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Dubai is one of the world’s most dynamic business hubs, attracting millions of visitors, shoppers, tourists, and professionals every year. From busy shopping malls and international airports to hospitals, hotels, exhibitions, and entertainment venues, businesses across the city are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve customer experiences and maximize operational efficiency. This growing demand has made custom kiosk solutions an essential part of modern business environments.

Unlike standard kiosk units, custom kiosks are designed around specific business needs, available space, customer behavior, and brand identity. Whether it’s a retail sales kiosk in a luxury mall, a self-service check-in station in a healthcare facility, a food kiosk in a busy food court, or a promotional booth at a major exhibition, businesses need solutions that fit perfectly within their environment while delivering an engaging customer experience.

At Panashi Technology Solutions, we specialize in designing and manufacturing custom kiosks that combine functionality, durability, and visual appeal. Our team works closely with clients to create tailored solutions that meet operational requirements while enhancing brand visibility and customer engagement.

This guide explores everything you need to know about custom kiosk manufacturing in Dubai, including kiosk types, design considerations, material selection, approval requirements, manufacturing processes, and how to choose the right fabrication partner for your project.

What Makes a Kiosk Custom, and Why Dubai Businesses Need It

A custom kiosk is specifically designed and manufactured to meet the unique requirements of a business, location, and target audience. Unlike off-the-shelf kiosks that follow standard dimensions and layouts, custom kiosks are built around the client’s branding, operational needs, available space, and customer interaction goals.

In Dubai’s highly competitive commercial environment, businesses often operate in premium locations where every square meter matters. A custom kiosk helps maximize available space while creating a memorable customer experience that aligns with the brand’s image.

Custom kiosks are widely used for retail sales, food service, ticketing, information services, self-service applications, and promotional campaigns throughout Dubai. Their flexibility allows businesses to create solutions that not only serve practical functions but also contribute to marketing and customer engagement efforts.

How Custom Kiosks Support Branding and Customer Experience

Brand visibility plays a major role in attracting customers, especially in high-traffic locations such as malls, airports, and exhibition centers. Custom kiosks allow businesses to incorporate brand colors, logos, lighting elements, digital displays, and unique design features that help them stand out from surrounding competitors.

The shape, layout, and customer interaction flow can also be optimized to create a seamless experience. Clear signage, intuitive product displays, and easy access points encourage customer engagement while improving overall satisfaction.

First impressions matter significantly in Dubai’s fast-paced commercial spaces. A professionally designed kiosk helps establish trust, reinforce brand identity, and create a positive experience that encourages repeat visits.

Where Custom Kiosks Perform Best in Dubai

Custom kiosks can be found across a wide range of locations throughout Dubai, each with its own design requirements.

Shopping malls often require visually appealing retail and promotional kiosks that attract attention while complying with mall design guidelines.

Airports demand durable, efficient kiosks capable of handling large volumes of users while maintaining accessibility and ease of use.

Exhibitions and trade shows require portable, brand-focused kiosk designs that can be quickly installed and dismantled.

Hotels and hospitality venues use kiosks for concierge services, guest information, and self-service check-in experiences.

Healthcare facilities rely on kiosks for patient registration, appointment management, and information services where user-friendly interfaces are critical.

Outdoor tourist locations often require weather-resistant kiosk structures capable of withstanding heat, dust, and varying environmental conditions.

The Main Types of Custom Kiosks Made in Dubai

Businesses can choose from several kiosk categories depending on their objectives, location, and customer interaction requirements.

Retail, Sales, and Promotional Kiosks

Retail kiosks are designed to showcase products, facilitate quick transactions, and increase brand visibility. These kiosks commonly feature display shelves, secure storage compartments, branded graphics, and open layouts that encourage customer interaction.

Promotional kiosks are frequently used for product launches, sampling campaigns, and seasonal marketing initiatives in malls and public spaces.

Food and Beverage Kiosks

Food and beverage kiosks include coffee counters, juice bars, snack stations, takeaway outlets, and specialty food concepts.

These kiosks require careful attention to service workflow, hygiene standards, equipment integration, ventilation systems, and easy-to-clean surfaces. Efficient layouts help staff serve customers quickly while maintaining operational efficiency during busy periods.

