Short answer: a printed A4 presentation folder in Dubai starts at AED 1,150 for the standard 350 gsm art-matt folder with one pocket and matt lamination on one side. Step up to 400 gsm with velvet lamination and 3D gold foil and you pay AED 1,425 for 100 folders. If what you actually need is a reusable executive folder rather than a printed paper one, ready-made portfolios start at AED 9.50 each and run to AED 138 for a branded leather zip folder with a metal pen. This guide covers both routes, the specs that change the price, and how to get artwork right the first time.
Printed folder or ready-made portfolio? Decide this first
Almost every folder enquiry we get in Dubai is really one of two different jobs, and mixing them up is where budgets go wrong.
Printed presentation folders are die-cut card folders carrying your artwork edge to edge. They are consumable: you hand them out at a pitch, a property viewing, a school open day, a tender submission. Cost is per run, not per piece, because the die and the plates are the expensive part. They make sense from a few hundred pieces upward.
Ready-made portfolios are stitched PU, cork, leather or recycled-board folders with a notepad, pen loop and card slots inside. They are gifts, not handouts. Nobody throws one away, so they work for board meetings, VIP onboarding, and executive conference kits. Cost is per piece, and branding is added by screen printing, UV printing, debossing or laser engraving.
A useful rule: if the folder leaves the room with the paperwork and never comes back, print it. If you want it sitting on someone's desk in six months with your logo on it, buy a portfolio. Browse both in our folders collection.
Printed presentation folders: the four specs that set your price
1. Board weight (GSM)
Folder card is heavier than anything else in your stationery set. The working range is 300–400 gsm:
- 300 gsm — the absolute floor. Fine for a single A4 insert, but the pocket sags once you add a brochure and a business card.
- 350 gsm art matt — the standard, and what our stock folder uses. Holds 10–15 sheets plus a card without bowing.
- 400 gsm — what you want for tender documents, real estate packs, or anything with a printed brochure inside. Noticeably more rigid in the hand, which is most of the perceived quality.
2. Lamination and finish
Lamination on a folder is not optional in the UAE. Unlaminated 350 gsm board picks up fingerprints in an air-conditioned meeting room within minutes and scuffs in transit.
- Matt lamination — the default. Clean, non-reflective, photographs well, hides handling.
- Gloss lamination — makes photography and saturated colour pop. Shows fingerprints on dark backgrounds.
- Soft-touch / velvet lamination — the one people comment on. A suede-like surface that reads as premium instantly. It is the single cheapest upgrade that changes how a folder feels.
- 3D gold or silver foil — raised metallic foil on the logo. Pairs best with velvet lamination on a dark board.
- Spot UV — gloss varnish on selected areas over a matt laminate. Subtle, and effective on a pattern or a repeated logo mark.
3. Pocket configuration
Our standard folder carries one pocket on the right-hand side, which suits the majority of jobs. Other configurations we produce to order:
- Double pocket — left and right. Use it when you separate marketing collateral from contractual paperwork.
- Business card slits — diagonal cuts in the pocket. Cheap to add at the die stage, impossible to add afterwards.
- Gusseted pocket — an expanding fold that takes 40–60 sheets. Necessary for tender and handover documents.
- Spine or capacity fold — for packs thicker than about 8 mm.
4. Die-cutting
Every folder shape needs a cutting die. A standard A4 folder uses an existing die, which is why the stock price is what it is. A custom shape — rounded flap, angled pocket, a die-cut window over the logo — means a new die, charged once and reusable on repeat orders. If you expect to reorder the same folder annually, a custom die pays for itself on the second run.
Real prices for printed folders in Dubai
Live store prices in AED, inclusive of VAT.
| Product | Specification | Price (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation Folder (standard) | 350 gsm art matt, one-side full colour, matt lamination one side, single right-hand pocket, open size 43 × 30.5 cm | from 1,150 |
| 100 Folders A4 with Pocket | 400 gsm art matt, both sides one-colour print, velvet lamination one side, 3D gold foil, one inside pocket, die making included | 1,425 / 100 pcs |
| Letterheads A4, 100 gsm wood-free | 500 pcs | 210 |
| Letterheads A4, 100 gsm wood-free | 1,000 pcs | 380 |
| Startup Stationery Pack | 1,000 business cards + 500 letterheads + 10 NCR books | 799 |
Run quantity on the standard folder is confirmed at order — send us the volume you need on WhatsApp and we will price the exact run rather than a bracket. For the 100-piece foiled folder, the price above is the complete job including the die.
