Custom packaging printing in Dubai
Packaging that protects your product, communicates its value and makes the unboxing worth remembering.
- 20+ years of print and production experience
- Design-to-production support
- Material and finishing guidance
- Delivery across all seven Emirates
Overview
What this service covers
Packaging has two jobs: protect what is inside and present it well. The structure, board and finish all need to work together to do both.
We help you choose a box style and material that suits the product’s size and weight, and plan printing and finishing around the dieline from the start.
01 / 08Folding cartons
- Tuck-end or crash-lock
- 300–400 gsm board
Suitable for
When businesses use it
Product launches
Retail-ready packaging for a new product or range.
Corporate and seasonal gifting
Gift boxes and sleeves for Ramadan, Eid, year-end and client gifts.
E-commerce
Branded mailers and inserts that survive shipping and still look good.
Food and hospitality
Boxes, bags and labels for cafés, bakeries and restaurants.
How it works
Four clear steps
Describe the product
Share dimensions, weight, quantity and how the packaging will be used.
Choose the structure
We recommend a box style, board and finishes, and supply the dieline.
Approve the dieline
Your artwork is checked on the dieline and sent for approval as a PDF; a physical sample is optional.
Print, assemble and deliver
Printing, finishing, die-cutting and assembly, then delivery in the UAE.
Structures
Five ways to open a box
The structure sets the first impression before the print does. We suggest one for the product, the budget and how it travels.
Tuck-end carton
Folds flat and closes with tuck flaps. Cosmetics, food and retail.
Mailer box
Corrugated, locks without tape; ships and still presents. E-commerce.
Lid and base
Rigid board with a lid that lifts off. Gifts, hampers and sets.
Magnetic flap
Opens like a book and snaps shut. Launch kits and VIP gifts.
Drawer box
A tray that slides out of a sleeve. Jewellery, chocolates and sets.
Dieline
From a flat sheet to your box
Every box starts flat. Drag to fold it, and try another board.
Board
This is the dieline we send once the size is agreed: one flat sheet, cut and creased, that folds into your box. Your artwork goes on it flat.
Pricing
What shapes the price
Every quotation comes down to the same four things.
- 01StructureA tuck-end carton costs far less than a rigid magnetic box; inserts add to either.
- 02BoardFolding boxboard, kraft, corrugated or wrapped grey board, chosen for the product’s weight.
- 03QuantityA new cutting die is a one-off cost, so the price per box falls quickly as the run grows.
- 04FinishesFoil, spot UV, embossing and soft-touch each add a pass, and most need their own tooling.
Before you order
Notes, files and finishes
Short references to read before you order: what to plan for, how to prepare your artwork and which finish suits the piece.
01Production notes 6
- Share the product’s exact dimensions and weight; the box is built around them.
- Custom structures start from a dieline; a physical sample is optional and quoted separately.
- Some materials are food-safe and some are not — tell us if the packaging will touch food.
- Minimum quantities vary a lot between structures; we confirm them in the quotation.
- Food labels sold in the UAE usually need Arabic text; plan space for both languages from the start.
- Kraft and recyclable boards, paper tape and paper inserts can be requested for many structures.
02Artwork guide 13 pages
01
Bleed and safe area
Extend any colour or image that touches the edge 3 mm past the trim line, so no white sliver shows after cutting. Keep text and logos at least 4 mm inside the trim; the blade can drift by a millimetre.
02
Image resolution
Photos need 300 ppi at the size they will print. Images taken from websites or messages are usually 72 ppi and turn soft or blocky on paper, even when they look sharp on screen.
03
Colour mode
Supply files in CMYK, not RGB. Screens can show brighter greens, blues and oranges than ink can print, so convert early and judge the colours before you approve.
04
Rich black for large areas
Big black backgrounds print deeper as rich black (C40 M30 Y30 K100). Keep body text and fine lines in 100% black only, or the colours can show at the edges.
05
Fonts
Embed every font in the PDF or convert text to outlines. A missing font is replaced by another one, and line breaks, spacing and Arabic shaping can change.
06
Logos and line art
Send logos as vector files: AI, EPS, SVG or PDF. Vectors stay sharp at any size; a logo copied from a website or a screenshot cannot be enlarged cleanly.
07
Smallest sizes
Keep text at 6 pt or larger, and 7 pt for reversed or thin fonts. Lines thinner than 0.25 pt can break up or disappear in print.
08
Finishes on their own layer
Foil, spot UV and embossing are made from separate artwork. Put each finish on its own layer or spot colour, named clearly, in exact position over the print.
09
Folds and panels
Folded pieces are not divided equally. On a tri-fold, the panel that folds inside is 2–3 mm narrower; we send the right template before you design.
10
QR codes and barcodes
Print codes at least 20 mm wide, dark on light, with a clear margin all round. Scan the final proof with more than one phone before you approve it.
11
Proofreading
We print what you approve. Check names, phone numbers, emails, prices and dates on the final proof, ideally with someone who did not write them.
12
Exporting the PDF
Export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4, single pages in reading order, with crop marks and bleed included. One file per item keeps everything easy to check.
13
What to send for this job
- Artwork placed on the dieline we supply (or your own approved dieline)
- Print-ready PDF or AI with dieline on a separate layer
- Vector logos and outlined text
- Finishing (foil, spot UV, embossing) on separate spot layers
- Barcodes and regulatory text checked for size and contrast
No print-ready files? Our design team can prepare them — see creative design services.
FAQ
Packaging Solutions: common questions
Will I see the box before the full run?
You approve your artwork on the dieline, as a PDF, before anything is made. A physical sample or prototype can be made on request; it adds cost and time, so we quote it separately and tell you when it is worth it.
Do you provide the dieline?
Yes. Once the structure and size are agreed we supply a dieline for your designer, or our team can prepare the artwork for you.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
It depends on the structure, material and finishes. Simple cartons and labels can suit smaller runs; rigid boxes and special finishes usually need more. We confirm this in the quotation.
Can packaging be food-safe?
Food-safe boards and inks are available for some structures. Tell us if the packaging will be in direct contact with food so we can recommend suitable materials.
Can packaging be recyclable or plastic-free?
Many structures can be made from recyclable board with paper tape and paper or board inserts instead of plastic. Tell us what matters to you and we suggest materials that fit.
How long does custom packaging take?
It depends on the structure, the board and the finishes; rigid boxes take longer than folding cartons. Your quotation states the time after you approve the dieline.
Can you print inside the box too?
Yes. Inside print, a printed insert or a message under the lid can be added; we set it up on the same dieline.
Do you deliver packaging flat or assembled?
Folding cartons and mailers usually travel flat to save space; rigid boxes arrive assembled. Delivery across the UAE is quoted on the same quotation.
Which finish suits packaging best?
Soft-touch with foil or spot UV gives a premium feel; kraft with one ink colour reads natural and honest. We suggest a combination for your product and budget.
From the journal
Worth reading first
- 01Materials · 2 min readWhy Heavier Paper Feels More Premium“Weight is the first thing a hand notices. What gsm really measures, why two cards of the same weight can feel different, and where the extra grams are worth paying for.”Read the article →
- 02Print intelligence · 1 min read7 Printing Mistakes That Quietly Damage Brand Perception“Most brands weaken trust through printing choices they never realize they’re making.”Read the article →
Packaging Solutions
Get a quotation for your packaging.
Share the product’s size, weight and quantity. We suggest a structure and board, send the dieline and quote the full run.