By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Is car decoration allowed in Dubai?
Yes. A decorated wedding car is a common sight at hotels from Jumeirah to Downtown. We found no rule that bans ribbon or flowers on a car.
What the police do enforce is safety. Nothing may hide the number plates, lights or the driver’s view, and nothing may be sprayed on. Dubai Police wording on wedding decoration was not available to us, so the rules below come from the Ministry of Interior fines schedule and the Abu Dhabi Police.
What do the police rules say about plates, windows, lights and colour?
The Abu Dhabi Police published a list of 14 restrictions for National Day 2021 and impounded 280 vehicles for one month. It is the clearest public list of what officers look at. The same points apply to a wedding car.
- Number plates: keep front and rear plates fully visible. The federal fines schedule lists AED 400 for an unclear plate.
- Windscreen and windows: nothing coloured, stuck or draped over the glass. The police list names excess window tint and colouring the windscreen or driver’s window.
- View: additions that impede visibility are a violation. The police example is a flag, with a fine of AED 500.
- Paint and spray: no spray paint from the driver or any passenger.
- Sunroof and windows: nobody leans or stands out of them.
Fines changed shape when the new federal traffic law took effect on 29 March 2025. Confirm amounts with the police of the emirate before the day.
Which styles suit a Dubai wedding?
Three styles cover most requests.
| Style | What it is | Best on |
|---|---|---|
| Ribbon | A wide satin ribbon from the bonnet over the roof line to the boot | White or black sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
| Bonnet bouquet | One floral piece on the bonnet, sometimes with a small bow on the mirrors | Rolls-Royce, vintage and dark cars |
| Full floral | Flowers on the bonnet, door handles and boot | SUVs and stretch cars for photos |
Keep the ribbon off the wipers and out of the grille. Keep the bouquet low enough that the driver sees the road edge. Our guide to choosing a wedding car compares the cars themselves, and the stretch limo or luxury car guide covers the two main choices.
Which flowers last in the heat?
A wedding car stands in sun for photos. Dubai’s mean daily high at the airport is 24.4°C in January, 33.7°C in April and 41.9°C in August (1991 to 2020 normals, see our Dubai weather by month guide).
- Cool months, November to March: roses, peonies and ranunculus survive a short drive and an hour of photos.
- Hot months, May to October: orchids, anthuriums and carnations wilt slowly. Ask the florist for water tubes on each stem.
- Any month: fix the piece at the last minute, at the hotel forecourt, not at the florist.
How does decoration attach without marking the paint?
The method matters more than the flowers. Tape residue and glue can mark paint, and a hired chauffeur car belongs to the company or its partner.
Soft ties around the door frame, ribbon looped under closed doors and a bonnet mount that sits on a cloth pad all leave the finish alone. Ask your florist to bring a cloth. Do not let anyone use adhesive tape on the bonnet or the roof. A partner car is available through our partner network, subject to availability, and its owner may set stricter limits than ours.
Give Assure the decoration plan when you book, using the wedding car booking checklist. We then tell you what may be fixed to the car you are assigned.
What about Just Married signs and messages?
A small removable sign is fine if it is clear of plates, lights and glass. The federal schedule lists AED 500 for writing phrases or placing stickers on a vehicle without permission, so use a sign on a soft tie, never marker or paint.
Keep messages short and kind: a sign is for photos, not a billboard.
Who supplies the decoration: the florist, the planner or the car company?
Usually the florist or planner. They design to the car, so tell them the model, colour and where the plates sit. Some families, such as those planning a Pakistani wedding in Dubai, bring their own family decorator.
Agree three things in writing: who supplies it, who fits it and who removes it after the last photo. Decoration left on a car through a long reception is the usual cause of damage and wilting.
Read the wedding convoy rules before you plan a line of decorated cars. For the full picture, start at the wedding transport hub, then see wedding car hire or our limousine service.
Photos in this guide
Pink and red roses fixed to the bonnet of a black Rolls-Royce, just above the grilleSheba_Also / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
A white Rolls-Royce Phantom and two white Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars with Dubai plates outside the Burj Al Arab, with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel behindImre Solt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A black Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV parked outside a glass-fronted buildingJengtingchen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A black Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan parked under treesCallum Gill / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
