A notebook and a pen is the most ordered corporate gift in Dubai, and also the most often ordered badly — a stiff notebook nobody opens next to a pen that stops writing in a fortnight. The pairing works when the two pieces belong together in weight and price. Ready sets in our range run from AED 33 for a three-piece giveaway to AED 325 for a Cross Classic Century Medalist with a hardcover journal. This guide sets out which pairing fits which occasion, the real prices at each tier, and where to spend and where not to.
The rule: match the pen to the notebook, not to the budget
The failure mode in gifting is mismatch. A plastic pen clipped to a leather journal tells the recipient the journal was the gift and the pen was filler. A premium metal pen bundled with a thin card-cover notebook says the opposite. In both cases the set reads as a set of two things, not one gift.
Ready-made sets solve this because the pairing has already been made by someone who handles both objects. That is most of the value in buying a set rather than assembling one — and it is why the sets below cost less than the two pieces would separately in most cases.
Real prices by tier (2026)
All prices are live store prices, include 5% VAT, and are before logo branding. Branding is quoted by method and quantity — see the branding section below.
Tier 1: event giveaways and mass gifting — AED 33 to 127
| Set | What's in it | Price (AED, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| REGENT – Giftology set | Notebook, keychain and pen | 33 |
| GIESSEN – Hans Larsen set (grey, blue or black) | Tumbler, notebook and pen | 70 |
| ALMADA – CHANGE ZERO sustainable onboarding set | 5 pieces, recycled materials (green, navy or black) | 106 |
| Smart Essentials gift set (black or white) | Tech and desk essentials with notebook and pen | 114 |
| AVEIRO – CHANGE ZERO sustainable gratitude set | 5 pieces, recycled materials (navy or black) | 127 |
The REGENT set at AED 33 is the honest workhorse of this tier: three pieces, boxed, and cheap enough to hand to 300 people at a conference without a budget conversation. The GIESSEN set at AED 70 adds a tumbler, which is the piece the recipient actually keeps on their desk — notebooks get filed, tumblers get used daily.
The two CHANGE ZERO sets are worth a second look if your company reports on sustainability. Five pieces in recycled materials at AED 106–127 lets you make the claim without paying a premium for it. For the wider picture, see our guide to eco-friendly corporate gifts in the UAE.
Tier 2: client gifts and staff recognition — AED 155 to 194
| Set | What's in it | Price (AED, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Calais ballpoint + A5 hardcover notebook (navy blue) | Metal pen, A5 hardcover | 155 |
| Cross Click Chrome ballpoint + A5 hardcover notebook (black or mocha) | Retractable metal pen, A5 hardcover | 160 |
| Moleskine Classic Large notebook + Cross Calais pen | Moleskine large, metal pen | 189 |
| Cross Bailey Light resin ballpoint + Classic Black journal | Resin pen, hardcover journal | 192 |
| Moleskine Classic Large notebook + Cross Click Chrome pen | Moleskine large, retractable metal pen | 194 |
This is the tier most Dubai companies should live in for client gifting. Two recognised names, a real metal pen, and a notebook the recipient will actually open. The Moleskine pairings at AED 189–194 carry the most instant recognition, because the recipient knows the notebook's retail price without being told.
A practical note on the two Cross options: Calais is a twist-action pen, Click is retractable. Click is the better everyday pen and the one that tends to stay in a jacket pocket; Calais photographs better and feels more formal on a desk. AED 5 apart, so choose on use, not price.
Tier 3: executive journal sets — AED 216 to 325
| Set | Pen | Price (AED, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Coventry Black or Blue Lacquer + Classic journal | Lacquered ballpoint | 216 |
| Cross Coventry Chrome/Gold + Classic White journal | Chrome and gold ballpoint | 216 |
| Cross Calais Metallic Blue + Classic Blue journal | Metallic twist ballpoint | 233 |
| Cross Click Chrome + Classic journal (black, blue or white) | Retractable chrome ballpoint | 237 |
| Cross ATX Basalt Black + Classic Black journal | ATX ballpoint | 283 |
| Cross Classic Century Medalist + Classic White journal | Medalist ballpoint | 325 |
Reserve this tier for the twenty or thirty people whose names you would write on the box yourself — board members, a signing client, a long-service award. The Classic Century Medalist at AED 325 is the recognised shape in that catalogue and the one that reads as an occasion rather than a giveaway.
