Menu card design for restaurants in the UAE
A menu card is the printed menu guests hold at the table. A good menu card design starts with the right size (A4 for a full menu, A5 for a café, DL for drinks), puts sections in the order people eat, keeps one highlight per page and prints prices that include VAT. Here is what to put on it, and how to get it printed.
What goes on a restaurant menu card
- Your name and logo at the top, in English and Arabic if you serve both.
- Sections in eating order: starters, mains, sides, desserts, drinks.
- Dish names and prices. Prices without a currency sign on every line.
- Short descriptions only for dishes a guest might not know.
- Dietary marks such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, contains nuts and spicy, with a key.
- Calories if your group or your authority asks for them.
- A VAT line: “Prices in AED, inclusive of 5% VAT”. The Federal Tax Authority requires displayed prices to include VAT.
- A QR code to the digital menu, and your Instagram or phone number for takeaway.
Menu card sizes
| Menu card | Size | With 3 mm bleed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 216 × 303 mm | Full restaurant menu |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | 154 × 216 mm | Café, short menu, booklet |
| DL | 99 × 210 mm | 105 × 216 mm | Drinks, desserts, table card |
| Square | 210 × 210 mm | 216 × 216 mm | Brunch, set menu |
| Trifold | 297 × 210 mm flat | 303 × 216 mm | Takeaway and delivery |
Pixel sizes, inches and safe margins for each are in the menu size guide.
Single card, folded card or booklet?
| Format | Holds | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single card, one side | About 12 to 20 dishes on A4 | Cafés, lunch menus, small kitchens | Cramming in dishes by shrinking the type |
| Single card, both sides | Food on the front, drinks on the back | Casual restaurants | Guests missing the back entirely |
| Folded card | Four or six panels | Takeaway, room service | Heavy board cracking along the fold unless creased |
| Booklet | As many pages as you need | Long menus, fine dining | Reprinting every page when one price changes |
Menu card design ideas
The layout does more for a menu card than any colour. Mezze read well in cards two across, burgers suit bold ticket stubs, a tasting menu wants everything centred, and a night lounge needs pale type on a dark ground. There are fifteen worked examples in menu design ideas, and the full set in restaurant menu templates.
Paper and finish
A menu card is handled at every table, every service. For a dine-in card ask the printer for 300 to 350 gsm board with matt lamination on both sides: it survives fingerprints and can be wiped down. A café table card can be lighter, 250 to 300 gsm. A takeaway trifold is usually 130 to 170 gsm so it folds cleanly.
How to make a menu card online
- Paste your dishes. One per line with the price, for example
Hummus 28. A line with no price becomes a section. - Pick a template and size. Switch between A4, A5, DL, square and trifold; the dishes reflow on their own.
- Add Arabic and your logo. Arabic names sit beside the English, set right to left.
- Download the print file. An exact-size PDF with 3 mm bleed and crop marks, in CMYK for the press.
The free menu maker covers each step in more detail.
Menu card printing in Dubai
Print shops in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi work to A-series paper and expect a PDF at the finished size with 3 mm bleed, crop marks and CMYK colour. Ask for a printed proof before a full run and read it under your restaurant’s own lighting. The menu printing guide lists exactly what to send and what to ask for.
Menu card questions
What is a menu card?
A menu card is the printed menu a guest holds at the table: a single card, a folded card or a small booklet listing the dishes and prices. The term is common in the UAE and South Asia; elsewhere it is simply called the menu.
What is the standard size of a menu card?
A4 (210 × 297 mm) for a full restaurant menu, A5 (148 × 210 mm) for a café or a short menu, and DL (99 × 210 mm) for a drinks or dessert card. A takeaway menu card is usually an A4 sheet folded into three panels.
How do I design a menu card for my restaurant?
List your dishes and prices first and cut the ones that do not sell. Choose the size from how the card is used, pick a layout that suits your food, set section headings in the order people eat, keep one highlight per page, and add a footer saying prices are in dirhams and include VAT. Then print a proof and read it at a table in your own dining room.
What paper is best for a menu card?
A menu card handled every day is commonly printed on 300 to 350 gsm board and laminated on both sides so it can be wiped. A café table card is usually 250 to 300 gsm, and a folded takeaway card 130 to 170 gsm.
Can I make a menu card online for free?
Yes. QaiMa's menu card maker is free during early access: choose a template, replace the sample dishes with yours, and download a print-ready PDF once you create a free account. No card details are needed.
Design your menu card now. Pick a template, paste your dishes, download the PDF.