Middle East
Packaging design & custom boxes for United Arab Emirates brands
Yes: we design packaging for brands in the United Arab Emirates and make it in our own factory in Pakistan, from MOQ 500. Luxury rigid boxes, perfume packaging and gift boxes for UAE brands, made in our own factory and shipped to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the Emirates.
Last updated
- MOQ 500
- Own factory
- Ships to the UAE by air & sea
United Arab Emirates at a glance
- Our experience
- 15+ years in packaging
- Currency
- UAE dirham (AED)
- Label language
- Arabic, English
- Units
- Metric
- Labelling authority
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and municipal food authorities
- Air shipping
- Approx. 3–5 days
- Sea shipping
- Approx. 10–20 days
Shipping times are approximate. Transit time after dispatch. Exact time and cost confirmed with your quote.
Packaging design
Packaging for the UAE
The UAE is a centre for fragrance, oud and luxury gifting, and packaging is expected to look and feel expensive. Shoulder-neck and magnetic rigid boxes with fitted inserts, heavy textured papers and gold foil are common, especially for perfume, dates, chocolates and corporate gifts. Seasonal peaks around Ramadan, Eid and the National Day make lead times important.
Many UAE brands sell across the GCC, so we often design bilingual Arabic and English packaging that can be used in several Gulf markets. We lay out Arabic text right to left with typefaces that support both scripts.
Corporate gifting is a large part of UAE packaging demand, from company anniversaries to hospitality and events. These projects often need fast turnarounds, custom inserts for several items and branding for both the client and the gift. We plan timelines backwards from the event date and send a 3D mockup and digital proof for approval before production.
Designed for the UAE
Layouts planned for Arabic and English text and local labelling, with first concepts usually within 48 hours.
Made in our own factory
Rigid and printed boxes from 500 units, with a digital proof and 3D mockup before print.
Shipped to the UAE
By air for speed or by sea for volume, assembled or flat-packed.
Labelling and compliance
Labelling in the UAE
UAE labelling rules are set by federal standards, largely aligned with Gulf (GSO) standards, and enforced by MoIAT and local authorities such as Dubai Municipality. Many product labels must include Arabic, often alongside English. Some products need registration or conformity certification before sale.
Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
- Arabic is required on labels for many products, commonly alongside English.
- Food labels include production and expiry dates, country of origin and ingredients.
- Some products need product registration or a conformity certificate.
- Metric units for net quantity.
- Free zones may have their own import procedures.
Official sources
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
- GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
- Dubai Municipality
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on your product. We lay out the text you supply; final regulatory review stays with you and your adviser.
Shipping
Shipping to the UAE
Air freight
Approx. 3–5 days by air
For launches and urgent stock. Delivered to your address, warehouse or 3PL.
Sea freight
Approx. 10–20 days by sea
For production volumes. Usually to a port, then onward by road.
Transit time after dispatch. Exact time and cost confirmed with your quote.
Ship flat, save space
The UAE is a short route from our factory, so air freight is often practical for full orders. For larger stock, flat-packed collapsible boxes make sea freight even more efficient.
Delivery terms: agreed in your quote. Boxes are packed in export cartons, assembled or flat.
Ordering
Ordering from the UAE
- 01
Brief and quote
Send your product, quantity and where it will be sold in the UAE. We reply within 24 hours with questions, a recommended box and a fixed quote.
- 02
Design for the market
Concepts on 3D mockups, with space planned for Arabic and English text and the information required in the UAE.
- 03
Proof and approval
A digital proof with dieline, colours and copy, plus a 3D mockup. Nothing is printed until you approve.
- 04
Production and delivery
Made in our own factory, packed in export cartons and shipped to the UAE by air or sea, assembled or flat.
Plan ahead
Busy seasons to plan for
Packaging for these peaks should be designed, approved and shipped well in advance. Tell us your launch date and we plan backwards from it.
- Ramadan and Eid
- UAE National Day in December
- Corporate gifting around year end
Checklist
Packaging checklist for the UAE
- Prepare mandatory label text in Arabic and English with your adviser.
- Show net quantity in metric units.
- Check product-specific rules with Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and municipal food authorities.
- Consider shoulder neck box or magnetic closure box, popular with United Arab Emirates brands.
- Choose air for launches and urgent stock, sea for production volumes.
- Read our guide: Luxury packaging: what makes premium packaging work.
Popular packaging
Popular with United Arab Emirates brands
Shoulder Neck Box
Three-piece box: base, raised neck and lid.
Magnetic Closure Box
A hinged lid with a front flap that closes on hidden magnets.
Book Style Box
Opens like a hardback: a cover hinged on a spine, closing over a rigid tray.
Drawer Box
A rigid tray that slides out of an outer sleeve, pulled by a ribbon or thumb cut.
Rigid Tube
Cylindrical rigid box with a lid, for candles, bottles, tea and rolled goods.
Lid & Base Box
Two-piece rigid box: a base and a separate lid that slides over it.
Design services
Industries
Industries we serve in the UAE
Cities
Where we deliver
Dubai
Fragrance, luxury retail and gifting brands; sea freight usually arrives via Jebel Ali.
Abu Dhabi
Corporate gifting, hospitality and government-related gift programmes.
Sharjah
Manufacturing and trading businesses, close to Dubai's logistics network.
Guides
Guides for United Arab Emirates brands
Luxury packaging: what makes premium packaging work
The structure, materials, finishes, restraint and opening experience that make packaging feel premium, and how to get the effect within budget.
Packaging for international markets: what changes and how to plan
How to adapt packaging for export: regulations, languages, units, culture, retail and shipping, and how to design one system for many markets.
Typography in packaging design: a practical guide
How to choose and use typefaces on packaging: hierarchy, legibility at small sizes, pairing, licensing, multi-language text and print considerations.
FAQ
Questions from United Arab Emirates
- Do UAE labels need Arabic?
- Many products need Arabic on the label, often with English. Confirm requirements for your product before artwork is final; we lay out both languages.
- Do you make boxes for perfume and oud?
- Yes. Shoulder-neck, magnetic and book-style rigid boxes with fitted inserts are popular for fragrance and oud.
- Can you deliver before Ramadan or Eid?
- Plan early: seasonal demand is high. We confirm production and shipping dates in your quote.
- Who handles customs and VAT in the UAE?
- Customs duty and VAT are assessed on import. Your clearing agent confirms the amounts.
- Can one design work across the GCC?
- Often, with bilingual Arabic and English text. Some markets have extra requirements, so we check with you for each.
- Do you make corporate gift boxes for UAE companies?
- Yes. We make rigid gift boxes with custom inserts for several items, branded for your company or your client.
- Which currency will my quote be in?
- Tell us your preferred currency when you ask for a quote. We confirm the currency and payment terms in the quote itself.
- Air or sea: which should I choose?
- Air for launches and urgent stock; sea for production volumes where the timeline allows. We quote both so you can compare.
- Can collapsible rigid boxes reduce my shipping cost?
- Yes. They ship flat, so many more fit in each carton, which cuts freight volume and storage. We compare assembled and flat options in your quote.
Packaging for your United Arab Emirates launch
Tell us what you are making and where it ships. We reply within 24 hours with a design route, a box recommendation and a quote.
- Quote reply within 24 hours
- First concepts in 48 hours