Self-Service and Information Kiosks

Self-service kiosks utilize touchscreen technology to provide services such as ticketing, check-in, wayfinding, appointment scheduling, and information access.

Successful self-service kiosk designs prioritize intuitive navigation, accessibility, and user-friendly interfaces that minimize customer confusion and reduce waiting times.

Outdoor and Event Kiosks

Outdoor kiosks are specifically engineered to withstand environmental conditions while maintaining durability and appearance.

It’s not just about faster ordering. It’s about increasing revenue, improving customer experience, reducing operational pressure, and building the future of smart restaurants.

In this blog, we break down the real business strategy behind the rise of self-service kiosk technology in the fast-food industry. 🍔📱

Read the full LinkedIn article below 👇

Running a small retail store today isn’t easy. Big brands often win on the things customers notice most speed, convenience, and a consistent experience every time they visit. They have bigger teams, better systems, and more resources to invest in technology. For a small store owner, keeping up can feel like an uphill battle.

This is where smart kiosks start to come into the conversation, with providers like PANASHI FZCO offering solutions tailored for modern retail businesses.

In simple terms, a smart kiosk is a self-service digital screen that lets customers browse products, place orders, make payments, or sign up for offers without needing staff assistance for every step. You’ve probably seen them in large retail chains, fast-food outlets, or airports. But now, they’re becoming more accessible to smaller stores too.

The real question is not whether kiosks look modern and it’s whether they actually help small stores compete. When do they make a difference? When do they not? And what should you think about before investing in one?

Let’s break it down in a practical way.

What a Smart Kiosk Actually Does for a Small Store

At its core, retail kiosk systems designed for modern stores making everyday store interactions faster and easier for both customers and staff.

Instead of waiting in line, customers can check out on their own. Instead of asking staff for product details, they can browse options on a screen. Instead of missing out on promotions, they can see offers clearly while they shop.

For store owners, this means less pressure on staff and smoother operations during busy hours.

How Kiosks Speed Up Checkout and Reduce Lines

Long queues are one of the quickest ways to lose customers especially in small stores where there may only be one or two people handling everything.

A kiosk gives customers another way to check out. During peak times, even one extra self-service point can make a noticeable difference. Shorter waits lead to a better shopping experience, and that often means customers are more likely to return.

How Kiosks Can Guide Customers to Products and Add-Ons

A well-designed kiosk doesn’t just process payments it helps customers discover more.

It can show product categories, highlight bestsellers, and suggest add-ons in a simple, non-pushy way. For example, if someone is buying a product, the kiosk can recommend related items or small upgrades.

For a small store, this is a subtle way to increase average order value without relying entirely on staff to upsell.

How Kiosks Support Loyalty and Repeat Visits

Big brands invest heavily in loyalty programs. Small stores often struggle to keep up.

Kiosks can help bridge that gap by making it easy for customers to sign up for rewards, share their contact details, or access special offers right at checkout. Over time, this helps build a customer base you can reach again, something that’s essential for long-term growth.

Where Small Stores Can Beat Big Brands with Kiosks

Competing with big brands doesn’t mean copying them. It means using your strengths more effectively and kiosks can support that when used well.

Faster Service Without Losing the Personal Touch

One concern many store owners have is that technology might make the store feel less human. But in reality, kiosks can do the opposite.

By handling routine tasks like billing or simple queries, kiosks free up staff to focus on real conversations helping customers choose the right product, answering questions, or offering recommendations.

The result is a store that feels both efficient and personal.

More Control Over Branding, Offers, and Promotions

Large chains often take time to roll out changes across locations. Small stores can move faster.

With a kiosk, you can quickly update offers, highlight seasonal products, or promote local deals. Whether it’s a festival discount or a weekend promotion, you stay flexible and relevant to your customers.

Better Use of Limited Staff and Floor Space

When you’re working with a small team, every minute counts.

Kiosks reduce the need for staff to handle repetitive tasks, which helps avoid bottlenecks during busy hours. They can also fit into compact spaces, making them a practical option for stores where adding another counter isn’t possible.

