The verdict in three sentences
For an interior design studio in Abu Dhabi, the website is judged on three things: project images that load fast, complete discretion about private villas and an enquiry form that filters requests by budget and timeline. A local agency takes the lead when you need to organise on-site shoots on Saadiyat or Yas and run art direction in person; a remote studio is enough when your photos already exist and you want a fixed price and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. At Kolonell, Growth at USD 4,900 covers an English portfolio, and Premium at USD 8,900 adds Arabic (the multilingual tier, languages and RTL set in the quote).
What an interior design studio site needs to show in Abu Dhabi
Enquiries come from villa owners on Saadiyat Island and in Al Raha, investors fitting out apartments on Al Reem Island, hotel groups and restaurant operators on Yas Island, and companies refurbishing offices. Each wants to see projects similar to theirs, not a general gallery.
| Project type | What the visitor looks for | Content to plan | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential villas | Style, materials, indicative budget | 3 to 5 projects, before and after, materials | No address, no family photos |
| Apartments on Al Reem | Timeline, space planning, furniture | Simplified plans, works duration | Owner consent to publish |
| Hospitality and restaurants | Fit-out references, coordination | Case studies, the studio's exact role | Operator rights over images |
| Offices | Timelines, operating constraints | Phasing, typical schedule | Client logos only with consent |
| Retail | Brand image, customer flow | Before and after, sketches | Confidentiality of concepts |
| Enquiry form | Qualification | Property type, area, budget, date | Minimal data collection |
Technically, large images must be compressed (modern formats, sizes adapted to mobile), otherwise a 40-photo portfolio becomes slow on mobile networks. Instagram and Pinterest stay as simple links: an embedded feed weighs down the page without bringing qualified enquiries.
Photo ownership is often forgotten. The photographer usually keeps the copyright and grants you a licence; for a hotel, the operator may also restrict use. Have the licence specified (web, social, print, duration) before the shoot.
Local agency or remote studio: in which situations?
| Your situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No professional photos of your projects | Local agency or local photographer first | Shoots need site visits and on-site art direction |
| Existing photos, copy to write in English | Remote studio | Native copywriting included, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks |
| Mostly Arabic-speaking clients | Local agency, or Premium with an Arabic review as a third-party cost | Arabic copy quality must be checked by a native speaker |
| Partners who want weekly approval meetings | Local agency | In-person workshops remain simpler |
| Tight budget, need for a fixed price | Remote studio | Grid from USD 2,900 to 8,900, no mandatory retainer |
| Contract with domain and code ownership | Both, if written | Require it in every case |
On the market side, 2026 ballpark from typical Abu Dhabi agency quotes: AED 15,000 to 45,000 (about USD 4,100 to 12,300) for a bilingual portfolio site, AED 60,000 and up (about USD 16,300 and up) at high-end creative agencies. Freelancers often quote AED 4,000 to 12,000 (about USD 1,100 to 3,300). Kolonell tier details are on the international offer.
What does each option cost over 3 years?
| Cost line over 3 years | Abu Dhabi agency (market assumption) | Kolonell Growth | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | USD 4,100 to 12,300 | USD 4,900 | USD 8,900 |
| Arabic RTL version | Often included mid-range | Not included (English) | Included, languages and RTL set in the quote |
| Photography of 4 projects | Sometimes bundled, otherwise USD 2,700 to 6,500 | Third-party cost: USD 2,700 to 6,500 | Third-party cost: USD 2,700 to 6,500 |
| Support, first 3 months | Variable | Included | Included |
| Maintenance, months 4 to 36 | USD 2,500 to 6,000 (retainer assumption) | On quote | On quote |
| Hosting and image delivery | USD 400 to 1,200 | Third-party cost, in your name | Third-party cost, in your name |
Project photography, about AED 2,500 to 6,000 per project with a local interior photographer (about USD 680 to 1,630), is often the line that makes the real quality difference, whatever the web provider.
Questions to ask and local frame
Ask both types of provider: who holds the rights to photos and copy; how images are optimised for mobile; how the form qualifies budget and timeline; who manages the domain and hosting; what happens after the 3 months of support.
In the UAE, the federal personal data protection law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021) governs data collected through forms; if your studio is registered in a free zone such as ADGM, check which rules apply. Trade licence details shown on the site should match your actual licence. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA: alt text on images, sufficient contrast, keyboard navigation. This is not legal advice.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Lina Khoury runs a 6-person studio in Al Raha. She receives about 40 enquiries a month, of which 60%, so 24, match neither her minimum budget nor her timeline. Each first call lasts 1.5 hours: 36 hours a month spent on unqualified enquiries.
With a form asking for property type, area, budget range and target date, she aims for 8 unqualified enquiries instead of 24, freeing 24 hours a month. She chooses Premium at USD 8,900 for Arabic and English, adds two project shoots with a local photographer (a third-party cost of about USD 1,400 to 3,300) and compares it with a local quote of AED 38,000 (about USD 10,350). Saving of about USD 1,450, and a site live in 3 to 4 weeks.
FAQ
Is Starter at USD 2,900 enough for an interior design studio?
For a short 5-page English portfolio, yes. Once you want pages by project type and a qualifying form, Growth at USD 4,900 is more realistic.
Can we publish photos of a private villa?
Only with the owner's written consent, with no address or identifying details. Plan 2 or 3 anonymised projects rather than 10 without consent.
Should we show prices?
A starting range, for example project budgets from AED 150,000, filters enquiries well. It must remain indicative.
Do we need an Arabic site?
If more than 30% of your clients prefer Arabic, yes: that is Premium at USD 8,900, with a native review as a third-party cost if needed.
Do site videos slow the website down?
Yes if they are embedded heavily. A hosted video loaded on click keeps the page under 3 seconds on mobile.
Let's scope your project. A portfolio by project type, English and Arabic, from USD 4,900 to 8,900, 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.