The verdict in three sentences
A services company targeting the Gulf and West Africa should budget USD 9,000 to 22,000 (90,000 to 220,000 MAD) ex. VAT for a trilingual English, Arabic and French website. Arabic is not just a translation: RTL support (right-to-left reading) adds 15 to 25% to development. In 2026, AI translation reviewed by a professional is the best trade-off for corporate pages, as long as key sales pages keep a human translation.
What a trilingual website really costs
The budget splits into four blocks: design, development with language management, translation and international SEO. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for a B2B services company (1 USD is roughly 10 MAD).
| Item | 20-page site | 40-page site | 70-page site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design (LTR and RTL mockups) | USD 2,000 | USD 3,000 | USD 4,200 |
| Multilingual development | USD 3,500 | USD 5,500 | USD 8,500 |
| Arabic RTL surcharge (15 to 25%) | USD 700 | USD 1,100 | USD 1,800 |
| EN and AR translation (8,000 to 30,000 words) | USD 1,600 | USD 3,800 | USD 6,000 |
| Hreflang, per-language sitemaps, international SEO | USD 600 | USD 900 | USD 1,500 |
| Estimated total ex. VAT | USD 8,400 to 9,500 | USD 14,000 | USD 22,000 |
| Timeline | 10 weeks | 12 weeks | 14 weeks |
RTL support requires a mirrored layout, Arabic fonts that read well on mobile (Noto Kufi Arabic, IBM Plex Sans Arabic), reversed forms and testing on iOS and Android. A site built from day one with logical CSS properties costs far less than adding Arabic later.
Human translation, AI-reviewed or raw AI
The right choice depends on the page. Service pages and offers commit the company, while FAQs and news can tolerate more automation.
| Method | Cost per word | 20,000 words (FR to EN and AR) | Turnaround | Perceived quality in the Gulf | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional human translation | USD 0.12 to 0.20 | USD 4,800 to 8,000 | 3 to 4 weeks | Excellent | Home, services, offers, legal pages |
| AI reviewed by a translator | USD 0.05 to 0.08 | USD 2,000 to 3,200 | 1 to 2 weeks | Good | Corporate pages, case studies |
| Raw AI, no review | Under USD 0.005 | Under USD 200 | A few hours | Fragile, register errors | Internal drafts only |
Modern Standard Arabic works for both the Gulf and North Africa on a corporate site. Avoid Moroccan Darija on sales pages aimed at Dubai or Riyadh.
SEO rules you cannot miss
| Item | Good practice | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| URL structure | /fr/, /en/, /ar/ on a single domain | Separate subdomains with no links between them |
| Hreflang | On every page, with x-default | Tag present on the homepage only |
| HTML attributes | lang="ar" dir="rtl" | RTL applied through CSS only |
| Metadata | Translated and adapted title and description | Title left in French |
| Keywords | Research per market (Gulf, West Africa) | Literal translation of French keywords |
| Language switcher | Visible, no flags | Moroccan flag for Arabic, confusing in the Gulf |
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Karim, CEO of a 40-person engineering firm in Casablanca, wants to win contracts in the UAE and in Abidjan. His 40-page site exists only in French. He opts for a trilingual site at USD 14,000 (140,000 MAD), with human translation on 12 sales pages (9,000 words, USD 1,440) and AI-reviewed translation for the rest (11,000 words, USD 715). The translation line drops to about USD 2,155 instead of USD 3,800, saving USD 1,645 that he reinvests in Arabic SEO. Nine months after launch, the site generates 6 monthly requests from the Gulf. A single study contract worth USD 35,000 repays the project more than twice over.
FAQ
How much does a trilingual corporate website cost in 2026?
Between USD 9,000 and 22,000 ex. VAT depending on page count and translation method. Arabic RTL support accounts for 15 to 25% of development.
What timeline should we expect?
From 10 to 14 weeks, translation included. Human translation of 20,000 words alone takes 3 to 4 weeks.
Can we translate with AI?
Yes, with professional review at USD 0.05 to 0.08 per word. Raw AI is not advisable for sales pages read in the Gulf.
Do we need one domain per language?
No, a single domain with /fr/, /en/ and /ar/ concentrates SEO authority. Hreflang tags must appear on 100% of pages.
Is Arabic essential to target the Gulf?
For public and semi-public buyers, very often yes. Private buyers read English, but a polished Arabic version builds credibility from the first contact.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your page count, target markets and content volume: we price the trilingual site with the split between human and AI-reviewed translation and a 10 to 14 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.
