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Decree

General UAE Legal Questions LawDecree No. (6) of 2020

Dubai Law·6 of 2020

Issued Date
February 14, 2020
Effective from
February 14, 2020
Articles
23
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026
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Plain-language summary

Regulates advertising permits and display in Dubai, setting rules for permit holders, advertising spaces, fees, removal obligations, permit revocation, and pena…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

23 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Decree, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise: Emirate: The Emirate of Dubai. Executive Council: The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. DM: The Dubai Municipality. RTA: The Roads and Transport Authority. DED: The Department of Economic Development. Authority: Any of the authorities supervising Special Development Zones or free zones in the Emirate, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. Competent Entity: This includes the DM, the RTA, the DED, the Authority, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and the Dubai Maritime City Authority, each within its own jurisdiction. Director General: The director general of a Competent Entity or any other officer holding a similar position. Advertisement: An announcement made to the public, or to a segment of the public, to promote a commodity, a service, an event, an industrial

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 3 of 12 or commercial product, a device or machine, an activity, work, or a project; whether in writing or in the form of drawings, pictures, sounds, lights, or any other means of expression. This announcement is made through the use of any Advertising Medium, whether made of wood, metal, paper, fabric, glass, or any other material used for this purpose. Advertising Medium: Any fixed or mobile permanent or temporary medium used for displaying Advertisements, whether a traditional or electronic medium. This includes boards, fences, pillars, balloons, aircraft, Vehicles, Maritime Vessels, stickers, maps, leaflets, and any other medium; but does not include newspapers, magazines, periodicals, websites, radio, television, and cinema theatres. Advertising Material: The text, pictures, symbols, logos, marks, drawings, or any other content of an Advertising Medium. Advertising Space: This includes, without limitation, commercial outlets and centres, building façades and roofs, vacant land, Rights of Way, squares, parks, public beaches, Vehicles, Maritime Vessels, and any other space in which an Advertisement can be displayed using an Advertising Medium. Right of Way: The area between two (2) building lines, as demarcated on the plans and maps approved by the Competent Entity. Right of Way Airspace: The airspace between two (2) building lines, as demarcated on the plans and maps approved by the Competent Entity. Establishment: A company or sole proprietorship authorised to conduct the activity of advertising for others in the Emirate. Permit: A document issued by the Competent Entity in accordance with the provisions of this Decree authorising the display of an Advertisement in an Advertising Space. Permit Holder: A Person authorised to display an Advertisement in the Emirate pursuant to the provisions of this Decree and the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof. System: A central electronic platform in the Emirate that aims at streamlining and regulating procedures for issuing Permits and for documenting relevant data and information.

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 4 of 12 Manual: The procedures, conditions, requirements, and specifications that must be met for the purpose of issuing Permits. Person: A natural or legal person. Scope of Application

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) This Decree will apply to all Advertisements in the Emirate, including those displayed in Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. Objectives of the Decree

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) This Decree aims to: 1. preserve the visual and aesthetic appearance of the Emirate and ensure that Advertising Media are in conformity with its urban environment; 2. regulate Advertisements in the Emirate in accordance with clear and specific rules and procedures; 3. promote cooperation between Competent Entities and the private sector in all matters related to Advertisements, with a view to supporting marketing and promotional plans for goods, products, services, and the like; 4. preserve the public safety and traffic safety in the Emirate by regulating the placement of Advertising Media on commercial outlets, buildings, vacant land, roads, tunnels, bridges, squares, and other public places; and 5. oversee Advertising Material in order to prevent any deceit or misrepresentation that negatively affects the public or conflicts with public order and morals. Advertisements in the Emirate

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) a. No person may display an Advertisement in any Advertising Space in the Emirate using an Advertising Medium without first obtaining a Permit. This Permit will be issued in accordance with the Manual.

