RTA Rules for Advertising a Car Rental Business in Dubai
In Dubai, a car rental company must get approval from the RTA before sticking or hanging any advertising on its vehicles, and the RTA issues a permit for advertising on vehicles with set documents, fees and design rules. This guide summarises what the official sources say and links to them, so you can check the current version before you brand your fleet.
Checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice; rules and fees can change, so confirm on rta.ae before applying.
- RTA approval
- Vehicle ad permit
- Documents
- Fees
- Design rules
- Sources
Do You Need RTA Approval to Advertise on Rental Cars?
Yes. Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017, which regulates vehicle transport and rental activities in Dubai, says an establishment must “not stick or hang any advertising material on the body of a Vehicle without first obtaining the relevant approval” of the RTA’s Licensing Agency (Article 5). Article 5 also requires establishments to write their name, and the vehicle’s kerb and gross weight, clearly on the body of each vehicle.
What Is the Fine for Unapproved Vehicle Ads?
The fines schedule published with Resolution No. (47) of 2017 lists AED 5,000 for “sticking or hanging any advertising material on the body of a Vehicle without first obtaining the relevant approval”, and fines double for a repeat violation within one year. These are the amounts in the published resolution; check rta.ae for any later amendment.
How the RTA Vehicle Advertising Permit Works
The RTA service RTA: Apply for a Permit to Advertise on Vehicles lets commercial and advertising companies get a permit to put an advertising sticker on commercial vehicles. According to the RTA service page:
- Documents for commercial vehicles: a copy of the Dubai trade licence and the ad design for all four sides of the vehicle plus a mock-up.
- Other vehicles: the same, plus a letter of request to the RTA explaining the activity.
- Processing time: 3 to 7 working days.
- How to apply: through the RTA advertising system online, where you upload documents, receive approval or rejection, and pay.
RTA Vehicle Advertising Fees
Fees listed on the RTA service page at the time of checking (plus AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fees):
- Logo and commercial name on the front doors: AED 250 a year (all categories).
- Full wrap excluding windows, light vehicle or bus up to 16 passengers: AED 1,000 a year.
- Partial wrap excluding windows, light vehicle or bus up to 16 passengers: AED 500 a year.
- Advertising on a light vehicle for an event: AED 2,500 a week.
Other vehicle classes have different fees; see the RTA page for the full table.
Design Rules for Vehicle Ads
The RTA service page lists these design conditions:
- No images of real people.
- No images on the front upper part of the vehicle.
- No 3D images.
- No languages other than Arabic and English.
- No images that violate public morality.
- No religious slogans or symbols.
- No national flags.
- No smoking symbols.
What This Guide Does Not Confirm
- Arabic share and name rules: some permit guidance says Arabic must make up at least half of the ad and the Arabic trade name must match the trade licence. We could not confirm this on rta.ae itself, so check it when you apply.
- Online ads: this guide covers ads on vehicles only. Rules for online and social media advertising in the UAE come from other authorities and are not summarised here.
- Abu Dhabi: car rental in Abu Dhabi is overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), not the RTA. We have not verified Abu Dhabi’s vehicle-advertising rules here.
Checklist Before You Brand Your Fleet
- Confirm your trade licence covers the activity shown on the car.
- Prepare four-side designs and a mock-up that follow the design rules above.
- Apply on the RTA advertising system and wait for approval before applying stickers.
- Keep the permit details with your fleet records and diarise renewals.
- Make sure prices or offers on the car match your website and ads.
RTA Car Advertising Rules: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need RTA approval to put my logo on rental cars in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai’s Resolution No. (47) of 2017 requires RTA approval before advertising material is stuck or hung on a vehicle, and the RTA lists a fee for logo and commercial name stickers on front doors.
How long does the RTA vehicle advertising permit take?
The RTA service page lists a processing time of 3 to 7 working days.
How much does an RTA vehicle advertising permit cost?
It depends on the type of ad and vehicle. The RTA lists AED 250 a year for a logo and name on the front doors, and AED 500 or AED 1,000 a year for a partial or full wrap on a light vehicle, plus AED 20 in fees.
What happens if I advertise on a vehicle without approval?
The published fines schedule of Resolution No. (47) of 2017 lists AED 5,000, doubled for a repeat within a year.
Can vehicle ads be in languages other than Arabic and English?
No. The RTA design conditions do not allow other languages.
Do the same rules apply in Abu Dhabi?
No. Abu Dhabi has its own transport regulator, the Integrated Transport Centre. Check its requirements separately.
Related
See also how to market a car rental company in Dubai and our car rental marketing service.
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