Menu board printing · Ajman factory

Printed Menu Boards in Dubai, Sharjah & Ajman

Bayan Signage produces printed menu boards for specialty coffee shops, bakeries, karak counters, canteens, hotel pool bars and restaurants. We UV-print directly onto foam PVC, ACP, acrylic or sealed wood in our Ajman factory, protect the print against steam and cleaning, add changeable price strips where you need them and fix every board level on concealed fittings.

Row of printed menu boards with food photos mounted above a cafe bar
Illustrative photo · Unsplash
2016Factory established in Ajman
500+Clients across the UAE
In-houseDesign, fabrication and installation
24 hTypical quote turnaround
Prepared by Bayan Signage production & estimating teamFactory: Alam Square, Industrial Area 2, AjmanUpdated
Printed Menu Boards in the UAE

Printed menu boards that suit the room

Printed menu boards are non-illuminated panels behind the counter, hung above it or standing on an easel, with the menu printed directly onto a rigid material rather than onto paper. There is nothing to peel, curl or fade behind a frame. They suit businesses that want the menu to belong to the interior: specialty coffee shops, bakeries, dessert bars, karak and tea counters, school and staff canteens, hotel pool bars and pop-up stands at events.

Because the board does not light itself, everything depends on contrast, finish and the light in the room. A glossy board under a ceiling spotlight can hide half the prices behind a reflection; a dark, low-contrast design that looked stylish on screen can be unreadable from the queue; unsealed wood swells within months beside a steam wand. We choose the material, the protective finish and the layout together, and we tell you where the spotlights should go.

Bayan Signage has printed and fabricated at Alam Square, Industrial Area 2, Ajman since 2016, as the production arm of Bayan Advertising, which has 15 years in the UAE. Our large-format UV printers print directly onto rigid boards, our CNC routers and laser cutters shape foam PVC, ACP, acrylic and wood, and boards are laminated or varnished in-house. Menu updates are a quick reprint because we keep every file.

Trusted by 500+ UAE businesses, including

Al-Futtaim logoAl Ghurair logoMultiply Group logoAriston Group logoCARS24 logoDouble A logo
Our process

How we produce printed menu boards in our Ajman factory

  1. Counter visit

    We measure the wall, note the lighting, steam and grease sources and any glass shopfront opposite, and photograph the counter from the queue. The visit is free in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.

  2. Layout and material choice

    Our designers split the menu across boards by category, size the Arabic and English for the queue distance and recommend the material and finish for your interior and kitchen conditions.

  3. Full-size proof

    We send a scaled proof of every board on a photo of your wall and, for colour-critical brands, a printed sample on the chosen material before the full run.

  4. Direct UV printing

    Boards are printed directly on our large-format UV printers, with a white underlayer on dark, wood or clear surfaces so colours stay true and text stays crisp.

  5. Finishing and cutting

    Prints are laminated or varnished, then boards are CNC-routed or laser-cut to size and shape, and wood is sealed on all faces and edges. Each is checked against the proof.

  6. Installation

    Our crew fixes boards level on concealed clips, cleats or stand-offs, hangs suspended boards from the slab where needed, and advises on spotlight positions if lighting is not yet in place.

Specification

Printed menu board specification

This is the build-up we start from for most cafe and restaurant boards. The final choice follows the interior and the kitchen, and each option is priced as a separate line.

ComponentOur standardUpgrade optionsWhy it matters
Substrate5 to 10 mm foam PVCACP, cast acrylic, sealed MDF or plywoodFoam PVC is light and flat; ACP and acrylic last longer in busy, steamy counters.
PrintDirect UV print with white underlayerReverse print on acrylic, laser-cut lettering on woodDirect print has no paper to peel, and a white base keeps colours true on any surface.
Protective finishMatt laminateSatin laminate, clear UV varnishMatt stops spotlights creating glare over prices and resists cleaning chemicals.
Changeable elementsFixed printMagnetic price strips, slide-in slats, chalk-style specials panelChangeable parts let prices move without replacing the whole board.
EdgesClean routed edgesPainted edges, aluminium frame, timber frameFramed or painted edges hide cut foam and give the board a finished look.
FixingConcealed Z-clips or French cleatPolished stand-offs, cables or rodsConcealed fixings keep the wall clean and let boards lift off for reprinting.
Our work

Inside our Ajman factory

Bayan Signage technician assembling a sign in the Ajman workshop
Assembly in our Ajman workshop
CNC-cut acrylic sign parts on the router bed at the Bayan Signage factory
CNC-cut acrylic parts on the router bed
Stainless steel sign components on the fabrication bench in Ajman
Stainless steel work on the fabrication bench
Expert advice

Advice from our print and design team

An unlit menu has to work harder for every word. These are the points we raise with cafe and restaurant owners before we print.

Plan the spotlights with the board

A printed board borrows its light from the room. One or two track spots set about 600 to 1,000 mm out from the wall, aimed at roughly 30 degrees, light a board evenly without throwing glare into customers' eyes. Use neutral or warm white spots with good colour rendering. If the lighting is already fixed, tell us where it is and we will position the boards to suit.

Choose matt under spotlights

Gloss looks rich on a sample in your hand but turns into a bright patch under a ceiling spot, usually right over the prices. For any board lit from above we specify a matt or satin finish. Reverse-printed acrylic is the exception people love, so we place those boards where reflections fall away from the queue.

