The verdict in three sentences
For a law firm in Dubai, whether onshore or registered in DIFC or ADGM, the website build contract matters as much as the design: it must set out ownership of the domain, hosting, code and content, payment milestones tied to verifiable deliverables and written acceptance criteria. In 2026 ballpark terms, a Dubai agency charges USD 8,000 to 30,000 (roughly AED 30,000 to 110,000) for a bilingual English and Arabic site, against USD 2,900 to 8,900 on Kolonell's fixed grid. Sign only once the scope sheet, the exit clause and the professional conduct review of content are in writing.
Which clauses should you require before signing?
The table below compares what a Dubai agency contract often says, what you should ask for and Kolonell's fixed terms.
| Clause | Typical Dubai agency contract | What to ask for | Kolonell terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope and page list | "Corporate website" with no detail | Named list of English and Arabic pages, number of lawyer profiles | Page list attached to the quote |
| .ae or .com domain | Sometimes registered in the agency's name | Registered to the firm's licensed entity | Domain in your name |
| Hosting | Agency account, re-invoiced | Account in the firm's name, admin access | Hosting in your name |
| Code and content | Licence to use only | Full assignment at final handover | Ownership transferred at delivery |
| Payment milestones | 50% upfront, 50% at delivery | Payments tied to approved deliverables | Milestones tied to approvals |
| Acceptance and revisions | "Reasonable revisions" | Written criteria, number of rounds, response time | 2 revision rounds per phase |
| Timeline | 8 to 16 weeks, no penalty | Dated schedule, client responsibilities | 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready |
| Support and exit | Mandatory maintenance contract | Defined support, access handover on exit | 3 months of support, full handover |
Registration rules for .ae domains generally require a UAE connection; register the domain to the entity that holds the firm's licence, never to an employee or the agency.
How should milestones and acceptance be structured?
| Milestone | Verifiable deliverable | Share of payment | Acceptance criterion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kick-off | Signed scope, English and Arabic sitemap | 30% | Page list approved by a partner |
| 2. Mock-ups | Template pages in LTR and RTL | 20% | Arabic layout checked on mobile |
| 3. Staging site | Content in place, live forms | 30% | Every form tested, emails received |
| 4. Go-live | Production site, access handed over | 20% | Mobile speed, HTTPS, cookie banner, links checked |
| Support | 3 months of fixes | included | Written response time |
Add a change request clause: any page or feature outside scope gets a priced amendment before work starts. It is the best protection against overruns, for both sides.
What does a Dubai law firm specifically need?
- Arabic and RTL layout: the Arabic version is more than a translation. Menus, forms, tables and typography must be designed right to left and tested on mobile.
- Lawyer advertising: in Dubai, the Legal Affairs Department regulates the practice of advocates and legal consultants, including how a firm presents itself. Keep it factual, avoid promising outcomes or making comparisons, and have a partner review every piece of marketing copy before go-live. DIFC and ADGM firms also follow their own jurisdiction's rules.
- Personal data: Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection applies to onshore firms; DIFC firms fall under DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020, and ADGM firms under ADGM's own data protection regulations. The contract should state where form data is hosted, who can access it and how long it is kept.
- Confidentiality: a confidentiality clause covers information shared during the project (organisation chart, named clients, communication plans).
- Enquiry forms: do not ask for the details of a dispute in a public form. A qualification form (practice area, jurisdiction, urgency) is enough; the rest goes through a secure channel.
- Accessibility: aim for WCAG 2.1 AA in both languages.
This is not legal advice.
How much to budget, and what stays on quote?
Kolonell's grid is fixed: Starter USD 2,900, Growth USD 4,900, Premium USD 8,900. Every plan includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer page. Arabic legal translation, a client portal, an integration with your case management software and ongoing SEO work stay on quote.
A Dubai agency remains the better choice if you want weekly meetings at your DIFC or Business Bay offices, Arabic copy produced in-house and regular video shoots. For a 15 to 30 page site with a clear scope, a remote studio with a solid contract is enough.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Rania Haddad is managing partner of a 7-lawyer firm registered in DIFC. A local agency quotes USD 22,000, 50% upfront, with no code assignment and no page list.
With Kolonell's Premium plan (USD 8,900) and a 9,000-word Arabic translation at about USD 0.12 per word (USD 1,080), she reaches USD 9,980, paid in 4 milestones of 30, 20, 30 and 20%. Her first payment drops from USD 11,000 to USD 2,670, and the total gap is about USD 12,000, with a contract that transfers the domain, hosting and code to her firm.
FAQ
Should the domain be .ae or .com?
Many Dubai firms use both, with a redirect. What matters is that both are registered to the firm, which takes 5 minutes to check in the registry.
How much should we pay upfront?
20 to 30% is reasonable when the following milestones are tied to approved deliverables. A 50% deposit with no defined deliverable exposes you more.
How many revision rounds should we plan?
Two rounds per phase cover most projects. Beyond that, set an hourly rate or a priced amendment in the contract.
Who reviews content against professional rules?
Always a partner of the firm, never the agency alone. Build 2 to 3 days of review before go-live into the schedule.
What happens if we leave the provider?
The contract should require handover of access, code and content within 5 to 10 business days. Request a free quote to receive our handover terms in writing.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual English and Arabic site of 15 to 30 pages, a contract with full assignment and milestones, a budget of USD 4,900 to 8,900 and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.