The verdict in three sentences
For a strategy consulting firm in Dubai targeting the leadership of large Gulf groups, a credible website costs AED 60,000 to 110,000 (about USD 16,300 to 30,000) and takes 10 weeks. Its value lies in thought leadership content (research, anonymised case studies, partner profiles) far more than in visual effects. Running EN/AR/FR with full RTL support and complying with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021) account for almost a third of the budget.
A website built for the CEO arriving from LinkedIn
Around 70% of visits come from LinkedIn: a partner publishes a report on port logistics or banking transformation, and a CEO clicks from their phone between meetings. They stay 40 to 90 seconds. If the report opens fast, reads well on mobile and leads to a credible partner profile, the conversation starts.
| Item | Content | 2026 budget | Commercial role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom design and editorial guidelines | Mock-ups, EN/AR/FR typography, article templates | AED 13,000 to 24,000 | Premium positioning against the Big Four |
| Research and publications library | Sector filters, PDF download in exchange for email | AED 10,000 to 19,000 | Drives 60 to 80% of qualified leads |
| Client case studies | 6 to 10 anonymised cases, problem, approach, result template | AED 7,000 to 12,000 | Proof of sector expertise |
| Partner and consultant profiles | 25 profiles, expertise, linked publications | AED 5,500 to 9,500 | Humanises the firm, builds trust |
| Arabic RTL version | Mirrored layout, Arabic typography, translation | AED 12,000 to 22,000 | Access to Arabic-speaking leaders and government entities |
| UAE PDPL compliance | Consent, privacy policy, processing records | AED 4,000 to 8,000 | Lawful forms and downloads |
| Technical SEO and LinkedIn integration | Open Graph tags, hreflang, campaign tracking | AED 5,500 to 10,000 | Polished previews in the LinkedIn feed |
| Total | AED 60,000 to 110,000 | Delivered in 10 weeks |
Multilingual and RTL: what really moves the cost
Adding Arabic is not just translation. The whole layout flips: menus, arrows, tables, report charts. Numbers keep a left-to-right reading order inside Arabic text, which requires testing on every template.
| Language option | Pages covered | Estimated extra cost | Added time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English only | Whole site | Base | 0 |
| English + French | Whole site | +AED 8,000 to 13,500 | +1 week |
| EN + FR + full Arabic RTL | Whole site | +AED 20,000 to 35,000 | +2 to 3 weeks |
| EN + FR + partial Arabic (key pages only) | 10 to 15 pages | +AED 9,500 to 16,000 | +1 week |
| Report translation (per 20-page report) | PDF and web page | AED 2,400 to 4,000 | 5 to 8 days |
| Review by an Arabic-speaking consultant | Sector content | AED 1,300 to 2,700 per batch | 3 days |
On compliance, the UAE PDPL requires a lawful basis and clear consent for collecting emails on report downloads, with the purpose and retention period stated on the form. If the firm is registered in DIFC or ADGM, their own data protection regimes apply instead, with a registration with the relevant commissioner. Settle the jurisdiction question in week 1.
Mini case study
Omar, managing partner of a strategy consulting firm in Dubai, invests AED 85,000 in a multilingual website with partial Arabic. Each published report generates on average 40 qualified downloads, including 2 meetings with C-level executives. The firm publishes one report a month and turns 1 meeting in 6 into an engagement. Over 12 months, that means 24 meetings and 4 engagements. With an average engagement of AED 300,000 and a 35% margin, the margin generated reaches AED 420,000, about 5 times the initial investment.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Should every report be translated into Arabic?
No. Prioritise reports aimed at government entities and family groups, usually 20 to 30% of the catalogue. The rest can stay in English and French.
WordPress or a headless CMS for a consulting firm?
A headless CMS such as Sanity handles multilingual content and RTL better, and supports a partner approval workflow. The extra cost is AED 6,500 to 12,000, offset by simpler maintenance.
Should we require an email to download a report?
For flagship reports, yes: they are the main lead source. For short notes, keep access open to maximise sharing on LinkedIn, which drives 70% of traffic.
How many case studies should we publish at launch?
Aim for 6 to 10 anonymised cases across 3 or 4 sectors. Below 5, the site looks too young to a CEO used to large firms.
What annual budget after launch?
Count AED 1,000 to 2,300 a month for hosting and maintenance, plus translation of new reports, roughly AED 20,000 to 40,000 a year.
Let's scope your project. Send us your list of reports, cases and partners: we price a multilingual website on an AED 60,000 to 110,000 basis, delivered in 10 weeks. 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.