Ready-made portfolios: real per-piece prices
These are stock items in Dubai, branded to your logo. Prices are per piece before branding setup, which depends on the method and the number of print positions.
| Item | What is inside | Price (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Eco-Friendly A4 Folder | Recycled board cover, notepad, sticky notes, pen loop, card slots | 9.50 |
| Cork Cover Folder B5 | Natural cork cover, notepad, pen, sticky notes | 18.50 |
| Leather Portfolio with Zipper | Zip closure, built-in calculator, document and card pockets | 35.00 |
| Dorniel Design Portfolio Folder | PU leather, grey or black, A4 document capacity | 38.00 |
| Santhome Gubin A5 Organizer | 10,000 mAh power bank, 10W wireless charger, refillable A5 notebook | 150.00 |
| Cross A5 Zip Writing Folder | Leather zip folder, agenda, Cross metal pen, gift box | 138.00 |
Roughly: under AED 20 is an event and training-day folder, AED 35–50 is a client-meeting folder, and above AED 100 is a folder you give to somebody whose signature you need. More options sit in corporate gifts and stationery.
Artwork: the four things that hold folder jobs up
- Work on the flat dieline, not on an A4 page. A folder is a single flat sheet — 43 × 30.5 cm open on our standard folder — that gets cut and creased. Download the dieline from the product page and design on top of it.
- Give 3–5 mm bleed on every outside edge, including the pocket flaps. Folders get trimmed after die-cutting and a 1 mm shift shows as a white sliver on a dark cover.
- Keep logos and text 5 mm clear of every crease. Type that crosses a fold line looks broken once the folder is assembled, and heavy solid ink across a crease can crack.
- Send CMYK at 300 dpi, fonts outlined, as a print PDF. RGB files convert on press and deep blues and bright greens shift visibly. If you only have RGB assets, tell us and we will proof the conversion before printing.
No design file? Our in-house team can build the folder from your logo and brand colours — the same team that handles brochure layouts.
How to order
- Fix the spec — quantity, GSM, one or two pockets, lamination, foil yes or no. These four answers are a quote.
- Send artwork or a brief to WhatsApp +971 52 210 0909, or call 0522100909.
- Approve the digital proof. We send a flat proof plus a 3D mock-up of the assembled folder. Check spelling, phone numbers and the trade licence name here — after plate-making, changes mean a reprint.
- Production. Standard printed folders run in 3–5 working days. Add 1–2 days for foiling or velvet lamination. Branding on ready-made portfolios is typically 3–4 working days depending on method.
- Delivery. Free across Dubai and Sharjah on standard orders, next-day to Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for printed presentation folders?
Printed folders are quoted per run rather than per piece, and the practical starting point is a few hundred. Below roughly 100 pieces, the die and setup dominate the cost and a ready-made portfolio branded with your logo usually works out cheaper and looks better. The listed 100-piece foiled folder at AED 1,425 is the lowest structured quantity we hold as a standard product.
Can I print on both sides of the folder?
Yes. The standard folder is printed on one side, which is what most brands need — the inside is usually left plain so handwritten notes and stamps are legible. The 400 gsm option prints both sides. Full-colour inside printing is available on request and adds to the sheet cost, not the die cost.
Does the folder hold an A4 brochure as well as loose sheets?
A standard single-pocket folder comfortably holds 10–15 sheets of 100 gsm paper plus a business card. Add a saddle-stitched brochure and you are at the limit. For thicker packs ask for a gusseted pocket, which expands to take 40–60 sheets, or a capacity spine.
How long does a custom die take?
Two to three working days on top of standard production, and it is a one-time cost. We keep your die on file, so a reorder of the same shape next year runs at the standard lead time with no die charge.
Is velvet lamination worth the extra?
For anything a client keeps — proposals, property packs, investor documents — yes, and it is the cheapest perceived-quality upgrade available. For a folder handed out at a 500-person exhibition, no. Put the budget into quantity and matt lamination instead.
Do prices include VAT and delivery?
All prices shown on our store are in AED inclusive of VAT. Delivery is free across Dubai and Sharjah on standard orders; Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates are next-day.
Ready to order?
Send your artwork, or just your logo and the quantity, to WhatsApp +971 52 210 0909 and we will come back with a firm price and a proof. You can also call 0522100909. Browse the full range in folders, and pair them with matching letterheads for a complete stationery set.
