Custom Ribbon Printing in the UAE: Complete Buying Guide
Everything below comes from PrintOnline's product page for custom printed ribbons in the UAE: real widths, real prices and the two things most people get wrong about ribbon orders.
Where printed ribbons are used
Gift wrapping, retail packaging, bakery boxes, wedding favours, event gifts, hampers and branded giveaways. Details for each: retail packaging and corporate gifts and weddings, events and gift packaging.
Available widths
Three widths: 1 cm, 0.5 inch and 1 inch. For reference, 0.5 inch is about 1.27 cm and 1 inch is about 2.54 cm. Choosing between them: how to choose the right ribbon width.
Ribbon colours
The ribbon colour is chosen by code from the Color Options Catalog shown in the product images, not from a dropdown of named shades. Find your shade in the catalogue image, then type its code into the colour field when ordering.
One caution worth taking seriously, because the page states it plainly: the actual material shade and the printed colour may vary from what you see on screen. If an exact match to a corporate Pantone or a wedding palette is essential, PrintOnline asks you to contact them and get written confirmation that it is feasible before you order. Treat a screen colour as an approximation.
One-colour vs two-colour printing
The options are 1 colour, 2 colours, or a non-printed sample. Printing is on one side only. There is no full-colour option. See one-colour vs two-colour ribbon printing.
Artwork preparation
The page asks for a vector PDF, AI or EPS file where possible, and mockup approval before production. Size limits, resolution and minimum text size are not stated. Guide: how to prepare artwork.
Roll length
25 yards per roll. That is about 22.9 metres.
Minimum order: five rolls
The minimum printed order is five rolls. The single roll at AED 20 that also appears in the quantity list is the non-printed sample: it is only selectable once you choose "Non-printed sample" as the print option, so it is a way to check the ribbon itself before committing, not a way to buy one printed roll.
That sample is genuinely useful. Ribbon colour is picked from a catalogue image by code, and screen colour is unreliable, so AED 20 to hold the actual shade in your hand before ordering fifty rolls is cheap insurance.
Price
Price depends on how many print colours you choose, not on the width. One colour and two colours have separate price ladders:
| Rolls | 1 colour | Per roll | 2 colours | Per roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | AED 250 | AED 50.00 | AED 420 | AED 84.00 |
| 10 | AED 350 | AED 35.00 | AED 640 | AED 64.00 |
| 15 | AED 550 | AED 36.67 | ||
| 20 | AED 650 | AED 32.50 | AED 1,202 | AED 60.10 |
| 25 | AED 1,590 | AED 63.60 | ||
| 50 | AED 1,500 | AED 30.00 | AED 2,930 | AED 58.60 |
| 100 | AED 3,210 | AED 32.10 | AED 5,610 | AED 56.10 |
| 1,000 | AED 20,100 | AED 20.10 |
A non-printed sample roll is AED 20.
Two things the per-roll column makes obvious. First, the second print colour is expensive: at 50 rolls it nearly doubles the bill, from AED 1,500 to AED 2,930. If your logo can work in one colour, it is worth redrawing it to do so. Second, fifty rolls is the sweet spot on the one-colour ladder at AED 30.00 each; 100 rolls currently works out dearer per roll, at AED 32.10. If you need between 50 and 100 rolls, price both on the configurator rather than assuming more is cheaper. The jump to 1,000 rolls is where the real saving sits, at AED 20.10 each.
Production timing
Normal production is 5 working days at no surcharge, with a 10-working-day option also listed for larger runs. Urgent production runs 2 to 3 working days for a surcharge that scales with the order, from AED 50 on a small run up to several hundred on a large one.
The timing detail that catches people out: production starts only after you approve the artwork, not when you pay. The delivery calculator allows one working day for file preparation and mockup approval, so your own response time is part of the schedule.
Delivery
Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman (city limits only) and other emirates (city limits only). Courier delivers 1 to 2 days after production, included in the base price. A special driver costs AED 50 (6 working hours after production) or AED 150 (10 working hours). Remote areas need extra time. The delivery date calculator skips Sundays and listed public holidays and allows one working day for file preparation and mockup approval.
Comparison table: verified specifications only
| Specification | PrintOnline ribbon |
|---|---|
| Widths | 1 cm, 0.5 inch, 1 inch |
| Print colours | 1 colour, 2 colours, or non-printed sample |
| Printed sides | One side only |
| Roll length | 25 yards per roll |
| Ribbon colour | Chosen by code from the Color Options Catalog |
| Minimum order | 5 rolls printed (1 roll available as a non-printed sample) |
| Price | From AED 250 for 5 rolls in one colour; AED 20 for a non-printed sample |
| Normal production | 5 working days (10 also listed) |
| Artwork files | Vector PDF, AI or EPS preferred |
| Delivery | Courier 1 to 2 days after production, or special driver |
How to order
Choose width, ribbon colour code, print colours and quantity, upload vector artwork, approve the mockup, then pay. A AED 20 booking fee can reserve an order, and a free design consultation and a Canva self-design option are offered. Check the delivery date before you pay.
Order custom printed ribbons from PrintOnline.
Related: choosing a width, one vs two colours and artwork preparation.