The Real Limits and Risks Small Stores Need to Watch

Smart kiosks are useful but they’re not a magic solution. If used without proper planning, they can create new problems instead of solving old ones.

Upfront Costs and Ongoing Fees Can Add Up

The cost of a kiosk goes beyond the initial purchase.

There may be software subscriptions, payment processing fees, maintenance costs, and occasional upgrades. For a small store, it’s important to look at the full picture and not just the starting price.

Some Shoppers Still Want a Human Helper

Not every customer prefers self-service.

Some may feel more comfortable interacting with a person especially older customers or first-time visitors. That’s why kiosks should support your team, not replace them completely.

Bad Setup Can Hurt More Than It Helps

A slow or confusing kiosk can frustrate customers.

If the interface is hard to use, the screen is unresponsive, or the kiosk is placed in the wrong spot, it can make your store feel less organized. Proper setup, clear design, and basic staff training are essential.

How to Decide if a Smart Kiosk Is Worth It for Your Store

Not every store needs a kiosk. The key is to understand whether it solves a real problem in your business.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Are customers often waiting in line during peak hours?

Do you have limited staff handling multiple tasks?

Will a kiosk actually improve speed or convenience in your store?

Can your team manage and maintain the system easily?

Does your budget allow for both upfront and ongoing costs?

If the answer to most of these is yes, a kiosk may be worth considering.

Best Store Types for Smart Kiosks

Some retail environments naturally benefit more from kiosks, such as:

Convenience stores with high daily traffic

Quick-service retail shops

Specialty stores with clear product categories

Pharmacies handling frequent small transactions

Busy neighborhood stores during peak hours

These setups often involve repeat customers and fast transactions where kiosks can make a real difference.

When a Simpler Upgrade May Be Enough

In some cases, a kiosk might not be the best first step.

Improving store layout, upgrading your POS system, adding clearer signage, or adjusting staffing during busy hours can sometimes deliver better results at a lower cost.

Conclusion

So, can smart kiosks help small retail stores compete with big brands?

Yes but only when they’re used for the right reasons.

A kiosk works best when it solves a real problem, whether that’s reducing wait times, improving customer flow, or making better use of limited staff. It’s not about adding technology for the sake of it’s about improving the overall shopping experience.

For small stores, the real advantage isn’t just speed, it’s the ability to combine efficiency with a personal touch.

Explore Remittance Kiosk Solution by Panashi, designed to enable fast, secure, and 24/7 money transfers through self-service kiosks. This solution allows users to select beneficiaries, transfer funds, and complete transactions using cash or digital payment methods with ease. Featuring multi-currency support, real-time processing, advanced security standards, and seamless integration with web and mobile platforms, Panashi remittance kiosks help businesses reduce operational costs while expanding customer reach efficiently.

As you know, the businesses in the middle-east right now are going though geopolitical tensions and distress.

During this crisis, the prime focus remains ultimately on Safety, Stability and Humanitarian needs.

Therefore, maintaining essential services becomes both a challenge and responsibility.

Technology integration cannot solve the complexities of war, but certain solutions can help businesses remain functional, accessible, and responsive under difficult scenarios.

One such solution is the deployment of self-service kiosk solutions.

When traditional operations face operational challenges, deploying self-self-service kiosk solutions can certainly help in maintaining business continuity.

Why Continuity Matters in Uncertain Times

Conflict scenarios often lead to:

·         Workforce shortages or restricted mobility

·         Temporary closure of physical service points

·         Increased demand for essential goods and services

·         Pressure on infrastructure and logistics

In such situations, businesses irrespective of their domains, should adapt quickly to ensure that critical services remain available.

How self-service kiosk solutions serve as a helping hand?

1)     Enabling operations with minimal human intervention

Self-service kiosk solutions provide a practical way to bridge operational gaps without depending heavily on human intervention.

When conflicts occur in any region, staffing challenges are very probable. Travel restrictions, safety concerns, or displacement can limit workforce participation.