Keep prices on their own strip

Prices change more often than items. A separate magnetic or slide-in price strip beside each section means a price rise costs a few small prints, not a new board. Where items change seasonally, removable slats do the same job. A menu designed this way stays tidy for years instead of collecting stickers within a month.

Dark on light reads furthest

Customers read from 2 to 5 m, so item names of about 18 to 25 mm, slightly larger prices and headings of 40 to 50 mm work well. Dark text on a light background reads furthest under room light; light text on black looks stylish but needs larger type and good lighting. A 1,200 x 800 mm board holds roughly 20 to 30 items at those sizes.

Respect the steam wand

Steam, grease and strong cleaning products sit close to most counters. We laminate or varnish every board, seal wood on all faces and edges before printing, and keep boards out of the direct path of steam wands and fryers. Boards opposite a glazed shopfront also fade faster, so we use UV-stable inks and suggest positions out of direct sun.

Pricing

Printed menu board price in Dubai: what affects the cost

We quote from your wall and your menu. Send the wall size, a photo of the counter, the menu text and your logo, and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.

Number and size of boards

Large boards and longer menus split across several panels use more material and print area than a single board.

Material

Foam PVC is the most economical. ACP, cast acrylic, reverse printing and sealed hardwood cost more and last longer.

Finish and edges

Lamination is standard. UV varnish, painted edges and aluminium or timber frames add a little to each board.

Changeable elements

Magnetic price strips, slide-in slats and chalk-style panels add parts but cut the cost of every future update.

Design work

If you supply print-ready files, the cost is production only. Menu layout and bilingual typesetting by our designers are quoted separately.

Installation

Concealed fixings on a standard wall are quick. Hanging boards from the slab, high ceilings and night work in malls take longer.

Approvals

Pricing and menu information rules for printed menu boards

A wall menu does not usually need a permit, but what it says carries rules. UAE consumer protection and tax rules generally expect the prices customers see to be the prices they pay, including VAT, and Dubai Municipality and other authorities have been encouraging food outlets to show calorie and allergen information. Requirements depend on the type of outlet and change over time, so we confirm the current position for your business.

In malls, hotels and managed food halls, the landlord's design criteria often cover menu board size, materials and fixing positions, and installation follows their permit process. We prepare drawings for approval where needed and build changeable price strips into the design, which makes keeping the menu accurate a five-minute job.

Why Bayan Signage

Why cafes choose Bayan Signage for printed menu boards

Printed and cut in-house

Direct UV printing, lamination, CNC routing and laser cutting happen at our Ajman factory, so colours stay consistent from the first board to the last reprint.

Material advice for kitchens

We choose substrates and finishes for steam, grease and cleaning products, not only for how they look on the first day.

Quick menu updates

We keep every board file and size, so a new price strip or replacement board is a fast reprint with no redesign.

Bilingual menu design

Our designers lay out Arabic and English together and check spelling and prices at full size before printing.

Itemised quotes

Boards, finishes, changeable parts, design and installation appear as separate lines, so you see exactly what each choice adds.

Trusted across the UAE

More than 500 clients across the UAE, including national retail groups and international brands, many returning for new outlets.

FAQ

Printed Menu Boards questions we are asked most

How much does menu board printing cost in Dubai?

It depends on the number and size of boards, the material, the finish, any changeable price strips, design work and installation. A single foam PVC board for a karak counter costs far less than a set of reverse-printed acrylic boards on stand-offs. Send the wall size, a photo and your menu, and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.

What is the best material for a printed menu board?

Foam PVC suits most cafes and canteens: light, matt and economical. ACP lasts longer in busy restaurants and steamy counters. Reverse-printed acrylic gives a glossy, premium look, and sealed wood suits bakeries and artisan interiors. We recommend one after seeing your counter and lighting.

How can we change prices without reprinting the whole board?

We design prices onto separate magnetic or slide-in strips beside each section, or add removable item slats. When a price changes, we print only the strip. A chalk-style panel can also carry daily specials that staff write by hand.

Should I choose a printed or an illuminated menu board?

Printed boards cost less, use no power and blend into a designed interior, which suits cafes, bakeries and calmer restaurants. Illuminated boards are brighter and make food photography stand out, which suits fast food and food courts competing with neighbours. Many outlets use printed boards with one lit panel or screen for promotions.

How long does a printed menu board last?

Indoors, a laminated UV print on a rigid board typically stays sharp for years with normal cleaning. Boards close to steam wands, fryers or a sunny shopfront wear faster, which is why we choose the finish and position with care. Most businesses replace boards because the menu changes, not because the print fails.

Can you print menus directly on wood?

Yes. We UV-print directly onto sealed plywood or MDF with a white underlayer where needed, or laser-cut raised wooden lettering for headings and logos, which gives a natural, crafted look. Wood is sealed on all faces and edges first so steam and cleaning do not make it swell or stain.

Can you design the menu in Arabic and English?

Yes. Most menus we print are bilingual. We lay out both scripts together and split long menus across more boards rather than shrinking the type, so neither language becomes the small print.

Do you install printed menu boards outside Dubai?

Yes. We print in Ajman and install across all seven emirates, including Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The site visit is free in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.

Free quote

Get a quote for printed menu boards

Send your logo, the fascia size and a site photo. Our estimating team replies with options and an itemised price, usually within 24 hours.

  • Call or WhatsApp +971 56 637 2656
  • Workshop: Alam Square, Industrial Area 2, Ajman
  • Sunday to Thursday, 08:00 to 18:00