A greeting card is a simple gesture of thoughtfulness that conveys to friends, colleagues and family how much you care. With Eid, Christmas and New Year around the corner, Al Greetings offers a range of festive cards to express your heartfelt message of the season with an added touch of kindness.

By ordering these specialised cards, you have the opportunity to meet a personal need of sending good wishes on special occasions and a social deed of supporting local charities.

"Help us help them" is the motto of Al Greetings. The organisations which will benefit through the sale of these cards include the International Charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, ILA-Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi, Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre in Dubai, and Future Centre in Abu Dhabi.

Comprising a line of 80 different designs, the artwork for the cards has been put together by consultant Asha Bhatia. "There is something for everybody in the range of cards we offer. The idea is to have designs that appeal to all nationalities," she adds. Artists from all over the world, residing locally and abroad, contribute their work for this cause.

Original paintings of international artists from India, Iran and United Kingdom are incorporated with the artwork of talented students from Dubai College, Emirates International School, Jumeirah College, Al Khaleej National School and Cambridge High School.

From ethnic motifs and traditional sights to contemporary landscapes and modern sketches, the theme and style of cards are varied. According to Bhatia, one of the most popular designs for the past three years has been the imaginative picture of Santa Claus visiting various landmarks of Dubai.

Artist Rin Colabucci has created scenes of the jolly figure resting on the rooftop of Burj Al Arab, jet-skiing on the creek, entering a wind-tower and riding a camel. "Since we live in the Emirates, it seemed like a good idea to combine heritage sites with the season's festivities," she comments.

While modern art in oil paints is her favoured style, Colabucci's experience with drawing illustrations for Japanese magazines is revealed through her vibrant strokes. Using the media of acrylic paint and watercolours, the Santa designs make colourful and attractive cards.

The cover design, type of paper, quantity, and message can all be selected to suit an individual's requirement.