How Much Does a Website Cost in Dubai & the UAE in 2026?
From landing pages to custom builds: realistic website pricing in the UAE market, what actually drives the cost, and how to spot proposals that will cost you twice.
Ask five agencies in Dubai what a website costs and you will get five wildly different numbers. That is not dishonesty — it is because "a website" can mean anything from a template landing page to a custom-built platform. Here is how to read the market in 2026.
Typical price ranges in the UAE
- Landing page / one-pager: roughly AED 3,000–12,000 — one focused page, ideal for campaigns or a fast market entry
- Business website (5–10 pages): roughly AED 12,000–35,000 — services, about, contact, blog structure
- Custom development: AED 35,000–100,000+ — bespoke components, integrations, multilingual, advanced animations
- E-commerce: from around AED 15,000 for Shopify setups, significantly more for custom stores
These are market ranges, not rules. A lower quote is not automatically bad — and an expensive one is not automatically good.
What actually drives the price
Design: template or tailor-made?
An adapted template is faster and cheaper. Custom design pays off when your brand needs to stand out — competitive niches, premium positioning, or investor-facing businesses.
Content: who writes the copy?
The most underestimated cost. Good website copy needs research, positioning and SEO awareness. If it is not in the proposal, ask who is writing it — "the client will provide" is where many projects stall for months.
Languages: English plus Arabic?
A bilingual site is not a translation job. Arabic needs right-to-left layouts, adjusted typography and culturally adapted copy. Budget a 25–40 percent premium for a properly executed Arabic version — and be suspicious of anyone who says it is included for free.
Technology
- Website builders: cheap, but limited performance and SEO ceiling
- CMS (WordPress, Webflow): a good middle ground for most SMEs
- Custom code (e.g. React): maximum speed and flexibility, higher upfront cost
Hidden costs nobody mentions upfront
- Hosting and domain: AED 200–2,000 per year depending on requirements
- Maintenance and updates: essential for CMS-based sites
- Stock photos vs. a real photo shoot: generic images quietly hurt conversion
- Trade license details, privacy policy and legal pages done properly
How to spot a good proposal
- It asks about your business goals, not just page count
- It separates design, development, content and running costs
- It states what is NOT included
- It commits to measurable basics: load time, mobile experience, SEO foundations
Bottom line
The right question is not "what does a website cost" but "what should the website earn". A AED 20,000 site that generates enquiries every week is cheaper than a AED 6,000 site nobody finds. We build fast, multilingual websites for the UAE market — get a straight answer on your project in a free consultation: whaleagency.company/contact
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost in Dubai?
A landing page typically costs AED 3,000–12,000, a business website with 5–10 pages AED 12,000–35,000, and custom-developed websites AED 35,000–100,000 or more.
Why does a bilingual Arabic website cost more?
A proper Arabic version needs right-to-left layouts, adjusted typography and culturally adapted copy — budget a 25–40 percent premium over an English-only site.
What hidden costs should I plan for with a UAE website?
Hosting and domain (AED 200–2,000 per year), ongoing maintenance, and a real photo shoot instead of generic stock images are commonly underestimated.
Web Design & Development
Whale Agency
Performance marketing agency based in Berlin, specializing in web design, performance ads, SEO and branding for the German- and Arabic-speaking markets.