    -- 4 of 12 --

    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 5 of 12 b. A Person who conducts an Economic Activity in the Emirate must display an Advertisement, on the façade of his premises, stating the type of his activity and his trade name in accordance with the conditions and rules stipulated in the Manual. Competent Entities

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) Permits will be issued by the Competent Entities as follows: a. by the Authority, where the Advertisement is displayed within a Special Development Zone or a free zone, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre; b. by the RTA, where the Advertisement is displayed within the Right of Way or the Right of Way Airspace; on the traffic and public transport systems, means of public transport, or stations of the RTA; or on any Vehicle; c. by the DED, where the Advertisement is displayed on the façade of a commercial outlet or in a commercial centre to indicate the name and trade mark of the commercial outlet or centre, or where it appears in leaflets or stickers; d. by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, in case of Aerial Advertisements undertaken by aircraft, including drones and balloons, or implemented using pointing Lasers in the skies or otherwise; e. by the DM, where the Advertisement is displayed within any vacant land; building; or coastal area, water body, or desert area, including their structures and vacant spaces; or f. by the Dubai Maritime City Authority, where the Advertisement is displayed on a Maritime Vessel, excluding the vessels used for public passenger transport. Terms of Permits

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) A Permit will be issued by the Competent Entity in accordance with the provisions of this Decree and the procedures, conditions, requirements, specifications, and time frames specified in the Manual. Preparation of Manual

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) The DM will, in coordination with the Competent Entities, prepare the Manual, which must contain all the procedures, conditions, requirements, specifications, and time frames for

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 6 of 12 issuing and renewing Permits and for displaying Advertisements. When preparing the Manual, the following must be taken into account: 1. the type, form, dimensions, and size of Advertising Media; 2. the language that must be used in Advertisements; 3. the technical specifications that must be met by Advertising Media; 4. the Advertising Spaces where Advertisements will be placed; 5. the engineering and construction requirements that must be met by Advertising Media; 6. the environmental, urban, and planning requirements and the public safety and traffic safety requirements that must be met when using Advertising Media; and 7. the maps, plans, drawings, and other documents that must be submitted for the purpose of issuing Permits. Permit Applications

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) A Permit application will be submitted through the System. An application that meets the requirements, and is supported by the documents, prescribed by the Competent Entity will be determined within ten (10) working days from the date of its submission. System Set-up and Management

  9. 9

    Article 9

    Article (9) a. The DM will undertake the set-up, operation, management, oversight, and development of the System in coordination with the Competent Entities. For these purposes, the DM will have the authority to: 1. regulate the process of obtaining Permits; 2. create a database containing all the information related to Advertisements in the Emirate; and 3. coordinate and cooperate with Competent Entities in respect of regulating Advertisements; link them electronically to the System; and collect prescribed fees for the account of these entities and pay the same to them, in accordance with the legislation in force. b. The DM may, in coordination with Competent Entities and pursuant to a Contract concluded for this purpose, assign any of the duties referred to in paragraph (a) of

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 7 of 12 this Article to any public or private entity. The Contract must state its term as well as the obligations and rights of both parties, in accordance with the legislation in force. Advertising Spaces

  10. 10

    Article 10

    Article (10) a. Advertisements will be displayed in the Advertising Spaces specified in the Permit. b. Advertisements may be displayed in the following places, or on the following objects, only in accordance with the rules stated in the Manual: 1. historical and archaeological buildings; 2. places of worship and cemeteries and their surrounding walls and fences; 3. road signs and traffic signals; 4. premises of Government Entities; 5. trees; 6. prohibited areas, as per the legislation in force; 7. military zones; 8. façades of residential buildings; 9. building balconies; and 10. any places determined pursuant to the resolutions issued by the Competent Entities. Obligations of Permit Holders

  11. 11

    Article 11

    Article (11) A Permit Holder must: 1. abide by the rules prescribed by the Permit and comply with its terms regarding areas, time frames, and type of Advertising Medium; 2. follow the procedures and meet the conditions and requirements stated in the Manual; 3. not assign the Permit to a third party without first obtaining the approval of the Competent Entity;

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 8 of 12 4. state his Permit number and the name of the Competent Entity in the Advertisement as prescribed in the Manual; 5. observe accuracy, objectivity, and honesty in presenting the contents of the Advertisement; 6. ensure that the contents of the Advertisement are in compliance with the provisions of Islamic Sharia and do not conflict with public order, public morals, or the traditions of the Emirate; 7. use the Arabic language in the Advertisement. Any foreign language may be used beside the Arabic language, provided that Arabic is the main language of the Advertisement and that the Arabic text occupies at least fifty percent (50%) of the size of the Advertising Medium, occupies the upper section or the right-hand side of the Advertising Medium, and is free from grammatical and spelling mistakes; 8. ensure that the Advertising Medium does not obstruct the view of any of the places and objects stated in paragraph (b) of Article (10) of this Decree; 9. ensure that the Advertising Medium does not compromise the aesthetic appearance of the Emirate, Public Health and safety, traffic safety, or air navigation safety; 10. ensure that the Advertising Medium does not obstruct the view of another Advertising Medium or cause harm to Persons or damage to public or private property; 11. conduct periodic maintenance of the Advertising Medium and maintain its cleanliness in order to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the Emirate, the environment, and public safety; 12. keep a copy of the Permit at the site where the Advertising Medium is being built and placed; and 13. perform any other obligations determined pursuant to the relevant resolutions issued by the Competent Entity. Removing Advertising Media

