How much does packaging printing cost in Dubai?
Last updated 2026-08-22
In short
Printed mailer boxes in Dubai cost from about AED 6.50 per unit at 250 pieces, AED 4.90 at 1,000 and under AED 4 at 5,000. Rigid gift boxes start around AED 14 per unit at 250 because they are hand assembled. A prototype sample costs from AED 180 and is usually credited against production.
What you're paying for
Board, printing, die cutting, gluing and finishing. Die creation is a one-off cost carried on the first order; reorders of the same dieline skip it.
The costs people forget
Prototype samples, the die itself on a new shape, and storage if you order more than your warehouse can hold. Ordering 5,000 boxes to save AED 1 per unit is false economy if 3,000 sit unused for two years.
How to bring the price down
Use a standard dieline rather than a custom shape, keep to one lamination type, print inside in one colour instead of full colour, and consolidate several SKUs onto one box size with a printed label variant.
Indicative Dubai box prices, printed E-flute mailer, 250 × 200 × 80 mm
| Quantity | Per box from | Order total from |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | AED 6.50 | AED 1,625 |
| 500 | AED 5.60 | AED 2,800 |
| 1,000 | AED 4.90 | AED 4,900 |
| 5,000 | AED 3.90 | AED 19,500 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for printed boxes in Dubai?
100 units for folding cartons and mailers, 50 for rigid boxes.
Do I have to pay for a die?
Only on a new custom shape, and only once. Reorders of the same dieline reuse it.