RTA Dubai Control Devices Manual (Vol-1)

Chapter – 2
TRAFFIC SIGNS
 INTRODUCTION
Traffic control devices in Dubai are considered to be all signs, Markings
and signals located with respect to any roadway or parking facility
accessible to the motoring public and placed by authority of the Dubai
Government through the Road & Transport Authority (RTA)
 Chapter 2-Traffic Signs-General
• Traffic signs should be installed only when stipulated by the principles
of this manual and/or when deemed warranted on the basis of a
traffic engineering evaluation.
• These signs mainly provide the information to the motorists about the
traffic regulations at the specific locations and/or at specific time and
to warn of hazards.
2.1 Uniformity of Attributes
Uniformity of attributes applies to shape, dimensions, color, legend and night time visibility of signs.

2.1.1 shapes and code

 Regulatory Signs
• Control
• Mandatory
• Prohibition
• Reservation
• Comprehensive
 Warning Signs
• Advance warning
• Hazard warning
 Other types
• Diagrammatic signs
• Guide Signs
2.1.1 Shape Code
• Stop sign – OCTAGOAN shape sign 301

• Give way – Inverted Triangle sign 302

• Qualification Plate – Square shape

• Mandatory and Prohibitory - Circular shape

• Regulatory signs – RECTANGULAR Shape
(Reservation and Pay and Display type parking)

• Advance warning – TRIANGULAR sign pointed upwards

• Guide signs, comprising direction, supplemental destination and

direction , Community street name and general information signs –
RECTANGLE with a long axis horizontal

• Chevron direction – POINTRD RECTANGLE

2.1.2 Size
• Conspicuity – A sign must be of sufficient size to command the attention of the driver against the
background of the roadway environment.
• Legibility – The legend (text or symbol) of the sign must be of sufficient size to allow recognition
and comprehension by drivers traveling at roadway design speeds.
2.1.3 Color Code
2.1.4 Legend
• The legend of a traffic sign is the element that provides a sign with a unique and
definitive meaning or message. This may be composed of a symbol, text message
or both.
• Especially on warning signs a Supplementary plate sign 589 should accompany
these signs for a period of 1 year, but not more that 3 years from the date of
installation
• The text message should be in Arabic and English
• Text height of the Arabic “aleph” character shall be 1.7 times the height of the
English “x” letter. Numerical legends shall only be displayed an Arabic numbers
of size equaling 1.4x
• The traditional Arabic (Hindi) numbers shall be phased out not be displayed on
new signs.
2.1.5 Retroreflection and illumination
• The signs may be manufactured in higher grade of reflective sheeting if
approved by Roads and Transport Authority.
• White background should not be prepared with higher reflectivity that shown.
• NR=Non reflective back. Back sheeting shall comply with outdoor warranty of
10 years.
The following conditions should meet
• When the roadway is provided with street lightings
• When the sign is visibility from a distance of 370 m or more.
• When the horizontal curvature of the road approaching the sign has no less
than 250 m radius.
2.2 Traffic sign placement
• The sign boards to be placed on the left side of the road on following
conditions:
2.2.1 Lateral placement
• The following general guidelines should be used to determine the lateral placement of signs.
2.2.2 Vertical placement
2.2.3 Longitudinal placement
• The sign board to be placed in order to
 Improve visibility
 Avoid blocking other signs
 Improve roadside safety
 Increase spacing between adjacent signs
The placement of the sign board to be placed at the distance to be rounded down to the nearest
100m.
If the speed limit is 120km/h the preferred distance between successive sign should be at least
120m.
2.2.4 Overhead Installations
• Overhead guide signs should be used when one or more of the following general conditions are
present:
2.2.4 Orientation angle
• The sign board that is located less than 9m from the
edge of the pavement should be oriented at 930 to the
line of approaching traffic.

• For the sign board that is located less than 9m from the
edge of the pavement should be oriented at 870 to the
line of approaching traffic.
THANK YOU