Tier 4: three-piece sets with a wallet or cardholder — AED 210 to 244
| Set | Third piece | Price (AED, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Calais pen + notebook (black or blue) | Cardholder | 210 |
| Cross Click Chrome pen + notebook (mocha) | Cardholder | 214 |
| Cross Coventry pen + notebook (black) | Bifold wallet | 218 |
| Cross Coventry pen + notebook (black) | Coin wallet | 227 |
| Cross Calais pen + notebook (blue) | Bifold wallet | 235 |
| Cross Calais pen + notebook (blue) | Coin wallet | 244 |
The third piece is what turns a gift into a set the recipient unpacks rather than glances at. For AED 55 over the two-piece equivalent you add a leather cardholder — the single item on this page most likely to be used every working day. Browse the full range in notebook and pen gift sets.
Which pairing for which occasion
- Conference or exhibition giveaway (200+ pieces): REGENT set at AED 33. Boxed, three pieces, defensible cost per head.
- New employee onboarding: ALMADA sustainable 5-piece at AED 106, or the GIESSEN tumbler set at AED 70. Our onboarding kits guide covers what else belongs in the box.
- Client gift at contract signature: a Moleskine and Cross pairing at AED 189–194. Recognised, not extravagant, and safe across cultures.
- Long-service or top-performer award: Cross ATX at AED 283 or Classic Century Medalist at AED 325.
- Ramadan or National Day client list: a three-piece set with a cardholder at AED 210–214 hits the right register for a seasonal gift without overshooting.
- Board meeting or delegation visit: Cross Coventry journal set at AED 216 — consistent across the table, which matters more than the individual price.
Branding: what to put your logo on
The instinct is to brand everything. Resist it. On a premium set, brand the notebook and leave the pen alone — the pen's own name is part of why you chose it, and a laser mark competing with it cheapens both. On a giveaway set, brand both, because recognition is the entire point of the gift.
Method depends on material. Laser engraving on metal pens and cardholders gives a permanent mark that never wears. Debossing on PU and leather notebook covers is the standard and the most tactile. Screen or UV printing suits plastic and coated surfaces where you need colour. Our guide to silk screen vs UV vs laser engraving explains the trade-offs with real examples.
If you want the notebook itself made to your specification rather than branded off the shelf — your cover material, your page ruling, your size — see custom PU notebooks in Dubai.
Ready set or custom kit?
A ready set is faster, cheaper per unit and already coordinated. A custom kit lets you choose every component and the box, and makes sense once you are past roughly a hundred pieces or you need something the catalogue does not offer. Custom gift sets covers both routes, and our comparison of ready boxes vs custom kits puts real numbers on where the crossover sits.
How to order
- Set the budget per head first — not the total. AED 33, AED 70, AED 160 and AED 216 are the four real decision points in this range.
- Pick the set and confirm stock and quantity on WhatsApp +971 52 210 0909 or call 0522100909. Stock on branded-pen sets moves quickly in Q4 and before Ramadan.
- Send your logo in vector format (AI, EPS or PDF) if you have it. We prepare the branding artwork free of charge and send a proof for approval.
- Approve and produce. Branding typically adds 3–7 working days depending on method and quantity. Delivery is free inside Dubai on orders above AED 800; outside Dubai and across the GCC we quote by address and quantity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reasonable per-head budget for a corporate notebook and pen set in Dubai?
AED 33 to 70 for event giveaways, AED 106 to 160 for staff, AED 155 to 216 for clients, and AED 216 to 325 for executives and awards. Setting the per-head figure before you browse is the single thing that keeps a gifting project on budget.
Do the prices include logo branding?
No — prices are for the sets themselves and include VAT. Branding is quoted separately because the cost depends on method (laser, deboss, print), the number of positions and the quantity. Send your quantity and logo on WhatsApp for a landed figure.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It varies by set and by branding method; unbranded sets can be bought in small numbers, while branded runs have a practical minimum because setup is a fixed cost. Our MOQ guide explains why, and the team will tell you the exact minimum for the set you want.
Can I mix tiers in one order?
Yes, and most companies should. A common pattern is the REGENT set for the general list, a Moleskine pairing for clients, and half a dozen Classic Century Medalist sets for the people at the top of it — one order, one delivery, three price points.
How far ahead should I order for Ramadan or UAE National Day?
Four to six weeks before you need them in hand, and earlier if the set needs branding. Stock on popular pen colours tightens in the run-up, and the last two weeks before any UAE gifting season are when lead times stretch across the whole market.
Are these sets suitable as gifts across different nationalities and cultures?
A quality pen and notebook is close to the safest corporate gift there is — no dietary, religious or alcohol sensitivities, useful to everyone, and appropriate for every seniority. That is a large part of why it has stayed the default in a market as mixed as Dubai's.
Order your gift sets
Browse live prices in notebook and pen gift sets, or send your headcount and per-head budget to WhatsApp on +971 52 210 0909 and we will come back with two or three options that fit. Call 0522100909 if you would rather talk it through. All prices include VAT; delivery inside Dubai is free on orders above AED 800.