Self-service kiosks allow businesses to:

·         Continue customer transactions

·         Facilitate service requests

·         Automate routine processes

Automated kiosk terminals reduce the dependency on human staff, thereby helping organisations maintain a level of operational continuity even in times of unrest. See content credentials

2)Facilitating Access to Essential Financial Services

During times of instability – having access to various financial services becomes highly important. Of course, the residents need to pay bills, transfer money in the form of remittances, and manage their basic financial activities.

Self-service kiosks support:

·         Bill payments services

·         Fund transfers and remittance facilitation

·         Basic banking services through integrated systems

Even if traditional branches operate with limited capacity or reduced operational hours, self-service kiosk implementation ensures the accessibility of essential financial services.

For example: a self-service banking kiosk can serve as a box branch to facilitate essential banking services. The kiosk solution serves as an effective substitute for physical bank branches.

3)     Enabling Remote Assistance Through Video Conferencing

When on-site staff support becomes scarce or limited, remote support helps. Video conferencing kiosks can connect users with remote agents who offer 24/7 live support from safer or unaffected locations.

This approach ensures:

·         Continuity of customer support

·         Access to human assistance when needed

·         Visa processing and document verification

Video chat-enabled kiosks are useful and practical in multiple domains like banking, telecom, and government services.

4)    Supporting healthcare and emergency services

Healthcare systems face immense pressure during conflict situations. Managing patient flow efficiently becomes critical.

Self-service kiosks can help by:

·         Enabling quick patient registration

·         Supporting triage and information collection

·         Facilitating teleconsultations via Telehealth Kiosks

These capabilities reduce administrative burden on healthcare staff and improve response times.

5)     Facilitating government and public services

Government organisations and public sector institutions or agencies may have to deliver essential services with restricted or reduced human participation. Safety concerns can affect staff attendance in government departments.

Kiosk terminals can automate a plethora of government services like permit issuance, identity verification, citizen registration, and even relief coordination.

Kiosk machines can serve as

·         Decentralized access points for public services

·         Tools for managing registrations and documentation

·         24/7 Help-desk Platforms for Information dissemination.

Their ability to function independently makes them valuable in maintaining civic processes.

6)     Supporting demand spikes in retail and grocery stores

Shortage of essential retail and grocery items may result in overcrowding and congestion in retail settings. Staff shortages and the conventional barcode-assisted scanning process can result in long lines of customers waiting in the store premises.

Customers can place multiple items on a self-checkout kiosk’s designated area, without scanning them individually. The kiosk instantly scans the items placed all at once, allowing the customers to make the payment at the very next moment.

Self-checkout kiosks help by

·         Speeding up transaction times

·         Reducing queue lengths

·         Eliminating human-assisted counters.

As a result, the customers can purchase their desired items and leave the store at the earliest.

Benefits of installing Self-service kiosk solutions

·         Uninterrupted operations - Uninterrupted service availability, even with reduced staff.

·         Reduced operational cost - Reduce overheads through minimal staffing, reduced footprint and maintenance expenses.

·         Improved transaction time - Faster customer handling during peak hours.

·         Remote monitoring - Remote kiosk performance monitoring from a centralised location.

·         Gather Analytical insights - Gather crucial reports, business-related insights like location-wise operational status, downtime alerts, customer footfall, revenue per kiosk/location, peak transaction hours, sudden spikes or drop in demand, etc.

To Conclude

Self-service kiosks serve as a practical layer of resilience for businesses in the middle-east, enabling them to remain accessible, functional and responsive when it matters most.

At times of uncertainly, it is indispensable to deliver essential products and services efficiently without compromising on security. Of course, it’s a huge relief for the end customers, business owners and the authorities.

Technology, when applied thoughtfully, can create meaningful differences in the society, even if the situations are not much favorable.

FAQs

1. What are self-service kiosks and how do they work? Self-service kiosks are automated machines that allow users to perform tasks like payments, registrations, and service requests without human assistance. They use touchscreens, integrated software, and secure payment systems to complete transactions quickly.

2. How can self-service kiosks help during conflict situations? During conflict situations, kiosks reduce dependency on staff, ensure access to essential services, and keep operations running even when physical locations or workforce availability are limited.

In times of uncertainty, businesses operating in the middle-east are being pushed to rethink their operational strategies.

If you are a business owner in the UAE or any other GCC, I’m sure you can perfectly relate to it.

