The verdict in three sentences
A bilingual EN/AR 8-page B2B site with clean RTL support costs in 2026 between 12,000 and 22,000 CAD in Montreal, hreflang configuration and Arabic typography included. The real stake is not translation but RTL (right-to-left): a botched Arabic layout instantly destroys credibility with demanding Gulf buyers. The RTL surcharge over a monolingual site is about 30 to 45%, an investment that gates access to Arabic-speaking markets.
The cost of a bilingual EN/AR site in 2026
A bilingual Arabic-English site is not an EN site translated: the RTL direction forces rethinking layout, typography and components. Here are the key items.
| Item | 2026 range (CAD) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual 8-page site with RTL | 12,000 - 22,000 | design + EN/AR build |
| Hreflang config + Arabic typography | 1,800 | one-off |
| Professional translation | 0.35 - 0.55 / word | per language |
| RTL component adaptation | included in base | layout mirroring |
| Bilingual maintenance | 600 CAD/month | content sync |
| Native Arabic proofreading | 900 - 1,800 | editorial quality |
A B2B page runs 500 to 800 words: translating 8 pages into Arabic means 1,500 to 3,500 CAD of translation, on top of the technical base.
The RTL surcharge versus a monolingual site
The instinct is to think Arabic doubles the cost. In reality it is RTL, not the language, that weighs. This table isolates that surcharge.
| Configuration | 2026 price (CAD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Monolingual EN 8-page site | 8,000 - 13,000 | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Bilingual EN/FR (no RTL) | 10,000 - 16,000 | 4 - 6 weeks |
| Bilingual EN/AR (with RTL) | 12,000 - 22,000 | 5 - 8 weeks |
| RTL surcharge vs monolingual | +30 to +45% | +1 - 2 weeks |
The timeline for a bilingual EN/AR site runs 5 to 8 weeks, RTL adaptation and Arabic proofreading being the main lengthening factors.
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Mini case study
Omar is sales director of a Montreal services firm, 22 employees, targeting Gulf markets (UAE, Saudi Arabia). His EN-only site does not inspire trust in Arabic-speaking buyers. He invests 17,000 CAD in a bilingual EN/AR site with clean RTL, plus 1,800 CAD of hreflang config and 600 CAD/month maintenance. Six months later, the site generates 6 qualified requests/month from the Gulf, versus zero before. With a 20% close rate and a 35,000 CAD average deal, a single signed deal covers the project. Polished RTL makes the difference: it is the credibility signal an Emirati buyer expects.
FAQ
Why does RTL cost more than translation? Because it requires mirroring the layout: navigation, icons, alignments, components. This 30 to 45% surcharge is technical, not linguistic.
Is machine translation fine for B2B Arabic? No: a professional translation at 0.35-0.55 CAD/word with native proofreading is essential. Gulf business Arabic tolerates no approximation.
Is hreflang useful for an EN/AR site? Yes: at 1,800 CAD, it ensures each market sees the right version and avoids duplicate content, even between language variants.
Does Arabic typography need special handling? Yes: adapted fonts, sizes, line spacing and ligatures specific to Arabic. Neglected typography immediately betrays a poorly built site to an Arabic reader.
Is bilingual maintenance necessary? At 600 CAD/month, it keeps both versions synchronized. EN content updated without its AR equivalent creates inconsistencies that undermine credibility.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target Gulf markets and page count, and we will price a bilingual EN/AR site with clean RTL and hreflang. 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.
