Dubai is giving its streets and homes a new set of signs. Under a programme announced on 7 October 2026, street signs and house number plates in 186 areas will be replaced by 2030, and every new house plate will show the property's Makani number and a QR code.
The programme is led by the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, with the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Municipality.
01What is changing
- Area signs, street name signs and house plates get one unified design.
- Each house plate carries the property's Makani number and a QR code.
- Colours identify the kind of area. Five colours are used. Blue marks areas close to the sea and gold marks desert areas.
- QR codes on the signs link to information about the sector and area, the meaning of street and area names, and nearby landmarks.
The city's highway signs do not change.
02What a Makani number is
A Makani number is Dubai's 10-digit code for a location. It identifies the entrance to a building or villa, so a delivery driver, a visitor or an ambulance can find the exact door without a landmark.
03The timeline
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Fourth quarter of 2026 | Rollout begins |
| First phase, 2026 | More than 2,000 signs in five areas |
| By 2030 | 186 areas in 19 sectors completed |
| Later phases | Bus stops, smart apps and area map boards |
The first five areas are Za'abeel 1, Za'abeel 2, Nad Al Sheba, Al Khawaneej 1 and Nazwa.
The order of the remaining areas depends on population, how fast an area is growing, how busy it is, its residential and tourist attractions, and how many of its streets have no formal address yet.
04What it means if you own or are buying
There is nothing for owners to do. The announcement asks nothing of residents and mentions no charge.
Newer districts are among the priorities. One of the criteria is how many of an area's streets have no formal address yet.
Two of the first areas have new homes on sale. We track off-plan projects in Zabeel and Nad Al Sheba.
Know your Makani number at handover. It is the quickest way to give an exact address for deliveries, utilities and visitors. Our guide to the handover process covers what else to collect on the day.
For how the city's areas fit together, see Dubai's areas and districts.
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14 Oct 2026, 06:47 GST · Reported by OffPlan Insider Newsdesk, checked against the developer's own material before publication.
