Face Painting, Glitter Tattoos, Nail Art and Hair Braiding: Art Stations for Kids Parties in Dubai

Every kids party in Dubai has two halves. One is the show: the magician, the bubbles, the mascot, something the whole room sits down for. The other is the station: an artist at a table in the corner, a short queue of children, and a steady stream of butterflies, tigers, glitter and braids going back into the party. The station is the half that absorbs arrivals, keeps a living room calm and sends every child home wearing something. It's also the half that gets booked last, usually at the wrong size.

This guide covers the four art stations we book most across Dubai: face painting, glitter tattoos, nail art and hair braiding. What each artist gets through, who it suits, and how to set the table so the queue works for you. All four are AED 799 on balloondekor.ae, and the full line-up is on our kids party activities page.

Why an Art Station Belongs at Every Kids Party in Dubai

Dubai guests arrive over the first half hour, not at once. A station gives the early children something to do while the host is still at the door. It's quiet, which matters in a JVC or Marina apartment with neighbours through the wall. It suits mixed ages, because a three-year-old and an eleven-year-old will stand in the same queue. And unlike a show, the result stays on the child for the rest of the party and in every photograph. The best plans pair one station with one performance.

Face Painting for Kids Parties in Dubai

The face painter (AED 799) comes for one hour and gets through 30 to 35 designs: butterflies, superheroes, princesses, animals, rainbows, dragons, whatever the child asks for. The artist brings the paints and brushes; you provide a table and two chairs, which the price doesn't include.

Thirty faces in an hour means about two minutes each, and that's the number to plan around. Full-face designs such as a tiger take longer and suit children of five and up who will sit still; cheek art, a butterfly or a rainbow, is quicker and better for the under-fives. For more than 30 children, add the tattoo artist below rather than hoping one artist can hurry. Book face painting for the first hour, so the faces are finished before the cake and the group photo, and tell us if any child has sensitive skin.

Glitter Tattoos: The Fastest Line at the Party

The tattoo artist (AED 799) works for two hours, twice the face painter's slot, and each design goes on a hand, forearm or shoulder in a minute or two. Butterflies, giraffes, cartoon characters and superheroes are the standard requests, and the artist brings everything except the table and chair.

This is the station for a big guest list and for the children, often the boys, who want something but won't sit for a full face. Tattoos survive the pool, so they suit a villa party in Arabian Ranches or Jumeirah Park where half the guests end up in the water. Ask for the glitter versions if you want them to last past bath time.

Nail Art for a Girls' Party

The nail artist (AED 799) stays for two and a half hours and does 20 to 25 children, with the full kit included. Nails take five minutes or more each with drying, so for a party of 25 girls this is the whole afternoon's station.

It's the booking for ages six to twelve, the years when a party at home starts to feel young and a "salon" corner makes it feel grown up. Set a small table with a mirror away from the food and anything bouncy, because wet polish and a bouncing castle don't mix. It pairs naturally with hair braiding for a spa-style party, and with a pastel or unicorn setup from our kids birthday decoration range for the photos.

Hair Braiding: Colour That Stays for the Photos

The hair braiding artist (AED 799) works for two hours and does 25 to 30 braids, bringing the coloured threads, beads and glitter strands. A thread braid takes four or five minutes, works on most hair lengths, and stays in for days, so the child is still wearing the party at school on Sunday.

Braiding is the gentlest station on the list. Nothing touches the face, nothing needs to dry, and the child can watch the room while it's done, which makes it the one shy children choose first. Expect a few mothers and grandmothers to join the queue; the artist won't mind.

How Many Children Can One Artist Handle?

Station	Time	Gets through
Face painter	1 hour	30–35 designs
Tattoo artist	2 hours	The most of any station; a minute or two each
Nail artist	2.5 hours	20–25 children
Hair braiding artist	2 hours	25–30 braids

The rule we use: one artist for up to 25 children at a station, and for 30 or more, two different stations rather than one artist for longer. Our UAE kids entertainers guide has the same rule for performers: one artist per fifteen children, one activity per hour of party.

Setting Up the Art Station: Table, Light, Queue

A table and two chairs. The face painter and tattoo artist don't bring one, and the nail and braiding artists need a surface for their kit. A dining chair for the artist and a low stool for the child is the right height.

Light. Put the table by a window or under a lamp. A dim corner slows the artist down.

Position. Near where guests come in, so arrivals join the queue, and well away from the cake table and anything inflatable. Keep a hand mirror on the table for the reveal.

The queue. The birthday child goes first, then siblings, then the line. Numbered stickers on the way in save arguments, and if you've booked a party anchor, they'll call names. Keep it to two children waiting at the table; the rest play.

Timing. Run the station through arrivals and the middle of the party, pause it for the show, and stop it fifteen minutes before the cake so everyone is in the photo. Keep wet wipes and a bin beside the table.

Three Art-Station Line-Ups for Dubai Parties

Apartment party, 12 children, ages four to seven: the face painter for the first hour and the magic show (AED 950) after. AED 1,749, done in two hours.

Girls' party, 15 girls, ages seven to eleven: nail art and hair braiding, side by side. AED 1,598 and nothing else needed; add a pastel setup and it's a spa party. For theme ideas that suit this age, see the themes kids are asking for this year.

Villa party, 30 or more, mixed ages: the tattoo artist and the face painter running together while the bouncing castle (AED 799) takes the overflow. AED 2,397 for three hours of a full garden.

If you want one performer to do both halves, the magician and face painting combo (AED 1,499) is one artist for two hours who does the show, then paints faces, then twists balloons and hosts. Right for 12 to 20 children; above that, book the station separately. Our magician in Dubai page explains how the show itself runs, and our magician booking guide covers ages and timing.

What Art Stations Cost in Dubai

Face painting, glitter tattoos, nail art and hair braiding are AED 799 each on balloondekor.ae, the same price in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates. The only extras are the table and chairs for the face painter and tattoo artist. Three more "make something" stations sit at the same level: the caricature artist (AED 799, 25 to 30 sketches in two hours, and the adults' favourite), art and craft (AED 799, three hours, up to 20 children, all material included) and pottery (AED 950, three hours, 20 to 25 pieces). Every price, with inclusions and excludes, is in our kids entertainer price guide; for how a station fits a full plan, see the Dubai activities guide.

Book Face Painting and Art Stations on balloondekor.ae

Each station has its own page on balloondekor.ae with the price, time and inclusions. Choose the date and slot, pay online, and the artist is confirmed. Book a week ahead for a weekend in the cooler months, a day ahead on weekdays. Tell us the number of children, their ages and the venue, and we'll say whether one station is enough or two.

💬 Book an Art Station on WhatsApp

The Short Version

Book the face painter for the first hour and plan on thirty faces. Book the tattoo artist for big guest lists, pool parties and the children who won't sit still. Book nail art and hair braiding together for a girls' party from age six. Give every artist a table, two chairs and good light, keep the station away from the cake, and stop it fifteen minutes before the candles. One artist per 25 children; two stations past 30. All four are AED 799 on balloondekor.ae.