The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai-based industrial or holding group, an English-Arabic corporate website with an online annual report runs about AED 120,000 to 300,000 (USD 33,000 to 82,000) on the 2026 market, delivered in 14 to 18 weeks. Arabic support is more than translation: right-to-left (RTL) layout affects every template and adds 15 to 25% to development. The communications director also needs to settle two topics early: UAE PDPL compliance and where the site and its data are hosted, in the UAE or abroad.
What actually drives the cost of an RTL corporate site
A group corporate site typically has 30 to 50 pages per language: group overview, business lines, facilities, sustainability, investor relations, news and careers. Doubling pages does not double development cost, but Arabic demands specific work, and in the UAE many groups also add a third language for their investors or key markets.
In RTL, the layout flips entirely: menus, carousel arrows, directional icons, tables, charts and forms. Arabic typefaces (Noto Kufi, IBM Plex Arabic, Dubai Font) have different line heights, and numerals can be Western or Eastern Arabic depending on editorial choice. Every component must be tested both ways, which explains the premium. Federal and Dubai government entities also expect WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility in both languages.
| Item | 2026 ballpark (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UX and design system EN/AR | 25,000 to 50,000 | Templates tested LTR and RTL |
| Development and multilingual CMS | 55,000 to 130,000 | Approval workflow, editorial roles |
| RTL support premium | 15 to 25% of development | Mirrored components, Arabic fonts |
| Interactive online annual report | 20,000 to 55,000 | Animated key figures, downloadable PDF |
| Arabic translation (40,000 words) | 10,000 to 18,000 | AED 0.25 to 0.45 per word |
| Accessibility, security, QA | 10,000 to 25,000 | WCAG 2.1 AA, light penetration test |
| Project total | 120,000 to 300,000 | Excluding hosting and maintenance |
UAE PDPL, free zones and hosting: decisions to make upfront
The UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection (PDPL) applies once the site collects data: contact forms, job applications, newsletter sign-ups, investor portals. Groups registered in DIFC or ADGM follow their own data protection regimes, which are closer to GDPR. Cross-border transfers require an adequate destination or appropriate safeguards.
That shapes the hosting choice. UAE hosting (Azure UAE North, AWS Middle East UAE, local providers) simplifies compliance and minimizes latency for the regional audience. EU or US hosting, sometimes mandated by group IT policy, needs transfer safeguards but offers broader CDN and security tooling for a global audience.
| Criterion | UAE hosting | EU hosting |
|---|---|---|
| PDPL compliance | Simple, no transfer | Transfer safeguards required |
| Latency from Dubai | 5 to 20 ms | 90 to 140 ms |
| Latency from London or Paris | 90 to 130 ms | 10 to 30 ms |
| CDN and security tooling | Good and growing | Very broad |
| Indicative monthly cost | AED 1,500 to 5,000 | AED 1,000 to 4,000 |
| Administrative lead time | None | Contract review, 2 to 6 weeks |
A hybrid setup is common: the public site on a global CDN, form data stored in the UAE. At Kolonell, institutional sites and their options (languages, hosting, annual report) are quoted on request, after scoping with the communications team.
A 14 to 18 week plan
The first 3 weeks cover discovery, site map and bilingual content strategy. Weeks 4 to 7 build the design system, tested in Arabic from the first mockup. Development takes 6 to 8 weeks while translation progresses in approved batches. The last 2 to 3 weeks cover RTL QA, accessibility and data protection review. The annual report is often published later, timed with the AGM.
Mini case study
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Layla, communications director of a 2,500-employee industrial group in Dubai, currently runs separate English and Arabic sites plus a 120-page PDF annual report. The two sites cost AED 9,000 a month in maintenance and manual updates, AED 108,000 a year, and every news item is entered twice.
She launches a single bilingual site at AED 220,000, including AED 38,000 of RTL premium and AED 14,000 of translation. Maintenance of the unified site drops to AED 4,000 a month, AED 48,000 a year. Annual savings: 108,000 - 48,000 = AED 60,000, plus around 15 hours a month of data entry avoided. Over four years, savings reach AED 240,000, more than the initial investment.
FAQ
How much does an English-Arabic corporate website cost in Dubai?
The 2026 market range is about AED 120,000 to 300,000 for a bilingual site with an annual report. The top end fits listed groups with investor relations portals.
Why does RTL support cost more?
Every template must be mirrored and tested in Arabic: menus, tables, charts, forms. That work adds 15 to 25% to the development budget.
Should we translate or write directly in Arabic?
Corporate pages translate well at AED 0.25 to 0.45 per word. Careers and news pages perform better when written natively in Arabic for local audiences.
Does the UAE PDPL require local hosting?
No, but cross-border transfers of personal data need an adequate destination or contractual safeguards. DIFC and ADGM entities follow their own, GDPR-like rules.
How long until launch?
Between 14 and 18 weeks for a complete bilingual site. An interactive annual report often adds 3 to 4 weeks if delivered at the same time.
Let's scope your project. Share your site map, languages and annual report calendar, and we will scope the build, hosting and a 14 to 18 week plan. 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.