  12. 12

    Article 12

    Article (12) a. A Permit Holder must, at his own expense, remove his Advertising Medium and restore the site in which it is displayed to its original condition within the time frame specified by the Competent Entity, in any of the following cases: 1. expiry of the Permit or of the contract concluded with the Permit Holder; 2. revocation of the Permit in pursuance of this Decree; or

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 9 of 12 3. failure to meet any of the obligations stipulated in this Decree, or non-compliance with any of the conditions, requirements, or specifications prescribed in the Permit or in the Manual. b. No Person may remove, disfigure, or damage any Advertising Medium except in the cases stipulated in this Decree. c. Where an Advertisement conflicts with public order or morals, the Competent Entity must request the Permit Holder to remove the Advertisement at his own expense within a specified time frame. Revocation of Permits

  13. 13

    Article 13

    Article (13) a. A Competent Entity may revoke a Permit, shorten its term, modify the area where the Permit Holder is authorised to display his Advertisement, or change the Advertising Space of an Advertising Medium or remove it, where this is mandated by planning and construction regulations or traffic safety requirements, or is required for preserving the aesthetic appearance of the Emirate. In these cases, the Permit Holder must, at his own expense, take the appropriate action to implement the relevant instructions issued to him by the Competent Entity, including removing the Advertising Medium and restoring the site to its original condition. b. A Permit Holder to whom paragraph (a) of this Article applies will be issued with a replacement Permit for another Advertising Space free of charge, or will be refunded part of his Permit fees pro rata with the remaining part of the Permit term where no alternative Advertising Space is available or where the Permit Holder does not agree to the alternative Advertising Space. c. The owner of an Advertising Space may not prevent the removal of an Advertising Medium in respect of which a removal decision is made in accordance with the provisions of this Decree, otherwise he will be responsible towards the Competent Entity for the removal of the Advertising Medium, at his own expense, and for any relevant violations. d. For the purposes of paragraph (c) of this Article, the owner of an Advertising Space means the Person who authorises a Permit Holder to use his property or any part thereof as an Advertising Space.

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    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 10 of 12 Breach by Permit Holders of their Obligations

  14. 14

    Article 14

    Article (14) Where a Permit Holder fails to remove his Advertising Medium within the time frame prescribed by the Competent Entity as per the conditions stipulated in Articles (12) and (13) of this Decree, the Competent Entity may remove the Advertising Medium and restore the site to its original condition at the expense of the Permit Holder, and charge him additional administrative and supervision charges of twenty -five percent (25%) of the removal costs. The total amount to be charged in this case must not be less than two thousand Dirhams (AED 2,000.00). The Competent Entity’s assessment of the costs will be final. Public Advertising Spaces

  15. 15

    Article 15

    Article (15) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b)(4) of Article (10) of this Decree and to the requirement to obtain a Permit in accordance with the provisions of this Decree, a Government Entity in the Emirate may use its property, including real property and movables, as Advertising Spaces for placing Advertising Media. This property will be used pursuant to Contracts concluded with Permit Holders for this purpose, in which the consideration for using the same and the rights and obligations of the parties are stated. Fees

  16. 16

    Article 16

    Article (16) a. In return for issuing Permits and providing other services to Permit Holders, the Competent Entity will collect the fees and guarantees determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council. b. The provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article will not apply to Advertisements related to celebrating national and religious occasions, or related to charitable events, provided that the Permit Holder proves that these are not for-profit Advertisements. Violations and Administrative Penalties

  17. 17

    Article 17

    Article (17) a. Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any other legislation, a person who violates the provisions of this Decree will be punished by a fine of no less than one thousand Dirhams (AED 1,000.00) and no more than fifteen thousand Dirhams (AED 15,000.00). Upon repetition of the same violation in the same Advertising Space within one (1) year from the date of the previous violation, the amount of the fine will be doubled. A fine must not exceed thirty thousand Dirhams (AED 30,000.00).

