The verdict in three sentences
A bilingual Arabic/English website with full RTL support costs a Dubai company between USD 6,000 and USD 22,000 in 2026. Arabic/English bilingualism is not just translation: it adds a technical premium of 15 to 30% for RTL mirroring, Arabic fonts and duplicated SEO. Expect 4 to 7 weeks of production, a significant share of which goes to professional translation and RTL testing.
Where the Arabic/English premium comes from
Many assume adding Arabic just means pasting translations. In reality Arabic is written right to left (RTL): the entire interface must be mirrored (menus, icons, alignments, forms), Arabic fonts embedded and tested, and every page indexed twice for SEO. It is these technical line items, more than the translation itself, that explain the premium.
| Line item | Description | 2026 range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual design | EN mockups + mirrored RTL version | 1,300 - 4,000 |
| RTL development | CSS mirroring, Arabic fonts, testing | 1,600 - 5,000 |
| Pro AR/EN translation | Native translation + proofreading | 1,000 - 3,300 |
| Multilingual CMS | 2-language management, switch, synced content | 1,300 - 4,000 |
| Bilingual SEO | Hreflang, EN + AR keywords, dual indexing | 800 - 2,800 |
| QA + fixes | RTL testing across browsers and mobile | 500 - 1,700 |
English only vs Arabic/English with RTL
| Criterion | English only | AR/EN with RTL |
|---|---|---|
| Languages handled | 1 | 2 (incl. RTL) |
| Interface mirroring | No | Yes, complete |
| Professional translation | No | Yes, native |
| SEO | Simple | Dual (hreflang) |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 4 to 7 weeks |
| Premium vs EN only | baseline | +15 to 30% |
| 2026 price (USD) | 5,000 - 15,000 | 6,000 - 22,000 |
The 15 to 30% RTL premium is a 2026 order of magnitude: it depends on the number of pages and the richness of the interfaces (forms, tables, animations). A company targeting both English-speaking and Arabic-speaking Gulf clients should build in Arabic from the start: retrofitting RTL onto an English-only site costs more than a bilingual project designed that way from day one.
Mini case study
Sarah, marketing director of an industrial SME in Dubai, exported across the Gulf but only had an English site. She invested USD 16,000 in an AR/EN rebuild with full RTL. Over 5 months: +40% enquiries from Arabic-speaking clients, bounce rate halved on the Arabic version, and a sales pitch finally aligned with her prospects' language. The USD 3,000 RTL premium was absorbed within the first export orders.
FAQ
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How much does an Arabic/English website cost in Dubai in 2026?
Between USD 6,000 and USD 22,000 depending on page count and interface richness. An equivalent English-only site costs 15 to 30% less; that premium funds RTL support and translation.
Why does Arabic cost more than English?
Because Arabic is written right to left: the whole interface must be mirrored, fonts embedded and tested, and SEO duplicated. These are technical items, not just translation.
Do I need professional translation or is machine translation enough?
Native professional translation is essential for credibility: it costs USD 1,000-3,300 and avoids the misreadings that discredit a company with Arabic-speaking clients.
Is it better to build Arabic from the start or add it later?
From the start: retrofitting RTL onto an English-only site costs more than designing the project bilingual from day one, because the interface has to be reworked.
Does SEO work in both languages?
Yes, with hreflang tags and keywords specific to each language. Every page is indexed in EN and AR, doubling your visibility surface.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the page count, your Arabic-speaking target markets and your indicative budget, and we will quote the exact RTL premium. 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.
