Website redesign for an immigration and relocation firm in Dubai: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

A Dubai immigration and relocation firm should redesign when its golden visa, freelance visa and company setup pages lose their rankings, when the form asks for a passport in the first message, or when the Arabic version is a translation dropped onto a layout built for English. Typical local agency quotes sit around AED 30,000 to 120,000 (roughly USD 8,200 to 32,700), while Kolonell's fixed grid runs from USD 2,900 (Starter) to USD 8,900 (Premium). The main danger in any redesign is a traffic drop on visa pages when old URLs are not redirected one by one.

This guide is written for founders and partners of relocation firms across Business Bay, DIFC, Dubai Marina and JLT.

How do you know it is time to redesign?

Four simple questions are enough. Are your programme pages current with the latest rules published by the authorities? Does the site serve Arabic properly from right to left? Can corporate clients find the company setup with residence visas offer in two clicks? Does first contact go through a clean form rather than a messaging app thread nobody can track? If two answers are no, the redesign is justified.

On substance, the site stays general: visas and residence permits are issued by the competent federal and Dubai authorities, and every page should point to official channels. No approval and no timeline should ever be promised.

Which budget for which scope?

Local ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical quotes and public rate pages of Dubai agencies, converted at about AED 3.67 to USD 1.

Kolonell prices include a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Arabic, Russian or Hindi translation is handled by a freelance translator as a third-party cost. Maintenance after 3 months is on quote. See the international offer.

What does the timeline look like, week by week?

Once content is ready, a Kolonell redesign usually runs like this:

• week 1: URL inventory, Search Console export, 301 redirect map, English and Arabic site structure;
• week 2: mockups, with an RTL layout check on mobile;
• week 3: build, forms, testing;
• week 4: compliance review of marketing claims, go-live, redirect checks.

Then plan 4 to 6 weeks of monitoring 404 errors and rankings. With a local agency, the same path often takes 8 to 14 weeks.

The redesign risk register

On data, the general frame is Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection; firms established in certain free zones such as DIFC fall under their own regime, which you should check. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA on accessibility. This is not legal advice.

When a Dubai agency is still the better choice

A local agency wins if you want an Arabic speaking team writing directly in Arabic, weekly in-person meetings at your office, or a portal wired into your case tracking software with on-site maintenance. A remote studio is enough for a well structured bilingual brochure site, with a freelance translator for Arabic.

Questions to ask any provider: is the 301 map a written deliverable? Is the domain in your name? Who reviews the Arabic version? Is document upload encrypted, and priced in the quote?

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Rania runs a relocation firm in Business Bay serving executives and families. She estimates her golden visa page brings in about 40 enquiries a month.

• Risk without redirects: a 30% drop for 6 weeks, so 40 × 0.3 × 1.5 = 18 lost enquiries.
• Local agency quote: AED 85,000, roughly USD 23,100.
• Kolonell Premium: USD 8,900, plus a freelance Arabic translator at USD 1,200 (third-party cost), so USD 10,100.
• Gap: 23,100 minus 10,100, or USD 13,000.

Whatever she chooses, the 301 map is the line item that protects those 18 enquiries. Rania can request a free quote to price the site and, separately, the document portal.

FAQ

How much does an immigration firm website redesign cost in Dubai?

As a ballpark, AED 30,000 to 120,000 with a local agency, roughly USD 8,200 to 32,700. Kolonell's grid runs from USD 2,900 to 8,900.

Can we show visa processing times?

It is safer never to promise a timeline or an approval, because the decision rests with the competent authorities. Point to official channels and date every updated page.

Is the Arabic version included?

Premium at USD 8,900 is the multilingual tier, with languages and RTL scope set in the quote. The translation itself is done by a freelance translator as a third-party cost.

How long does the redesign take?

3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell once content is ready, then 4 to 6 weeks of monitoring. With a local agency, expect 8 to 14 weeks in many cases.

How do we receive passport copies safely?

Not by plain email. Encrypted upload is custom development priced on quote; until then, keep the first form to 5 or 6 fields.

Let's scope your project. A bilingual English and Arabic redesign for a Dubai relocation firm, from USD 2,900 to 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.