Website pricing in Dubai varies widely because the scope can range from a simple brochure site to a custom enterprise platform. The difference usually comes from strategy, design depth, content, integrations, performance work, security, and ongoing support. This guide uses practical planning ranges to help UAE businesses compare proposals and understand what is included at each level.
Dubai Website Pricing Tiers
| Website Type | Price Range (AED) | Typical Provider | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder (Wix/Squarespace) | 1,200 – 3,000/yr (subscription) | Self-managed | Template-based, limited custom functionality |
| Freelancer / starter agency | 3,000 – 12,000 | Individual or 1-2 person shop | WordPress template, basic design customisation |
| Small agency, custom design | 12,000 – 40,000 | 5–20 person agency | Custom UI design, CMS integration, SEO setup |
| Mid-market agency, full-service | 40,000 – 100,000 | Established agency with team | Custom design + development, strategy, content |
| Enterprise / complex project | 100,000 – 300,000+ | Specialist agency or system integrator | Custom architecture, integrations, performance, compliance |
Brochure/Informational Website Costs
A brochure website presents your company, services, and contact information. No e-commerce, no user accounts, no complex functionality.
Need help with Web Development?
Get a free strategy session with our experts — no commitment required.
Common planning range in Dubai: AED 8,000 to 30,000 for a professionally scoped brochure site.
What this should include at a professional mid-range budget:
- Custom UI/UX design (not an unmodified template)
- 5–12 pages: Home, About, Services (with subpages per service), Case Studies/Portfolio, Blog, Contact
- Responsive mobile design built and tested on real devices
- On-page SEO setup (meta titles, descriptions, schema markup, sitemap)
- Contact forms with spam protection and email notifications
- Google Analytics 4 + Search Console setup
- 1–2 rounds of revision after initial design presentation
- Basic performance optimisation (target LCP under 2.5s)
E-Commerce Website Costs
E-commerce adds significant complexity: product catalogue, cart, checkout, payment gateway integration, order management, inventory, and customer accounts.
Platform options and realistic Dubai costs:
| Platform | Dubai Build Cost | Monthly Ongoing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify (hosted) | 5,000 – 25,000 | 400 – 800 (platform fee + apps) | Product businesses, straightforward catalogue |
| WooCommerce (WordPress) | 12,000 – 50,000 | 200 – 500 (hosting + plugins) | Flexibility, existing WordPress site, UAE payment gateways |
| Magento / Adobe Commerce | 80,000 – 250,000+ | 2,000 – 5,000+ | Enterprise, complex catalogues, B2B |
| Custom-built Next.js/React | 80,000 – 200,000+ | Varies by hosting | Unique requirements, performance-critical, headless |
Custom Web Application Costs
Custom web applications — client portals, booking systems, membership platforms, internal tools — cannot be built on templates. Every AED invested goes into custom logic:
- Simple web app (booking system, form-heavy portal): AED 30,000 – 80,000
- Medium complexity (multi-user portal with roles, integrations, dashboard): AED 80,000 – 200,000
- Complex application (marketplace, fintech, SaaS product): AED 200,000 – 1,000,000+
Hidden Costs Most Proposals Don't Show
The build cost is the beginning, not the total cost. Budget for:
- Hosting: AED 200 – 2,000+/month depending on scale. UAE-based hosting is more expensive than European; cloud (AWS UAE) is premium-priced.
- Domain: .ae domains (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority) require UAE business registration. AED 200 – 500/year.
- SSL certificate: Included with reputable hosting; free via Let's Encrypt. Be suspicious of any proposal that charges separately for SSL.
- Ongoing maintenance: Budget AED 5,000 – 15,000/year for updates, security patches, content changes.
- Content: Professional photography, copywriting, and translation are rarely included in build quotes. Expect AED 8,000 – 30,000 for quality content production.
- SEO and marketing: Even a strong website needs launch planning, search visibility work, and conversion tracking if it is expected to generate leads.
How to Evaluate Competing Proposals
When comparing proposals from multiple agencies, compare like for like:
- Scope alignment: Ensure proposals cover the same number of pages, same functionality, and same deliverables. A lower price may simply mean less scope.
- Design process: Custom wireframes and mockups before development, or template selection? Ask to see 3 recent portfolio sites and check them on mobile.
- CMS training: Will you be able to update content yourself? Is training included?
- Post-launch support: What is included in the quoted price after launch? What is the hourly rate for changes?
- Payment terms: Reputable agencies typically structure 30% deposit, 40% at design approval, 30% at launch. Be cautious about requests for 50%+ upfront.