Rising costs, workforce disruptions, and fluctuating customer demand have made traditional service models harder to sustain.

In this crisis situation, self-service kiosks terminals are fast-emerging as a reliable cost control platform, beyond a convenience tool.

In fact, these self-service terminals have become a symbol of operational resilience.

Let’s inspect how.

Stay operational in spite of reduced manpower

Travel restrictions, safety concerns, and shifting workforce availability can disrupt daily operations.

And, these scenarios are common in conflict-affected regions and war zones.

 In fact, kiosk machines reduce reliance on the frontline employees, enabling businesses to operate with a leaner workforce. This makes sense, especially in a crisis situation.

This directly translates into savings on hiring new employees, visa and accommodation expenses, and employee benefits.

24/7 services with no additional expenses

“More work, more employees” – you’ve got it wrong this time.

Self-service kiosk machines operate day in and day out without incurring overtime expenses.

Employee shift-related inefficiencies are not going to affect operations as kiosk machines are designed to operate 24/7, without break.

Irrespective of the task, businesses can maintain uninterrupted services even in the times of restricted work hours, ensuring revenue continuity.

Therefore, sustained operations with no additional costs.

Increasing Throughput with fewer resources

As you may know, in conflict zones, people are advised not to gather or remain in a place for long.

It is a matter of security.

Self-service kiosks streamline transactions, reduce queues, and improve customer flow.

Whether it is ticketing, bill processing in retail stores, patient management in hospitals, the transactions take place smoothly with utmost efficiency.

This means more customer/visitors can be served in less time without having to scale up staff or infrastructure.

Reducing Operational overheads

Manual interventions in customer touchpoints are likely to cause delays and human errors. Quite often these interactions involve time-consuming paperwork.

Kiosk-based transactions significantly reduce administrative burdens and recurring expenses.

Improved transactional accuracy allows businesses avoid losses caused by rework, discrepancy, or fraud.

Over time, this turns out to be a leaner, more cost-efficient operational model for the businesses operating in the region.  

Ensures business continuity to avoid revenue loss

There are several sectors or businesses that come under the category of essential services like healthcare, banking institutions, law enforcement or grocery stores.  

Implementing self-service kiosks enable business continuity allowing essential services to remain accessible in crisis situation.

With minimum resources, businesses can navigate the crisis, serve their customers and prevent significant revenue loss.  

Improved decision-making in challenging times

Self-service kiosks are not all about enabling transactions. They offer businesses several data-assisted insights into customer behaviour, transaction volumes, and peak usage hours.

Businesses can optimize their business strategies based on this data, fine tune their operations, and even control unnecessary expenses.

Thus, everyday kiosk transactions become useful, actionable insights for the service providers.

Self-service box branch

Kiosk terminals can serve as a box branch, serving as a substitute for physical branches.

For example: Instead of operating a full-fledged, physical bank branch, banking establishments can operate a banking kiosk terminal that offers most of the essential banking services.

These box branches can offer most of the services offered by physical branches. This reduces significant expenses in the form of maintenance, rent, utility expenses, and other overheads.

Scalable and flexible deployment

Business can scale up or down based on demand or other geopolitical developments, without the long-term commitment of hiring or recruiting new staff.

Hiring involves cost, and is not recommended during a crisis. Expanding operations during uncertain times can be risky.

Kiosk machines offer business the agility to take the best decision in favour of their business, putting them on a safer side.

If you are planning for a temporary closure for a period, say two weeks or a month, self-service kiosks offer the scalability and flexibility to pause, relocate, or quickly redeploy operations.

To add on, kiosk machines can be stored in secure warehouses for months. Even, if the businesses are forced to close for an indefinite period of time, the kiosk terminals can restart the operations when situations come back to the normal.  

Just think about restarting your brick and mortar branch in a different location. Can you imagine the cost involved?

To Conclude

When foot traffic becomes unpredictable and margins go down, it is necessary to implement a cost reduction strategy.

In a region facing ongoing challenges, cost control is no longer just about cutting operational expenses. It’s about building a resilient, adaptable business model.

And, self-service kiosk solutions provide exactly that.