Label design in Dubai can cost anything from a few hundred dirhams to tens of thousands, and the quotes you receive often aren't comparing the same thing. One studio is pricing a simple artwork file, another a full packaging system, and another a label that's checked against UAE regulations.
This blog explains what label design actually costs in dirhams, what each price tier includes, and how to avoid paying twice. Contact Raes Associates for a clear quote on a compliant, print-ready label for your product.
The Short Answer
For a single product label in Dubai, published rates run from about AED 300 to AED 1,500 at the budget end, roughly AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 at a mid-level studio, and AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 or more when you buy full packaging design for one product.
Product ranges, premium finishes and bilingual content development can push costs into the tens of thousands. Printing the labels is a separate cost.
Three Things "Label Design" Can Mean
1. Label Artwork Only
A designer lays out your label using the product information and content you supply. This is generally the cheapest option.
2. Compliance-Ready Label Design
The artwork is checked and adapted to UAE requirements, including bilingual Arabic and English content, mandatory information and nutrition panels. This is particularly relevant when registering products.
3. Full Packaging Design
This may include structural design, dielines, brand identity and print specifications, often for products intended for retail shelves.
Before accepting a quote: Ask which of these three scopes it covers. Much of the price difference comes from the work included in the package.
Product Label Design Price Tiers in AED
These are indicative market ranges published by Dubai print shops and studios. Prices vary by provider and can change over time.
| Design Tier | What You Get | Typical Price (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Print shop design add-on | Label or sticker layout from your supplied content | About 300 per page or design |
| Basic packaging or label design, English only | A simple layout | About 900 |
| Basic packaging or label design, English and Arabic | The same layout with Arabic included | About 1,200 |
| Freelancer | Label or packaging design | About 1,000 to 1,500 |
| Mid-level studio | Label or packaging design with revisions | About 2,000 to 3,000 |
| Agency, single product packaging | Label, surface graphics and production-ready files | About 5,000 to 15,000 |
| Agency, product line of several SKUs | Master design system plus variations | About 12,000 to 30,000 |
| Premium or complex packaging systems | Structural work, special finishes and larger ranges | About 20,000 to 100,000 or more |
Cheaper packages do not always include compliance checks, and premium packages do not necessarily include them either. Confirm the scope in writing before making a payment.
What's Usually Included and What's Extra?
Commonly Included
- A set number of design concepts and revision rounds.
- Print-ready files in the formats required by your printer.
- Basic layout for the label panels.
Often Charged Extra
- Arabic layout and typography: Some designers price an additional language separately.
- Nutrition facts panel: Food products may need a dedicated nutrition information layout.
- Barcode placement and generation: Our International Barcodes (EAN-13) service covers this requirement.
- Dielines and structural design: Boxes, tubes and other packaging formats may need additional structural work.
- Extra revisions: Changes beyond the number included in the original quote may incur additional fees.
- Additional SKUs or variants: Each flavour, shade or size may require its own artwork.
- Mockups and 3D renders: These may be charged separately from the standard design package.
Arabic Translation and Compliance Costs
Arabic text on labels needs accurate translation. Published prices for label translation range from a few hundred dirhams per label to over a thousand, depending on the length of the content and the provider.
For food products, one published estimate puts label translation at roughly AED 300 to AED 800. Remember that a translation or design provider can prepare your artwork, but cannot promise regulatory approval.
Dubai Municipality or the relevant authority assesses your product, documents and final label under the applicable service. If you need the label to support product registration, ask whether the quote includes a compliance review.
Our Product Label Design service is built around this requirement, and our Product Registration services cover the filing process.
Printing Costs Are Separate
Design and printing are priced separately. As a guide, published Dubai prices start at about AED 230 for 100 laminated paper labels. The cost per label falls significantly on larger runs, with bulk orders of tens of thousands costing only a few fils each.
Transparent PVC and foil finishes generally cost more than plain paper. Ask for a small test run before committing to a large print order, since colour, material and legibility can look different on the final container.
What Changes the Product Label Design Price?
- Number of SKUs and variants: More flavours, sizes and product versions usually mean more artwork.
- Languages: Bilingual layouts need additional design and typography work.
- Complexity: Illustrations, photography and special finishes can increase the cost.
- Regulatory content: Nutrition panels, ingredient lists, warnings and claims need careful placement.
- Packaging type: Jars, bottles, boxes and tubes may require different dielines.
- Studio level: Freelancers, mid-level studios and agencies have different pricing structures.
- Revisions and timeline: Rush jobs and numerous revision rounds can increase the price.
- Ownership of files: Make sure you receive editable source files, not just flattened images.
