Eid Gift Ideas for Employees and Clients in the UAE

Eid is a time of celebration, gratitude, and generosity. For businesses in the UAE, it's also an opportunity to strengthen relationships - with your team who worked through Ramadan, and with clients who trust you with their business.

But Eid gifting comes with expectations. Too little feels dismissive. Too much can seem inappropriate or even awkward. The goal is thoughtful appreciation that feels genuine.

Here's what works based on years of helping UAE companies get their Eid gifting right.

Eid vs. Ramadan Gifts: The Difference

Some companies gift during Ramadan, some at Eid, some both. Here's the distinction:

• Ramadan gifts: Given during the month, often food-related (dates, sweets), supports the fasting experience
• Eid gifts: Celebration gifts, can be broader in scope, marks the end of fasting

If you only gift once, Eid has more flexibility in what you can give. The celebration mood allows for a wider range of appropriate gifts.

Employee Gift Ideas

Your team kept the business running through the holy month. That deserves recognition.

Client Gift Ideas

For Key Clients

For Business Contacts

Timing Your Eid Gifts

Delivery Options

• Before Eid: Arrive 2-3 days before so recipients have them during celebrations
• Eid Day: For colleagues, can present in person (if you're both in office)
• During Eid week: Still appropriate, the celebration extends several days
• After Eid: Awkward - either gift or don't, but don't be late

Presentation Matters

Packaging Do's

• Quality boxes (rigid preferred)
• Ribbon or elegant closure
• Eid greeting card included
• Tissue paper or protective filling
• Subtle branding (if any)

Packaging Don'ts

• Plastic bags or generic wrapping
• Heavy promotional branding
• Price tags left on
• Items loose or rattling

What to Avoid

• Alcohol - Inappropriate for Eid (and for many Muslim recipients generally)
• Non-halal food items - Check ingredients carefully
• Pork-derived products - Including some leather goods, gelatin-based sweets
• Religious items (unless certain) - A Quran is meaningful but only if you know it's welcome
• Generic corporate swag - Branded mugs and keychains feel tone-deaf for Eid
• Perfumes without knowing preferences - Strong scents are personal

The Handwritten Note

I can't stress this enough: a handwritten note transforms a gift. It takes 30 seconds and makes the difference between "they sent us something" and "they thought of us."

Keep it simple:

"Wishing you and your family a blessed Eid. Thank you for your partnership this year."

- [Your name]

Arabic greetings are appreciated if appropriate: "Eid Mubarak" or "Kul 'am wa antum bikhair" (May every year find you in good health).

Budget Planning Guide

Here's a framework for a company of ~50 employees and 30 clients:

Category	Qty	Per Unit	Total
Employee gifts	50	contact us for pricing	contact us for pricing
VIP clients	5	contact us for pricing	contact us for pricing
Key clients	15	contact us for pricing	contact us for pricing
Business contacts	10	contact us for pricing	contact us for pricing
Total Budget			contact us for pricing

Adjust ratios based on your relationship priorities and company culture.

Final Thought

The best Eid gifts aren't the most expensive ones. They're the ones that show you understand the significance of the occasion and value the relationship. A thoughtfully chosen contact us for pricing gift with a personal note beats a generic contact us for pricing hamper every time.

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating.