Round logo blades
Circular double-sided lightboxes carrying just the logo. Popular with cafés, pharmacies and franchise brands because the shape reads quickly even from a sharp angle.
Best for Brands with a strong logo mark
Signs that face the footpath
Projecting Blade Signs in Dubai and Across the UAE
A blade sign sticks out from the wall at a right angle, so people walking along the street see it before they reach your door. We make lit and non-lit versions with brackets engineered for each façade.
- Orientation
- 90° to the wall, double-sided
- Common shapes
- Round, square, rectangle, custom cut
- Lighting
- Non-lit, internally lit, edge-lit
- Mounting
- Wall bracket, flag bracket, hanging chains
Quick answer
What is a projecting blade sign?
A projecting blade sign is a double-sided sign fixed at 90 degrees to a building wall, so it faces people walking or driving along the street. It is often used by shops, clinics, cafés and pharmacies in arcades or busy streets where a flat fascia sign is hard to see until you are directly in front.
Flat signs above a shopfront only work when people look straight at them. On a long parade of shops, a covered walkway or a narrow street, most passers-by see the building at an angle. A projecting sign turns your name sideways into their line of sight. It is one of the cheapest ways to catch attention from further down the road.
Because a blade sign hangs off the wall, the bracket matters as much as the face. We check what the wall is made of, how much the sign weighs, and how wind will load it. Faces can be printed aluminium, routed metal with push-through acrylic, or a slim LED lightbox. Every part is made in our Ajman factory and fitted by our own installers.
Plan it
How big should the text on your blade sign be?
125 mmsmallest letter height people can read
300 mmletter height for reading at a glance
A rule of thumb for capital letters in a clear typeface on good contrast. We confirm sizes on a mock-up at your site.
Types01 02 03 04 05 06
Projecting Blade Signs we make
Vertical building blades
Tall, narrow signs running up several floors of a building, with the name stacked in letters. Seen from far along a road rather than just the pavement.
Best for Hotels, buildings and tall façades
Lightbox blade signs
Aluminium boxes with acrylic or flex faces on both sides and LED inside, giving even night-time glow at a moderate budget.
Best for Shops open into the evening
Routed metal with push-through
Aluminium faces with letters cut out and acrylic pushed through, so only the logo and text light up while the rest stays solid.
Best for Premium retail and clinics
Hanging bracket signs
Non-lit panels hung from a decorative or plain arm on chains or rods. Simple and low maintenance, though they move slightly in wind.
Best for Heritage areas and boutiques
Arcade and corridor blades
Slim projecting signs fixed under covered walkways or inside malls, often with tight height and depth limits set by the landlord.
Best for Mall units and shaded arcades
Choosing well
Design rules for projecting signs
Make both faces count
People approach from both directions, so both sides should carry the same clear message. Mirror any directional arrows and check the Arabic and English sit correctly on each face.
Choose a shape that reads at an angle
Viewers rarely see a blade sign straight on until they are near. Bold logos, thick strokes and high contrast survive angled viewing better than thin fonts or detailed artwork.
Keep pedestrians safe
The bottom of the sign must sit well above head height, and the sign should not swing into a walkway. Landlords and authorities often set a minimum clearance, which we confirm before design.
Think about neighbours
On a row of shops, several blade signs can block each other. Look at where adjacent signs sit and stagger height or projection so yours is not hidden.
Plan the power route
For a lit sign, the cable runs through the bracket into the wall. Agree the position of the power point with your fit-out contractor before the façade is finished.
Specifications
Blade sign build options
| Component | Options | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminium extrusion or fabricated steel | Aluminium is lighter on the wall; steel suits very large signs |
| Face | Printed ACP, acrylic, flex, routed aluminium | Sets the look and how light passes through |
| Illumination | LED modules, LED strip, edge-lit acrylic | Lit signs need a power point close to the bracket |
| Bracket | Plate and arm, flag mount, top-fixed rods | Must carry the sign weight and wind load safely |
| Wall fixing | Chemical anchors, through-bolts, steel sub-frame | Chosen after checking concrete, block or cladding |
| Projection | Measured from wall face to sign edge | Landlords and authorities often limit how far it sticks out |
| Clearance | Height from footpath to sign bottom | Must clear pedestrians and any service vehicles |
How we work
From brief to installed projecting blade signs
- 1
Façade check
We visit the site, identify the wall build-up behind the cladding, measure clearances and check where neighbouring signs sit.
- 2
Design both faces
We lay out each side, choose the shape and lighting, and show the sign on a photo of your frontage from both directions.
- 3
Bracket engineering
Our workshop designs the arm and fixing plate for the sign weight, projection and wind exposure, then confirms anchors.
- 4
Fabrication and testing
The box, faces, LEDs and bracket are made in Ajman and the lit sign is run for testing before delivery.
- 5
Installation
Our team fixes the bracket, hangs the sign, connects power and checks it is level, secure and clear of pedestrians.
UAE conditions
Fixing blade signs in UAE conditions
Wind and sandstorms
A double-sided sign acts like a sail during shamal winds. We size the bracket and fixings for the panel area and use locking hardware so bolts do not loosen over time.
Heat inside lightboxes
Closed boxes get very hot in summer. We use ventilated or heat-tolerant designs and outdoor-rated LED drivers so the lighting lasts through 45 to 50°C days.
Permits for projecting signs
Signs that project over a public footpath typically need approval from Dubai Municipality or the relevant municipality in Sharjah or Ajman. Free zones may have their own rules. We confirm the current requirement for your site.
Landlord and mall guidelines
Malls and community retail centres usually set size, lighting and position rules for blade signs. We work from their tenant design criteria and submit drawings for sign-off.
FAQ
Projecting Blade Signs: common questions
How far can a projecting sign stick out from the wall?
It depends on the location rules. Landlords, malls and municipalities often limit projection and set a minimum height above the footpath, and the limits vary by area. Many shop blade signs project well under a metre from the wall. We check the rules that apply to your building and design within them.
Is a blade sign better than a fascia sign?
They do different jobs, so many shops use both. A fascia sign reads well from across the road, while a blade sign catches people walking along the same side of the street. If your shop is in an arcade, a narrow lane or a long row of units, a blade sign often brings more walk-in visibility.
Can a projecting sign be lit?
Yes. The most common options are a double-sided LED lightbox, routed aluminium with push-through acrylic letters, and edge-lit acrylic. The sign needs a power point close to the bracket, and the cable is hidden inside the arm. We use outdoor-rated LEDs and drivers to cope with summer heat.
Will the bracket damage my building's cladding?
Not if it is fixed correctly. Cladding panels cannot carry a sign on their own, so we locate the concrete or steel structure behind and anchor into that, sealing around the fixing points to keep water and dust out. Where the façade is complex, we may add a small steel sub-frame.
Do I need a permit for a blade sign in Dubai?
In most cases, yes. A sign projecting over a public walkway is typically treated as an outdoor sign and needs Dubai Municipality approval, plus landlord consent. Signs in malls or free zones follow the mall's or zone's process. We confirm the current requirement for your site and handle the paperwork.
What shape works best for a blade sign?
Simple shapes usually work best. Round and square blades suit logo-led brands, while tall rectangles fit names with several letters stacked vertically. Custom-cut shapes such as a tooth for a dental clinic can be memorable, but keep the outline bold so it still reads from an angle down the street.
Related
Often ordered with projecting blade signs
Free quote
Get a blade sign quote
Share your logo and a photo of your frontage, and we will send a free quote, 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