Hoarding-mounted panel
An ACP or aluminium panel fixed to the hoarding beside the gate — the most common position.
Project QR code board
Project QR code board — the sign that replaced the project board in Abu Dhabi
Since October 2024 the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) requires Abu Dhabi building sites to show a QR code prominently at the site entrance instead of the traditional project signboard. Scanning it shows live permit details from the Municipal e-Permitting System (MePS) — the location, the permit number and type, and an overview of the permit. DMT has published no size or material for the board, so it is sized for the distance it will be scanned from.
A project QR code board on two posts at a site entrance, with a phone scanning the code
- Oct 2024
- DMT guidelines in force
- At the entrance
- Displayed prominently at the site gate
- Live data
- Permit details from MePS on scan
- No set size
- DMT has not published one
Formats in use
The rule sets what the code does and where it stands, not the board. These are the ways it is mounted at a gate.
Post-mounted board
Freestanding on two posts where the gate is set back or the hoarding cannot carry it.
Panel on an existing board
A QR panel added onto a sign already at the entrance, so the code sits at the height people look.
Reflective QR board
Code and text on a reflective face, so it can be read in headlights at a gate used at night.
Weatherproof plywood board
Marine plywood face with a UV-laminated print, for a temporary gate or a short programme.
Project panel set
The QR board alongside the OSH notice board and the PPE sign, made as one set for the gate.
Sizing the code to scan
With no published dimension, the board is sized from one rule: a QR code scans reliably from about ten times its own width. Measure where people will stand — usually the gate line — and work back.
| Scanning distance | QR code width (guide) | Board size it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 1 m — at the hoarding | 10 cm | A3 or 300 × 400 mm |
| 2 m | 20 cm | 400 × 600 mm |
| 3 m — across a gate | 30 cm | 600 × 900 mm |
| 5 m — from a vehicle | 50 cm | 1000 × 1000 mm |
The distance rule is general QR practice, not a DMT requirement. Keep a clear white margin around the code, print it black on white, and never stretch it to fit the panel.
Specification
| Item | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Code | The QR generated from the building permit, printed black on white at full contrast |
| Face | ACP 3–4 mm, aluminium, or marine plywood with UV overlaminate |
| Night reading | Reflective face where the gate is used after dark |
| Text | Arabic and English caption, e.g. “Scan for project details” |
| Mounting | Hoarding frame or two posts; centre of the code near eye level |
| Protection | Anti-UV laminate; matte finish to avoid glare on the camera |
What the rule says — and what it does not
DMT guidelines, October 2024
Traditional signboards with the project name, contractor and dates are replaced by a QR code displayed prominently at the entrance of building sites.
MePS
Scanning shows live details from the Municipal e-Permitting System: location, permit number and type, and an overview of the permit.
Scope
Applies to new building projects; existing projects were asked to revise their displays.
Not specified
DMT has not published a board size, material, mounting height or lighting rule. Anything sold as “the DMT standard size” is not one.
What to include in a request
Send the code itself and four details.
- The QR code file from the permit, or the permit number to place it
- Where it is read from: at the hoarding, across the gate or from a vehicle
- Mounting: hoarding, posts or onto an existing board
- Whether the gate is used at night
- Caption text and logo, if any
- Number of gates and sites
Questions about the project QR board
Is the printed project signboard still required in Abu Dhabi?
DMT replaced it from October 2024: building sites show a QR code at the entrance that links to the live permit details, instead of a printed board with the project name, contractor and dates.
Where does the QR code come from?
It is tied to the building permit in the Municipal e-Permitting System (MePS). The code is printed as supplied — it is not redesigned or regenerated.
What size must the QR board be?
DMT has not published a size. Size it to scan: a code reads reliably from about ten times its width, so a 30 cm code serves a 3 m distance.
Where should it be placed?
Prominently at the site entrance, where visitors and inspectors arrive — normally on the hoarding beside the gate, near eye level.
Does this apply in Dubai?
No. Dubai sites follow DM Circular 11-1-1, which still requires a project information sign with the firms’ licence numbers.
More site signage
Site OSH notice boardADOSH-SF CoP 53.1Safety signsISO 7010 · ADOSH-SF CoP 17.0Site hoardingTemporary fence licence · DM Circular 12-4-1Scaffold & facade meshDM Circular 12-4-1 · DM Code Ch. 8Work-zone traffic signs & barricadesWork-zone traffic management manuals · DM Code Ch. 6Oil & gas site signsCoP 17.0 §3.8 · project specificationsPhotoluminescent exit signsUAE Fire & Life Safety CodeDubai project signboardDM Circular 11-1-1
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