The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, an Arabic-English corporate website for a group based in Dubai costs 60,000 to 180,000 AED, depending on the number of subsidiaries and pages. A true RTL layout (right to left) adds 20 to 35% to the front-end build, and professional translation runs 150 to 300 AED per page. Plan 10 to 14 weeks, keep Arabic and English content at parity, and budget licensed Arabic fonts from day one, because careless Arabic typography undermines a group's image.
Why RTL is more than a translation
Many groups have lived the bad scenario: an English site translated into Arabic, with text aligned right but menus, icons, tables and carousels still flowing left to right. Arabic-speaking readers notice instantly.
A real RTL version mirrors the layout grid, navigation arrows, column order, animations and forms. Numbers, phone numbers and Latin brand names stay left to right inside Arabic text, which needs careful testing. Modern logical CSS properties reduce the effort, but only if the site is designed bilingual from the first wireframe.
Budget breakdown for a group
| Item | 2026 range (AED) | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, bilingual sitemap, EN and AR designs | 10,000 to 25,000 | Number of templates, board approval |
| Core build and multilingual CMS | 20,000 to 50,000 | Approval workflow, number of editors |
| RTL premium on front-end build | 20 to 35% of front-end | Animations, complex components |
| Subsidiary pages | 3,000 to 8,000 per subsidiary | Mini-site or single profile |
| Professional EN to AR translation | 150 to 300 per page | Financial or legal content |
| Licensed Arabic web fonts | 2,000 to 10,000 | Number of weights, traffic |
| Investor area and financial documents | 8,000 to 20,000 | Reports, disclosures, calendar |
A group with 3 subsidiaries and 30 pages lands around 60,000 to 85,000 AED. A group with 10 subsidiaries, 80 pages per language and an investor area approaches 180,000 AED.
Comparing multilingual approaches
| Approach | Relative cost | RTL quality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine translation plugin | Very low | Poor, layout not mirrored | Not advisable for a group |
| RTL-ready multilingual WordPress theme | Medium | Fair if the theme is well coded | 1 to 3 subsidiaries, tight budget |
| Custom build with logical CSS | High | Excellent, controlled per component | Group with a strong brand |
| Headless with multilingual CMS | High | Excellent, EN and AR content synced | Group with many subsidiaries |
| Two separate EN and AR sites | Very high | Good, but double maintenance | Rarely justified |
Editorial parity is the real issue. In the UAE, Arabic is the official language and many government and semi-government partners expect Arabic content to match English in depth and timing. If press releases appear in English on Monday and in Arabic three weeks later, credibility suffers. Set up a translation workflow with a guaranteed turnaround, for example 48 hours for a release.
Mini case study
Layla, head of communications at a diversified holding group in Dubai (illustrative example), runs a site for 5 subsidiaries with 45 pages per language. Accepted quote: discovery and design 18,000 AED, core build and CMS 35,000 AED, front-end 25,000 AED plus 28% RTL premium, or 7,000 AED, subsidiary pages 5 x 5,000 = 25,000 AED, translation 45 pages at 220 AED = 9,900 AED, fonts 4,500 AED. Total: 124,400 AED.
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Her running-cost maths: 20 news items and releases translated per year at about 2 pages each, or 40 pages at 220 AED, is 8,800 AED a year. She weighs that against the cost of losing a government-related tender for lack of a credible Arabic presence, a risk her board considers far higher.
FAQ
How much does an Arabic-English corporate website cost in Dubai?
Between 60,000 and 180,000 AED in 2026, depending on subsidiaries and page count. Translation is budgeted separately at 150 to 300 AED per page.
Why does RTL cost 20 to 35% more?
Every component must be mirrored and tested: menus, carousels, tables, forms and directional icons. Mixed Arabic text with Latin numbers also needs specific checks.
Do we need to buy Arabic fonts?
For a professional result, yes: web licences cost 2,000 to 10,000 AED depending on weights. Some good open fonts exist, but they limit brand identity choices.
What timeline should we plan?
Allow 10 to 14 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks for Arabic translation and proofreading. Design approval in both languages often takes longer than expected.
Can we add a third language later?
Yes, if the CMS is multilingual from the start. Adding French or another language then mostly costs translation, plus 10 to 15% for testing.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of subsidiaries, pages and target languages, and we will price the scope, indicative budget and a 10 to 14 week plan for your bilingual site. 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.
