Launching a Custom Playing Cards Brand in the UAE with Merchlist

In an age where creativity meets commerce, launching a unique product that blends culture, utility, and artistry is a powerful way to build a brand. Custom playing cards are more than just tools for games — they are artistic expressions, collectors’ items, marketing pieces, and conversation starters.

If you’re based in the UAE and looking to start your own line of custom playing cards, partnering with a creator-first platform like Merchlist can give you a strong advantage. Here’s how to do it — and why now is the perfect time.

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Why Playing Cards?

Despite the dominance of digital entertainment, playing cards continue to thrive in every corner of the world. Here’s why they make an excellent product choice:

• 🔥 Evergreen Appeal – Used for games, magic, cardistry, and gifting.
• 🎨 Design-Driven – Every card is a canvas; the entire deck becomes a storytelling platform.
• 💼 High Margin Product – Compact, collectible, and ideal for upselling.
• 🎁 Ideal for Gifting or Merchandising – Perfect for fans, tourists, influencers, or artists.

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Why the UAE?

The UAE is a unique, design-forward and globally connected hub with:

• A booming e-commerce sector
• A diverse, multi-cultural audience
• A rising creator economy
• Growing demand for locally-inspired premium products

This means your custom playing cards can:

• Cater to tourists with local themes (Arabic calligraphy, desert landscapes, heritage icons)
• Target niche communities (gamers, designers, creators)
• Be exported internationally

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Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Playing Cards Brand with Merchlist

1. Choose a Strong Concept

Your playing card deck needs a concept that makes it stand out. Consider:

• Cultural themes: Bedouin heritage, Arabic typography, falcons, camels, etc.
• Artist collabs: Work with local UAE or global artists to design each card.
• Pop culture decks: Hip-hop, footballers, anime, or viral memes.
• Luxury decks: Metallic inks, black & gold foil, calligraphic designs.

💡 Tip: Don’t just design cards — tell a story with your deck. Make every card mean something.

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2. Design the Deck

Each deck has:

• 52 standard cards
• 2 jokers
• Optional extra card (promo or branding)
• Card backs
• Tuck box (the outer box)

You can use Figma, Photoshop, or Illustrator, or hire a graphic designer. Merchlist can even connect you with artists or freelancers to speed things up.

🎨 Suggested Roles:

• Graphic Designer: For layout and visual theme
• Illustrator: For face cards and jokers
• Packaging Designer: For the tuck box and branding

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3. Find a Manufacturer

You’ll need high-quality printing. Here are a few options:

• Local UAE printers: Great for short runs (start with 100–500 decks)
• China/India manufacturers: Cost-effective for bulk orders
• Premium card printers: Like USPCC (used by Bicycle), Cartamundi, or MakePlayingCards.com

Make sure to consider:

• Card stock (linen or smooth finish)
• Coating (plastic, matte, gloss)
• Packaging (custom tuck boxes, sleeves, bundles)

🛒 Pro Tip: Start with 100–250 decks for a test batch. You can grow as demand picks up.

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4. Set Up on Merchlist

Merchlist is your go-to platform for UAE-based creators, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Here’s why it works perfectly for your playing cards brand:

• 🔗 Direct-to-creator storefronts
• 💳 Easy payment setup in AED
• 🚚 Local fulfillment and delivery options
• 📱 Built-in fanbase if you’re a content creator or artist
• 📈 Analytics & order tracking

Create a product page with:

• High-quality mockups/photos
• Storytelling (what the deck is about, who it’s for)

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5. Promote & Sell

Now it’s time to build hype!

📱 Use Instagram, TikTok & Reels

• Show off card design videos (e.g., cardistry, unboxing)
• Behind-the-scenes: sketch to prototype to final deck
• Reels featuring unique card spreads or Joker reveals

🤝 Collaborate

• Work with influencers, streamers, designers
• Limited drops with guest artists or themes

🛍 Bundle Merch

• Offer the deck with stickers, tote bags, or posters
• Create themed merch bundles (e.g., “Desert Royalty Set”)

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6. Scale with New Themes

Once your first deck finds success, scale by:

• Launching seasonal decks (Ramadan Edition, UAE National Day)
• Collaborating with other creators on Merchlist
• Introducing collector boxes, foil editions, and signed cards
• Creating custom game rules to go with your deck

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Example Deck Ideas for UAE Market

Theme	Concept
“Desert Royals”	Kings and queens reimagined with Emirati fashion, camels, palm trees
“Calligraphic Cards”	Arabic calligraphy integrated into the suits and numbers
“Modern Majlis”	Blend of modern design and traditional storytelling
“Crypto Kings”	A tech-savvy deck merging Web3 with luxury Arab aesthetics
“Merchlist All-Stars”	52 Merchlist creators as face cards – each card has a QR code to their store

Final Thoughts

Starting a playing cards brand in the UAE is more than a business — it’s a creative journey. When paired with a creator-focused platform like Merchlist, your vision becomes more than just a product; it becomes a movement — celebrating culture, storytelling, and design.

So if you’re a designer, artist, entrepreneur, or content creator, the deck is stacked in your favor.

🃏 The only question is: what story will your cards tell?