working days to approval: AED 120
Dubai Police colour-change fee: 4
Core documents to submit

At a glance

RTA Approval in brief

A vehicle advertising permit in Dubai, the Permit to Advertise on Vehicles, is issued by Mada Media, which now handles what used to be called RTA approval. For a car the fee is about AED 270 for logo or door stickers, AED 520 for a partial wrap and AED 1,020 for a full wrap. Approval usually takes 3-7 working days.

RTA approval, now Mada Media

Who issues the vehicle advertising permit in Dubai

For years everyone called it RTA approval, and most people still search for it that way. Since Dubai Decree No. 20 of 2024, the Permit to Advertise on Vehicles is issued by Mada Media, which works with the RTA and Dubai Municipality. Its online permit platform opened in April 2025 (Dubai Media Office). The purpose has not changed: branding on Dubai roads must be safe, honest and match the approved design.

You need the permit as soon as a vehicle carries commercial branding. That includes a single logo on a door, a phone number on the rear window, or a full wrap on a Coaster bus. Driving a branded vehicle without a permit risks a fine, and a design that differs from the approved mockup counts as unapproved.

Applies to cars, vans, trucks, buses and food trucks with commercial graphics
One permit per vehicle, tied to the approved design
We prepare and submit it as part of every branding job

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Permit fees

How much the vehicle advertising permit costs for a car

These are the authority's fees for a car from our recent quotes. The fee rises with the share of the vehicle that carries advertising.

Logo or door stickers

from AED 270

Spot branding: logo, name and contact details on the doors

Partial wrap

from AED 520

Graphics on several panels with the paint colour still visible

Full wrap

from AED 1,020

Advertising over the whole body of the car

See details

Colour change (Dubai Police)

from AED 120

Extra fee when the wrap changes more than half the body colour, followed by a Mulkiya update

Fees are set by the authority and can change; we confirm the current fee on your quote. Vans, trucks and buses are assessed on their own size and coverage. Branding costs are separate: see vehicle branding prices.

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Documents

Documents you need for the permit

Four items cover most applications. Send them on WhatsApp or email and we check them before anything is submitted.

Trade licence of the company whose name appears on the vehicle
Vehicle registration (Mulkiya) for each vehicle being branded
For a leased or rented vehicle: a no-objection letter (NOC) from the leasing company
Design mockup showing every side of the vehicle, which we prepare
Owner and company details, including who to contact for the application
For a colour change: Dubai Police (CID) permission and a Mulkiya update

See how a permit mockup is prepared

Step by step

How the permit application works, from mockup to approval

You approve the design and send documents. We handle the application and the follow-up.

01Design to the guidelines1-2 daysWe lay out the branding with windscreen, lights and number plates clear, and content that meets the vehicle advertising design guidelines.
02Permit-ready mockupSame dayThe approved design becomes a clear, true-to-scale mockup of each side of your exact model. Unclear mockups are the most common reason for delay.
03Document checkSame dayWe match your trade licence and Mulkiya to the vehicle and the company name on the design, so nothing is missing at submission.
04Submit to Mada MediaDay 1We submit the application on your behalf and pay the authority fee, which is shown as its own line on your quote.
05Follow up and correct3-7 daysIf the authority asks for a change, we revise the mockup and resubmit straight away. You get updates on WhatsApp.
06Permit issued, then fitOn approvalOnce the permit is issued we print and install exactly the approved design. For a colour change, the Mulkiya is then updated.

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Why applications fail

Common reasons a vehicle advertising permit is rejected

Most rejections are avoidable. These are the ones we see and how we prevent them.

Most common

Unclear mockup

Low-resolution or out-of-scale drawings that do not show exactly what goes where. We submit clean, true-to-scale mockups of every side.

Safety

Covering windscreen, lights or plates

Graphics over the windscreen, headlights, tail lights or number plates are refused. Our layouts keep these areas clear from the first draft.

Language

Arabic text missing

Advertising text on a Dubai vehicle is expected to include Arabic, and the trade name must match the trade licence. We set the Arabic and English copy together, so the mockup goes in complete.

