The verdict in three sentences
For a diversified Dubai group (food, retail, real estate), an Arabic and English corporate website costs AED 80,000 to 220,000 in 2026, depending on the number of subsidiaries and the depth of the media centre. Arabic is not a simple translation: a native RTL layout adds 20 to 30% to development and forces typography decisions from the first mockup. A realistic schedule is 12 to 16 weeks, and data collection (applications, contact, newsletter) must follow the UAE PDPL (Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021).
Budget by module in 2026
| Module | Content | Indicative budget (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, sitemap, editorial guidelines | Workshops with group leadership and subsidiaries | 7,000 to 16,000 |
| Bilingual LTR/RTL design system | Mirrored mockups, Arabic typefaces (Noto Kufi, IBM Plex Arabic) | 14,000 to 34,000 |
| Group pages | History, governance, key figures, ESG | 12,000 to 29,000 |
| Subsidiary pages (3 to 8) | Shared template, business-specific content | 14,000 to 44,000 |
| Media centre | Press releases, media kit, gallery, journalist access | 7,000 to 19,000 |
| Careers | Job listings, online applications, data consent | 7,000 to 22,000 |
| Multilingual CMS with approval workflow | Writer, approver and publisher roles per language | 12,000 to 29,000 |
| Professional translation AR and EN | 40 to 80 pages | 7,000 to 27,000 |
A group site with 3 subsidiaries and a simple media centre sits around AED 80,000 to 105,000. With 8 subsidiaries, a full careers module and an investor relations portal, the upper range of AED 180,000 to 220,000 is reached.
Why RTL costs 20 to 30% more
A proper RTL site is more than dir="rtl". Every component must work in both reading directions:
| Element | RTL-specific work | Estimated extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Grids and navigation | Mirrored menus, breadcrumbs, carousels | 8 to 12% |
| Arabic typography | Typeface choice, larger line height, heading weights | 3 to 5% |
| Directional icons | Arrows, chevrons, progress indicators | 1 to 2% |
| Numbers and dates | Western or Eastern Arabic numerals, Hijri calendar | 1 to 3% |
| Mixed content | Latin brand names inside Arabic text, acronyms | 2 to 4% |
| QA in both languages | Mobile tests, text overflow | 5 to 6% |
Using CSS logical properties (margin-inline-start instead of margin-left) from day one avoids maintaining two stylesheets. It is the main lever to stay near 20% rather than 30%.
Compliance and hosting
The UAE PDPL governs personal data processing. For a corporate site, contact, application and newsletter forms require a clear privacy notice in Arabic and English, a lawful basis such as consent and a defined retention period (for example 24 months for applications). Entities in free zones such as DIFC or ADGM follow their own data protection regulations. If subsidiaries operate in Europe, the GDPR applies to their visitors.
For hosting, a UAE or Middle East cloud region with a CDN costs AED 500 to 1,600 a month and keeps load times fast across the Gulf and Europe. Application maintenance adds AED 2,000 to 6,500 a month.
Mini case study
Layla, head of communications at a Dubai group, runs a project covering 5 subsidiaries. Today each subsidiary has its own site: 5 hosting plans at AED 400 a month and 5 maintenance contracts at AED 1,400 a month, with inconsistent branding.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
The new unified site is priced at AED 150,000, of which AED 31,000 relates to RTL. Recurring costs: AED 1,000 hosting and AED 4,000 maintenance a month, AED 5,000 versus AED 9,000 before. Savings reach AED 48,000 a year. Over five years, that covers more than 1.5 times the investment, before counting the reputational gain with banks and partners who check the site before every meeting.
FAQ
How much does a bilingual corporate website cost in Dubai in 2026?
Budget AED 80,000 to 220,000 depending on the number of subsidiaries, careers and media modules and translation volume. A group with 3 subsidiaries starts around AED 80,000.
Is Arabic RTL really more expensive?
Yes, it adds 20 to 30% to development: mirrored navigation, Arabic typography, directional icons and QA in two languages. CSS logical properties keep it close to 20%.
How long does the project take?
12 to 16 weeks, including 3 to 4 weeks of content production and approval in both languages. Professional Arabic translation of 60 pages alone takes 2 to 3 weeks.
What does the UAE PDPL require?
A clear privacy notice, a lawful basis for processing and a defined retention period. An application form without explicit consent exposes the group to sanctions and loss of trust.
Can subsidiaries be managed from one CMS?
Yes, a multilingual CMS with workflow lets each subsidiary draft its content, approved by group communications before publishing. Budget AED 12,000 to 29,000 for this module.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of subsidiaries, target languages and your communication deadlines, and we will price an Arabic-English corporate site with native RTL and a 12 to 16 week schedule. 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.