The verdict in three sentences
In Dubai, a law firm that approaches agencies without a requirements checklist receives quotes from AED 20,000 to 180,000 (about USD 5,400 to 49,000), because each agency imagines a different scope for Arabic, lawyer profiles and forms. A two-page document written before any consultation fixes those points and makes quotes comparable. Kolonell's grid (Starter USD 2,900, Growth USD 4,900, Premium USD 8,900) can be laid over it line by line, with the Arabic RTL version and the client portal priced separately.
What should the checklist cover?
This is written for partners of firms in DIFC, Business Bay and Downtown advising international groups, family offices and regional SMEs. Group the requirements into five blocks.
Strategy and content
- Measurable goals: consultation requests, referrals, recruitment.
- Audiences: group legal departments, investors, expats, Arabic-speaking clients.
- Pages: home, practice areas (for example 7), lawyer profiles (for example 10), insights, contact; number of templates.
- A clear distinction between onshore court practice and DIFC Courts practice, described without promises.
- Content ownership: who writes, who approves, who gives compliance sign-off against the licensing and advertising rules that apply to law firms in Dubai.
Languages
- English and Arabic: which pages in Arabic, full or partial RTL layout, Arabic-speaking legal reviewer.
Integrations, each on its own line: CRM, newsletter, booking link, client portal link, document exchange. Complex ones stay on quote.
Compliance and technical
- Accessibility target: WCAG 2.2 AA.
- Forms: minimal fields, a notice that submitting does not create a lawyer-client relationship, limited conflict check fields (name, company, opposing party if any), retention period. Depending on where the firm is established, the federal personal data law (Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021) or the DIFC Data Protection Law applies: have your regime confirmed.
- Domain, DNS, hosting and analytics accounts in the firm's name.
- If a site exists: URL export, 301 redirect map, Search Console access.
Project control
- Acceptance criteria, go-live date, budget range.
No case results, rankings or client names on the site without a verifiable basis and written consent. This is not legal advice.
How does a precise brief change the quotes?
| Topic | Vague brief | Precise brief | Effect (2026 ballpark) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | bilingual site | Arabic on 12 key pages, full RTL | A USD 3,000 to 15,000 spread becomes one separately priced line |
| Lawyer profiles | show the team | 10 profiles, one template, photos supplied | Avoids 2 to 4 extra billed design days |
| Jurisdictions | not mentioned | Separate onshore and DIFC pages | Clear structure from the quote stage |
| Forms | contact form | 6 fields, notice, 12-month retention | Fewer rework rounds at acceptance |
| Integrations | linked to our tools | CRM listed, portal as a plain link | The portal becomes a comparable line |
| Overall budget | missing | USD 8,000 to 20,000 | Local quotes tighten to USD 11,000 to 22,000 |
Indicative ranges based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of local agencies, at about AED 3.67 per USD.
How do you score three quotes?
Four criteria, scored out of 5 and weighted out of 100. Fictional example:
| Criterion | Weight | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checklist coverage, Arabic scope included | 35% | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Forms and data protection | 25% | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Price transparency and on-quote items | 25% | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Timeline and ownership of accounts | 15% | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Weighted score out of 5 | 100% | 3.60 | 3.65 | 4.35 |
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Quote A: 0.35 x 4 + 0.25 x 4 + 0.25 x 3 + 0.15 x 3 = 3.60. A gap under 0.1 point, as between A and B, is decided by the quality of the conversation with the team.
How does the Kolonell grid answer the checklist?
| Checklist block | Starter USD 2,900 | Growth USD 4,900 | Premium USD 8,900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages and lawyer profiles | Core pages | Extended practice areas and profiles | Full site structure |
| Languages | One language | One language | The multilingual tier, languages and RTL scope set in the quote |
| Copywriting | Native English or French | Same, plus insights | Same |
| WCAG 2.2 AA and minimal forms | Included | Included | Included |
| 301 migration | If a site exists | Full map | Full map |
| Client portal, document exchange | On quote | On quote | On quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer page. A Dubai agency remains the better choice if you want weekly in-person meetings in DIFC, an in-house Arabic team that writes the legal content itself, or a client portal developed alongside the site.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Karim Haddad is a partner at Haddad Rennick Legal, a fictional 6-lawyer corporate and employment firm in Business Bay. It has no website yet, only a directory profile.
- Local agency quote, Arabic included: AED 95,000, about USD 25,900, 12 weeks.
- Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote): USD 8,900, with the Arabic RTL scope priced in the quote.
- Arabic legal translation by an independent translator (third-party cost): about USD 1,500.
- Total before the RTL line: USD 10,400, a gap of about USD 15,500, to weigh against the RTL line.
- Hosting and care over 33 months at USD 100 a month, market assumption; Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote: 33 x 100 = USD 3,300.
FAQ
Is the Arabic version included in Premium?
Premium is the multilingual tier at USD 8,900; languages and RTL scope are set in the quote. State the number of Arabic pages, for example 12, to get a precise figure.
Which data law applies to the form?
It depends on where the firm is established: the federal regime onshore, the DIFC law for a DIFC entity. Keep the form to 5 or 6 fields and have the firm confirm its regime.
How long does the checklist take to write?
Plan 1 to 2 working days, including partner sign-off. That time can narrow the gap between quotes by several thousand dollars.
Can we publish cases we have won?
Advertising rules for law firms in Dubai are restrictive: describe practice areas and types of matters, without figures or client names. Have a partner approve 100% of pages.
Is the client portal part of the grid?
No, it stays on quote on every tier, from USD 2,900 to 8,900. The public website links to it with a tested link.
Let's scope your project. Send us your checklist, even incomplete: we match it against the USD 2,900 to 8,900 grid and price the Arabic RTL scope and the portal separately, for a go-live 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.
