Outdoor shop owners in Abu Dhabi have up to 3 months to comply with the new commercial signage regulations that were imposed by the Department of Economic Development (DED). The DED has issued a booklet that explains to outdoor shop owners the specifications required for outdoor signs. The new regulations are part of the DED’s mission to create a neater and more appealing look for the city.
The regulations mention that the new sign boards should not contain information like a mobile number, service description or logos. “If the logo is part of the company’s brand name then it has to be first approved by the Ministry of Economy,” said Khalid Saeed Al Muraikhi, Head of Advertising and Permits Section at the DED. “The board must display only the company’s official name, landline number and website, if provided.”
Al Murakihi said that shop owners, who are due to renew their licenses, have up to three months from the date of renewal to comply with the new regulations. “So, for some of them the period for complying with the regulation would be a year and three months for now. It is a one- time application unless the shop owners want to change the sign or details on it,” he told reporters at a press conference.
The DED has begun implementing the new regulations in the areas of Mussafah and Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi.
Al Muraikhi also mentioned that the signboards must display the name of the company both in Arabic and English. The Arabic name must be on the left side of the banner, while the English on the right. He stressed the importance of printing the company’s name in the sign boards. He said that failing to comply with the regulation will result in the removal of the banner and companies will be asked to print the banner again as specified by DED.
According to Al Muraikhi, since the inception of the new regulation from April this year, about 686 signage boards were placed in accordance with the new regulation, and about 5000 declarations were signed that agreed to comply with the new law.
He said that the Department of Inspection and Monitoring Department will conduct field visits every day in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. The regulations will apply, especially in the outskirts of the Western region that include Ghayathi, Liwa and Madinat Zayed.
