You can book a face painter in Dubai for a birthday party at home, a villa garden, a community hall, a school fair or a mall family day. One artist brings brushes, paints, glitter, stencils, a small table and a stool, and paints the children one by one while the party goes on around them.
Price: one face painter usually costs AED 350 to AED 600 per hour, and a 2 hour booking for a private party usually costs AED 600 to AED 900. See kids entertainer prices in Dubai.
Face painting prices in Dubai
| Booking | AED | Faces, about |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour, one artist | 350 to 450 | 10 to 14 |
| 2 hours, one artist | 600 to 900 | 20 to 28 |
| 3 hours, one artist | 850 to 1,300 | 30 to 40 |
| 2 hours, two artists | 1,100 to 1,600 | 40 to 55 |
| Glitter tattoos or henna, per artist per hour | 150 to 300 | depends on design |
Prices move with the distance to the venue, weekends and public holidays, and whether glitter and gems are included. A 1 hour slot costs more per hour than a longer booking, because setup takes the same time. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah add a travel charge.
How many face painters you need
The complaint parents make afterwards is about the queue, not the price. So match the number of artists to the number of children.
| Children | Artists | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 20 | 1 | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| 30 to 40 | 2 | 2 hours |
| About 60 | 3 | 2 to 3 hours |
| 100 or more | 4 to 5 | 3 hours, in shifts |
If the party also has a clown or a balloon artist, children drift in and out of the line. Ask the painter for a quick menu of 2 minute designs next to the detailed ones.
Designs by age
- Ages 2 to 4: a small cheek design, such as a butterfly, a heart or a cat nose with whiskers. Toddlers will not sit still for a full face.
- Ages 5 to 9: full mask designs such as a tiger, a unicorn or a superhero style mask. Each takes 5 to 8 minutes.
- Older children: smaller designs, a jewelled pattern or a sporty half mask.
- Themes: princess and fairytale, animals, National Day and Eid colours, falcons, crescent and star.
Glitter tattoos and henna
A glitter tattoo is a stencilled design on the arm, shoulder or hand, made with cosmetic glue and fine glitter. It lasts 3 to 7 days and suits children who do not want paint on their face. Henna is a different skill, so check that the artist does it before you book.
Safe paint and the heat
Ask which paint the artist uses. It should be hypoallergenic, water-based and cosmetic grade. Between April and October, never put the face painter in direct sun: the paint runs and the queue slows down. A shaded corner or an indoor room fixes both.
How to book
Send the date, the start time, the venue, the number of children and their ages. Book 3 to 10 days ahead for a normal party, and 2 to 3 weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday afternoons or school holidays. A balloon artist works well next to the painting table, and a party package adds a host and games.