Content

Content outside the guidelines

Misleading or offensive content breaks the design guidelines. We review your wording and images against the design guidelines before submission.

Paperwork

Missing or mismatched documents

An expired trade licence, a missing Mulkiya or details that do not match the vehicle. We check every document before it goes in.

What applies to you

Which approvals your branding needs

The advertising permit and the colour-change rules are separate. A colour change can apply even when there is no advertising.

Type of branding	Advertising permit	Dubai Police colour fee	Mulkiya update
Logo or door stickers (business)	Yes, about AED 270 for a car	No	No
Partial wrap (business)	Yes, about AED 520 for a car	Only if over half the body changes colour	Only after a colour change
Full wrap (business)	Yes, about AED 1,020 for a car	Yes, AED 120 if the main colour changes	Yes, if the main colour changes
Personal colour-change wrap	No, if there is no advertising	Yes: CID permission first, AED 120 fee	Yes

Read the step-by-step colour change guide for the Dubai Police and Mulkiya process.

Renewal and cancellation

Renewing, changing or cancelling a vehicle advertising permit

A permit is linked to one vehicle and one approved design. It is issued for a set period and has to be renewed before it expires if the branding stays on the vehicle. Keep a note of the expiry date for every vehicle in your fleet, so no branded vehicle drives on an expired permit.

If you change the design, a new phone number, a new logo or a bigger wrap, the vehicle needs a permit for the new design. If you remove the branding, sell the vehicle or return it to a leasing company, the permit should be cancelled. Validity periods and renewal terms are set by Mada Media, so we confirm the current rules when you contact us. Our article on permit renewal and cancellation goes into more detail.

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Sources we check

Mada Media: Permit to Advertise on Vehicles official permit service and current fees
Dubai Media Office: Mada Media launches its permit platform (April 2025)
RTA: vehicle ownership amendment service Mulkiya update after a wrap
Khaleej Times: how to get a permit for a company logo on your car last published RTA fee table

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is RTA approval still needed for vehicle branding in Dubai?

The approval is still needed, but it is now issued by Mada Media as the Permit to Advertise on Vehicles. People still call it RTA approval. Any vehicle with commercial branding needs it, from a door logo to a full wrap, and we prepare and submit the application for you.

How long does Mada Media take to approve a vehicle advertising permit?

About 3-7 working days from submission in most cases. The biggest cause of delay is a mockup that is unclear or breaks the guidelines, followed by missing documents. We send a clean, true-to-scale mockup and check every document first to keep it to the short end.

Does vehicle branding in Dubai need Arabic text?

Yes. Advertising text on a vehicle is expected to include Arabic, commonly read as at least half of the advertising content, and the company name must match the trade licence. Logos and phone numbers can stay as they are. Our designers write the Arabic and English copy together, so the mockup is complete when it is submitted.

Can I drive my branded vehicle while the permit is being processed?

You should not drive with commercial branding before the permit is issued, as that risks a fine. That is why we submit the permit as soon as the design is approved and install the branding once it comes through.

What happens if my permit application is rejected?

The authority tells you what needs to change. Usually it is the mockup, content that breaks the guidelines, or a missing document. We correct the design or paperwork and resubmit straight away, so a rejection normally means a short delay rather than starting again.

Do I need a new permit if I change my phone number on the vehicle?

Yes. The permit covers the design that was approved, so a changed phone number, logo or layout needs approval for the new design. We update the mockup, submit it and replace only the panels that change on the vehicle.

Does the permit cover the colour change of my vehicle?

No, those are separate. The advertising permit covers commercial content. If the wrap changes the main colour, more than half the body, Dubai Police approval is also needed with an AED 120 fee, and the Mulkiya must then be updated to the new colour.

Who pays the permit fee, and is it included in the branding quote?

The fee is paid to the authority. We list it as a separate line on your quote at the current rate, for a car AED 270, AED 520 or AED 1,020 depending on coverage, so you see exactly what is the permit and what is the branding.

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