The four colours
The UAE flag has three horizontal bands of green, white and black, with a vertical red band at the hoist. For ribbon, that gives you four colours to work with, and they are strong colours. The skill is in how many you use at once.
These ideas use the flag's colours, not the flag itself. If you plan to print the flag or the national emblem on packaging, check the current official guidance on their use first.
Five ways to wear them
Pick a look:
Pairing with the box
- White boxes show every colour at its brightest. Almost any combination works.
- Black boxes look premium with green or red; white ribbon gives the sharpest contrast.
- Kraft or natural card suits a single green or red. All four colours at once can look crowded on a brown box.
- Your brand colour box: keep the box, and bring the occasion in through the ribbon alone.
Which finish?
Satin gives the rich, celebratory look most people want for National Day gifts, and double-face satin keeps both sides of the bow bright. For hampers that travel or are handed out at events, grosgrain holds up better. The guide to ribbon finishes compares the two in detail.
When to order
National Day falls on 2 December, and the weeks before it are among the busiest of the year for gifting. Work backwards from the day your boxes must be wrapped, not from the 2nd:
- Plain ribbon: order in early November, so there is time to swap a colour that looks wrong in person.
- Printed ribbon: approve artwork by late October. Printers fill up fast in November.
- Large corporate runs: count your boxes with the ribbon calculator, then add a spare roll of each colour.
Questions buyers ask
What colour ribbon for UAE National Day gift boxes?
Red, green, white and black, the four colours of the UAE flag, but use one or two at a time rather than all four. A single green or red satin band on a white or black box reads as National Day without shouting. Two colours layered look deliberate; three begin to look busy. A striped ribbon in all four colours is the exception, and works best on a plain box.
When should I order ribbon for UAE National Day?
Order plain ribbon in early November and approve artwork for printed ribbon by late October. National Day falls on 2 December, and the weeks before it are among the busiest of the year for gifting, so printers fill up fast in November. Work backwards from the day your boxes must be wrapped, not from the 2nd, and add a spare roll of each colour.
Can I print the UAE flag on ribbon or gift packaging?
Check the current official guidance on use of the flag and the national emblem before you print either on packaging. The ideas in this guide use the flag's colours, not the flag itself, which is the safer route for a commercial gift. A ribbon striped in the four colours, or a white or black ribbon with a short foil greeting, gives the occasion without reproducing the flag.
How do I stop red and green ribbon looking like Christmas?
Bring in white or black. Red and green on their own read as Christmas, so put the ribbon on a white or black box, add a black band under a red bow, or choose a striped ribbon that carries all four flag colours. Plenty of white and black in the look is what makes it read as the UAE in December rather than a festive shop window.
What ribbon widths work for a layered National Day bow?
A wide ribbon with a narrower one on top, such as 38 mm green with 16 mm red, tied together as one bow. The wide ribbon carries the look and the narrow one adds the second colour without adding bulk. Match the wider ribbon to the box size using the ribbon width guide, and keep it to two colours.
Is satin or grosgrain better for National Day corporate gifts?
Satin for the rich, celebratory look most people want, choosing double-face so both sides of the bow stay bright. Grosgrain for hampers that travel or are handed out at events, because it holds its shape and grips the knot through handling. White and black boxes take either finish well; on a black box, white ribbon gives the sharpest contrast and green or red looks premium.
