Vehicle Branding Permit in Abu Dhabi: TAMM Process & Requirements
How the Abu Dhabi vehicle advertising permit works in practice: the TAMM permit, the Mulkiya update, and the trademark, cabin-glass and NOC issues that get applications rejected.
Branding a company vehicle in Abu Dhabi needs a vehicle advertising permit, issued through the TAMM Issue Vehicles Advertisements Permit service under the Department of Economic Development. Most guides stop there. In practice the permit is only half the process, and most delays come from a small number of issues that are easy to avoid if you know them before the artwork is printed.
This guide is based on vehicle permit applications Ninety Nine Advertising LLC has prepared and on the reasons TAMM has actually rejected them. Requirements can change, so the live TAMM service remains the final reference for your application.
The Permit Has Two Steps, Not One
Step 1: the advertising permit. The vehicle advertising permit is applied for through TAMM with the vehicle details and the final artwork.
Step 2: the new Mulkiya. The approved permit then has to be reflected on the vehicle registration card. This means attending the traffic department (Muroor) and replacing the old Mulkiya with a new one that records the vehicle as branded.
A vehicle with a permit but an old Mulkiya is not finished. The Mulkiya update is done by the vehicle owner or the company at the traffic department. For fleets, plan it for every vehicle, because each one has its own registration card.
Why Vehicle Permit Applications Get Rejected
These are the issues we have seen TAMM reject. Each one is cheaper to fix in the design stage than after printing.
1. The company logo is not a registered trademark
If your own company logo appears on the vehicle, it must be a registered trademark with a valid trademark registration certificate. A logo that is used on your licence, website or stationery but has never been registered will not pass. Check the certificate and its expiry before the design is finalised.
2. Other brands appear without authorisation
Many vehicles carry partner, supplier or product brands next to the company's own logo. That is allowed only with an official authorisation letter from the owner of that trademark, together with the trademark certificate of the original brand, so the authority can confirm the letter really comes from the owner. Without both documents, remove the third-party logo from the design.
3. Graphics on the driver cabin glass
Branding on the glass around the driver is not allowed: the windscreen, the side windows and the rear window. This includes one-way vision (perforated) film. The rule protects the driver's view and avoids distraction, so it is treated as a safety issue, not a design preference. On cars, pickups and vans that means every window. Keep the glass clear and put the message on the body panels instead.
You do not need to own the vehicle
A rented or leased vehicle can be branded and permitted under your company. Get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner, usually the rental company, that names your company and states your trade licence number, and include it in the application.
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
- Your company trade licence.
- The registration card (Mulkiya) of each vehicle.
- The final artwork for the vehicle, showing every side that will carry graphics.
- A valid trademark registration certificate for your own logo.
- For any other brand shown: the trademark owner's authorisation letter and that brand's trademark certificate.
- For a rented or leased vehicle: an NOC from the owner stating your company name and trade licence number.
Check the live TAMM application for any additional documents requested for your case.
Design Checks Before You Print
- Glass: no graphics on the windscreen, side windows or rear window around the driver, including one-way vision film.
- Logos: only registered trademarks, and third-party logos only with authorisation.
- Trade name: the name on the vehicle should match the name on the trade licence.
- Plates and lights: keep number plates, lights and reflectors uncovered.
Printing before these points are settled is the most expensive mistake in the process: a rejected design means reprinting the graphics as well as resubmitting the application.
Fleets, Replacement Vehicles and Design Changes
For a fleet, treat every vehicle as its own file: its own Mulkiya, its own NOC if it is rented, and its own Mulkiya update after approval. Keep a record of the approved design, the permit and the new Mulkiya for each vehicle.
If you change the artwork, add a vehicle or replace one, check whether a new or amended approval is needed before the new graphics go on. See our fleet branding planning guide for scheduling a multi-vehicle rollout.
How Ninety Nine Handles Vehicle Permits
We review every vehicle graphics design against the points above before anything is printed: registered logos, third-party authorisations, clear cabin glass, owner NOCs and trade name. Submission of the vehicle advertising permit through TAMM is available as a separate PRO service; the Mulkiya update at the traffic department is handled by the vehicle owner or company. See advertising permits in Abu Dhabi. For formats and what affects the cost, see our vehicle branding guide and full vehicle branding.
The authority decides whether a permit is issued; our role is to make sure the application does not fail for an avoidable reason.
Abu Dhabi Vehicle Advertising Permit FAQ
Do I need to own the vehicle to brand and permit it?
No. A rented or leased vehicle can be branded and permitted under your company with an NOC from the owner that states your company name and trade licence number.
Can I put one-way vision film on the rear window?
No. Graphics on the windscreen, side windows or rear window around the driver are not allowed, including one-way vision film, because they affect the driver's view.
Can my vehicle show a supplier's or partner's logo?
Only with an official authorisation letter from the trademark owner and the trademark certificate of that brand.
My logo is not registered as a trademark. Can I still show it?
A company logo on a permitted vehicle needs a valid trademark registration certificate. If your logo is not registered, raise it before the design is finalised so the layout and timing can be planned around it.
Is the TAMM permit enough on its own?
No. After the permit is issued, the vehicle owner or company replaces the Mulkiya at the traffic department (Muroor) with a new one that shows the vehicle as branded.
How long does approval take and when does it expire?
Use the processing information in the live TAMM service and the validity stated on the issued permit, and allow time for any revisions before scheduling installation.
Planning vehicle branding in Abu Dhabi? Message our team on WhatsApp with your vehicle type, quantity and artwork, or see our vehicle graphics services.