The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a Dubai law firm invests 120,000 to 350,000 MAD in a custom software build to run matters and deadlines. A client portal (+30,000 to 70,000 MAD) and a smart deadline calendar (+15,000 to 40,000 MAD) transform limitation-risk management. Target result: zero missed deadlines and -40 % administrative time over a 3 to 6 month timeline.
Modules and 2026 costs in dirhams
A firm software must manage matters, procedural deadlines, billing and the client relationship. Here are the modules and their 2026 costs.
| 2026 module | Build cost (MAD) | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Matters + parties | 50,000-120,000 | maintenance included |
| Deadline calendar + alerts | 15,000-40,000 | included |
| Billing + fees | 25,000-60,000 | included |
| Secure client portal | 30,000-70,000 | included |
| Hosting + backups | — | 3,000-9,000 MAD/yr |
| Monthly maintenance | — | 2,000-6,000 MAD/mo |
The full base therefore sits between 120,000 and 350,000 MAD depending on options, with a realistic 3 to 6 month timeline including matter migration.
ROI: zero missed deadlines, -40 % admin
The value of such software is measured in risk avoided and admin time recovered. 2026 order of magnitude for an 8-person firm.
| Indicator | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Missed deadlines/yr | 3-5 | 0 |
| Weekly admin time | 20 h | 12 h |
| Matter lookup | 15 min | 2 min |
| Client reminders/mo | 120 manual | 30 |
| Annual admin cost | 240,000 MAD | 144,000 MAD |
That is roughly 96,000 MAD/year of recovered time, not counting the financial and reputational risk of a missed limitation, often far higher.
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Mini case study
Mr. Alaoui, managing partner of an 8-lawyer firm in Dubai, had missed 2 deadlines in one year, one costly in liability. We delivered a custom build at 210,000 MAD with a dual-alert deadline calendar and a client portal. Result: zero missed deadlines the following year, admin time cut from 20 to 12 h/week, i.e. 416 hours/year saved at 230 MAD/loaded hour = 95,680 MAD/year. Investment paid back in just over 2 years, excluding avoided risk.
FAQ
How much does a custom law firm build cost in 2026? From 120,000 to 350,000 MAD depending on modules. A mid-sized firm with a portal sits around 200,000-250,000 MAD.
What does the client portal cost? 30,000 to 70,000 MAD in development. It sharply reduces email exchanges and secures sharing of sensitive documents.
How much is the deadline calendar? 15,000 to 40,000 MAD. It is the most profitable module: it removes limitation risk, potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dirhams.
What are the recurring costs? Maintenance 2,000 to 6,000 MAD/month and hosting 3,000 to 9,000 MAD/year, including backups and security updates.
What is the delivery timeline? 3 to 6 months depending on scope, including historical matter migration and team training.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your lawyer count, your litigation types and your portal need: we price the modules and an indicative budget. 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.