What a UAE Product Label Must Include
Requirements depend on your product category, so check the rules that apply to your specific product. In general, the following information may be required.
Food Products
- Bilingual Arabic and English information, with mandatory details in Arabic.
- Product name.
- Ingredients listed in descending order.
- Allergen information.
- Nutritional information.
- Net quantity.
- Country of origin.
- Manufacturer or importer details.
- Production and expiry dates.
- Storage conditions.
Dubai Municipality allows Arabic stickers to be added to an existing label in some cases, subject to the applicable requirements.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
- Product name and ingredients.
- Batch number and relevant dates.
- Net content.
- Manufacturer details and country of origin.
- Barcode.
- Usage instructions and safety warnings.
- Arabic and English information as required.
Product Claims
Health or medical claims can change which authority regulates your product. Keep the wording on your label consistent with how the product is registered.
For the registration process, explore our related guides:
- Cosmetic Product Registration in Dubai
- Montaji Product Registration in Dubai
- How to Register a Food Product in Dubai
- Food Product Registration with Dubai Municipality
- Dubai Food Regulations
Our Cosmetic Products Registration and Food Product Registration services can also assist with the filing process.
How to Choose a Label Designer
Before selecting a designer or agency, ask the following questions:
- Which of the three design scopes does your quote cover?
- Is Arabic design and typography included?
- How many concepts and revisions are included?
- Do you check labels against UAE requirements, and who is responsible if a label is rejected?
- What files will I receive, and will I own them?
- How do you price additional SKUs?
- Can you prepare print specifications and work with my printer?
Be cautious of providers who promise guaranteed approval, quote a single price without asking about your product, or deliver only flattened images without editable files.
Ways to Keep Product Label Design Costs Down
- Finalise product information first: Confirm ingredients, dates and claims before design begins. Later changes can result in paid revisions.
- Use a template system: Create a master layout that can be adapted for new flavours, sizes or variants.
- Design bilingually from the start: Adding Arabic after completing the English artwork may require additional work.
- Supply verified Arabic copy: Accurate content can reduce translation and correction costs.
- Order a small print test: Check the final material, colour and legibility before placing a large order.
- Combine design and registration support: Coordinating both services can help avoid paying separate providers to correct the same label.
Mistakes That Cost Money
- Designing first and checking requirements later, which can lead to redesign and a second print run.
- Buying the cheapest design and then paying separately for compliance corrections.
- Printing a full run before the authority has accepted the label.
- Forgetting product variants, so each additional shade or flavour requires unplanned artwork.
- Not owning the source files, which can make future changes expensive.
If you're launching a product, make sure the business side is in place too. Explore these Raes Associates services and guides:
- Company Formation for setting up your licensed business.
- Trademark Registration to protect your brand name.
- GMP Certification in Dubai for manufacturer documentation and certification support.
- Customs code registration support for importers.
- UAE Business Setup Costs: 15 Costs Nobody Warns You About.
- Business Setup Timeline in the UAE.
- Candle and Handmade Crafts Business in UAE.
- How to Start a Perfume Business in Dubai.
- Home Bakery License in Dubai.
Need Help With Your Product Labels?
The cheapest label is the one that passes the first time. Raes Associates can review your product category, prepare a bilingual, compliance-ready label and coordinate it with your registration process to help avoid unnecessary redesigns and reprints.
Contact Raes Associates for a free label review and quote.
Get a Free Label ReviewFrequently Asked Questions
1. How much does product label design cost in Dubai?
Published rates range from about AED 300 for a basic layout to AED 1,500 at the budget end, roughly AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 at a mid-level studio, and AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 or more for full packaging design of a single product.
2. Is Arabic design included in the price?
Not always. Some providers charge extra for the Arabic version, and translation can be a separate cost. Confirm exactly what is included in the quotation.
3. Does label design include printing?
Usually not. Printing is priced separately, with published Dubai prices starting at about AED 230 for 100 laminated labels and falling on larger runs.
4. Will a designer guarantee my label passes Dubai Municipality?
No provider should promise approval. The authority assesses the product, documents and final label. Ask for a compliance review rather than a guarantee of approval.
5. Do I pay again for each product variant?
Often yes. Each flavour, shade or size usually needs its own artwork, although a reusable template system can help reduce the additional design cost.
6. Do I need Arabic on my product label?
For many consumer products sold in Dubai, Arabic information is required. Mandatory details typically need to appear in Arabic, although exact requirements vary by product category.
7. How can I reduce product label design costs?
Finalise your product information first, design bilingually from the start, use a reusable template for product variants, and combine design with registration support where appropriate.
