The verdict in three sentences
For a Casablanca-based group, Arabic localization of a corporate website is managed by the word, with an approved glossary in place before the first file is sent. The right 2026 model is hybrid: human translation (0.9 to 1.4 MAD per word) for the annual report, governance and legal pages, post-edited machine translation (0.4 to 0.7 MAD) for news and product pages. The item most often forgotten is RTL layout, which adds 20 to 30% to front-end build cost.
Three translation modes, three risk levels
The right mode depends on how exposed the content is. A poorly translated financial release engages the group's liability towards the market regulator (AMMC) and investors. A quickly reviewed CSR news item carries far lower risk. The rates below are 2026 orders of magnitude on the Moroccan market for French to Modern Standard Arabic (1 EUR is about 10.8 MAD).
| Mode | Cost per word | Turnaround for 10,000 words | Recommended use | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialised human translation | 0.9 to 1.4 MAD | 5 to 7 working days | Annual report, governance, legal notices | Low |
| Human translation + second review | 1.3 to 1.8 MAD | 7 to 9 working days | Financial communication, regulator filings | Very low |
| Post-edited machine translation (MTPE) | 0.4 to 0.7 MAD | 2 to 3 working days | News, business pages, FAQ | Medium |
| Raw machine translation | Under 0.05 MAD | A few minutes | Internal drafts only | High |
| Update with translation memory | 30 to 60% of full rate | Variable | Segments repeated year on year | Low |
Translation memory changes project economics from year two: an annual report often reuses 25 to 35% identical or near-identical segments, billed at a reduced rate.
The glossary and the translation management system
The glossary is the cornerstone. It fixes the translation of 300 to 600 terms: subsidiary names, job titles, financial indicators, CSR terms, product names that stay untranslated. Building it costs 8,000 to 15,000 MAD with a linguist and the legal team, and prevents inconsistencies that later cost weeks of corrections. The translation management system (TMS) centralises glossary, memory and approval workflow, and connects to the CMS.
| Item | 2026 budget | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Trilingual glossary (300 to 600 terms) | 8,000 to 15,000 MAD | Legal and communications sign-off |
| Arabic style guide | 4,000 to 8,000 MAD | Numerals, Hijri or Gregorian dates, tone |
| Translation management system | 50 to 300 EUR per month | 1 to 10 users, CMS connector |
| CMS connector (Sanity, WordPress) | 15,000 to 35,000 MAD | Automatic content sync |
| RTL site build | +20 to 30% of front-end | Mirrored layouts, icons, forms |
| Arabic typeface (web licence) | 3,000 to 12,000 MAD | On-screen legibility, multiple weights |
| In-context linguistic QA | 6,000 to 12,000 MAD | Line breaks, overflows, alignment |
In-context linguistic QA on the live site is essential: an accurate translation can overflow a button, reverse a table of figures or break a chart in the interactive annual report.
RTL pitfalls to anticipate
Switching to right-to-left is not just about aligning text. Navigation, arrows, carousels and breadcrumbs must be mirrored, while figures, phone numbers and acronyms keep left-to-right order. Financial tables are a special case: most Moroccan groups keep amounts in Western Arabic numerals. Also plan a dedicated Arabic typeface, because Latin fonts with Arabic glyphs render poorly.
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Salma, head of communications at an industrial group in Casablanca, must publish 120 pages (about 72,000 words) and a 40,000-word annual report in Arabic and English, so 224,000 words to translate. With full human translation at 1.15 MAD, the budget reaches 257,600 MAD (about 23,850 EUR). She chooses a hybrid model: 40% of words (annual report, governance) by human translators, 89,600 × 1.15 = 103,040 MAD, and 60% as post-edited machine translation at 0.55 MAD, 134,400 × 0.55 = 73,920 MAD. Total: 176,960 MAD, plus 150 EUR per month of TMS (about 19,500 MAD per year). Savings exceed 61,000 MAD in year one, and translation memory will cut next year's annual report by about 30%.
FAQ
How much does Arabic translation of a corporate website cost in Morocco?
In 2026, allow 0.9 to 1.4 MAD per word for human translation and 0.4 to 0.7 MAD for post-edited machine translation. For 100,000 words, the budget ranges from 40,000 to 140,000 MAD depending on the mode.
Why build a glossary before translating?
It ensures 300 to 600 key terms are translated consistently everywhere. It costs 8,000 to 15,000 MAD and prevents corrections that often exceed that amount.
What is the surcharge for an Arabic RTL website?
RTL integration adds 20 to 30% to front-end cost, plus an Arabic typeface licence at 3,000 to 12,000 MAD. The surcharge drops if RTL is planned from the design stage.
Is machine translation acceptable for a listed group?
Yes for news and business pages, provided there is systematic human review. For financial communication, human translation with a second review at 1.3 to 1.8 MAD per word remains the norm.
Which translation management system should we choose?
A TMS at 50 to 300 EUR per month is enough for 1 to 10 users. The deciding factor is a connector with your CMS, which avoids copy-pasting.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of pages, languages and your annual report calendar: we will price the glossary, translation, TMS and RTL build, with a batch-by-batch plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