    -- 10 of 12 --

    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 11 of 12 b. The Chairman of the Executive Council will determine, pursuant to a resolution issued by him in this regard, the prohibited acts and the fines to be imposed on the perpetrators of these acts. c. In addition to the penalty of a fine referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article, the Competent Entity may take one or more of the following measures against a violator: 1. removal of Advertising Medium at the expense of the violator; 2. revocation of the Permit; 3. suspension of System access privilege; and/or 4. suspension of the business of the violating Establishment for a period not exceeding six (6) months. Law Enforcement

  18. 18

    Article 18

    Article (18) The Competent Entity employees nominated pursuant to a resolution of the Director General will, each within his own powers, have the capacity of Law Enforcement Officers to record the acts committed in breach of the provisions of this Decree, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and the Manual. For this purpose, they may issue the necessary violation reports; and, where necessary, seek the assistance of police personnel. Grievances

  19. 19

    Article 19

    Article (19) Any affected party may submit to the Director General a written grievance against any decision, procedure, or measure taken against him in accordance with this Decree or the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, within thirty (30) days from the date of being notified of the contested decision, procedure, or measure. The grievance will be determined, within thirty (30) days of its submission, by a committee formed by the Director General for this purpose, and the decision issued by the committee on the grievance will be final. Compliance

  20. 20

    Article 20

    Article (20) All Establishments must comply with the provisions of this Decree within six (6) months from its effective date. Where necessary, the Chairman of the Executive Council may extend this grace period for the same period.

    -- 11 of 12 --

    Decree No. (6) of 2020 Regulating Advertisements in the Emirate of Dubai Page 12 of 12 Issuing Implementing Resolutions

  21. 21

    Article 21

    Article (21) The Chairman of the Executive Council will issue the resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Decree. Repeals

  22. 22

    Article 22

    Article (22) a. The above-mentioned Local Order No. (30) of 1986 is hereby repealed. Any prov ision in any other legislation will also be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Decree. b. The resolutions, bylaws, and regulations relevant to Competent Entities, will continue in force to the extent that they do not contradict this Decree, until new superseding resolutions, bylaws, and regulations are issued. Publication and Commencement

  23. 23

    Article 23

    Article (23) This Decree will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force three (3) months after the date on which it is published. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 14 February 2020 Corresponding to 20 Jumada al-Thaniyah 1441 A.H.

    -- 12 of 12 --

Note: This legislation is sourced from the Dubai Legislation Portal (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). The original Arabic text is the authoritative version.

Articles in this law(23)
  1. 1Article (1) The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Decr
  2. 2Article (2) This Decree will apply to all Advertisements in the Emirate, includi
  3. 3Article (3) This Decree aims to: 1. preserve the visual and aesthetic appearance
  4. 4Article (4) a. No person may display an Advertisement in any Advertising Space i
  5. 5Article (5) Permits will be issued by the Competent Entities as follows: a. by t
  6. 6Article (6) A Permit will be issued by the Competent Entity in accordance with t
  7. 7Article (7) The DM will, in coordination with the Competent Entities, prepare th
  8. 8Article (8) A Permit application will be submitted through the System. An applic
  9. 9Article (9) a. The DM will undertake the set-up, operation, management, oversigh
  10. 10Article (10) a. Advertisements will be displayed in the Advertising Spaces speci
  11. 11Article (11) A Permit Holder must: 1. abide by the rules prescribed by the Permi
  12. 12Article (12) a. A Permit Holder must, at his own expense, remove his Advertising
  13. 13Article (13) a. A Competent Entity may revoke a Permit, shorten its term, modify
  14. 14Article (14) Where a Permit Holder fails to remove his Advertising Medium within
  15. 15Article (15) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b)(4) of Arti
  16. 16Article (16) a. In return for issuing Permits and providing other services to Pe
  17. 17Article (17) a. Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any othe
  18. 18Article (18) The Competent Entity employees nominated pursuant to a resolution o
  19. 19Article (19) Any affected party may submit to the Director General a written gri
  20. 20Article (20) All Establishments must comply with the provisions of this Decree w
  21. 21Article (21) The Chairman of the Executive Council will issue the resolutions re
  22. 22Article (22) a. The above-mentioned Local Order No. (30) of 1986 is hereby repea
  23. 23Article (23) This Decree will be published in the Official Gazette and will come
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