The verdict in three sentences
For a law firm in Dubai, a local agency typically quotes a 2026 ballpark of 10 000 to 45 000+ USD, a freelancer 3 000 to 12 000 USD, and a remote studio like Kolonell a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD. The right choice depends less on price than on three practical questions: who produces the Arabic version, how much face-to-face time your partners need, and who owns the domain and accounts at the end. Firms in DIFC, Business Bay or JLT serving international clients in English and French often get more from a remote studio with a fixed scope, while firms that want an Arabic-first site and on-site workshops are better served locally.
How do the options compare on price and delivery?
These ranges are prudent 2026 ballparks drawn from the public rate cards of UAE agencies, the minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co agency profiles and freelance platform rates (Upwork and similar). They vary with scope: a 10-page practice site and a 30-page site with an Arabic version, lawyer directory and intake flow are not the same project.
| Option | Build, 2026 ballpark | Typical timeline | Arabic version | Support after launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Dubai agency | 20 000 to 45 000+ USD | 10 to 16 weeks | Often in-house | Retainer, quoted |
| Mid-size local studio | 10 000 to 20 000 USD | 8 to 12 weeks | Usually outsourced | Varies |
| Freelancer | 3 000 to 12 000 USD | 4 to 10 weeks | Rare | Ad hoc |
| Kolonell Starter | 2 900 USD | 3 to 4 weeks | Supplied by the firm or quoted | 3 months |
| Kolonell Growth | 4 900 USD | 3 to 4 weeks | Supplied by the firm or quoted | 3 months |
| Kolonell Premium | 8 900 USD | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks | Bilingual EN/FR included, Arabic supplied or quoted | 6 months |
Kolonell writes natively in English and French. Arabic translations are supplied by the firm (many firms already work with a legal translator) or quoted separately; the site itself can handle right-to-left layout. Kolonell has delivered in Dubai before: the trilingual FR/EN/AR site of Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), an off-plan real estate advisory, with project pages, investor guides and WhatsApp enquiries. The full offer is on our international website page.
Local agency or remote studio: what really changes?
| Criterion | Local Dubai agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Meetings | In person at your office | Google Meet, written weekly update |
| Time zone | Same | Team in Senegal (GMT), 4 hours behind Dubai: calls in your afternoon |
| Arabic copy | Often native | Supplied by the firm or quoted separately |
| English and French copy | Varies | Native, included |
| Pricing model | Often time and materials beyond a base | Fixed per tier, extras quoted |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
| Payment | Staged invoices | Bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery |
A 4-hour gap is manageable: a call at 2 pm in Dubai is 10 am for the project team, and the written weekly update keeps senior partners informed without extra meetings.
Which profile fits which supplier?
- Arabic-first litigation practice with onshore clients and a large partner group: a local agency, ideally one with native Arabic copywriters, is the safer choice.
- International boutique (corporate, arbitration, employment, real estate, private clients) whose clients read English first: a remote studio delivers the same structure for a fraction of the price.
- Francophone firm or desk serving clients from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Lebanon or francophone Africa: a studio writing natively in French and English is a clear advantage.
- Firm needing a client portal or matter tracking: the site can link to your existing tools in every tier; a custom portal is quoted on request.
What must a Dubai law firm website get right?
- Practice area pages written for the client's question, plus jurisdiction notes (onshore, DIFC, ADGM) where they help the client find the right lawyer.
- Lawyer profiles with admissions and languages. Only claim titles and rights of audience the lawyer holds.
- Intake form asking for the matter type and parties for a conflict check, never confidential details.
- WhatsApp and phone as contact channels, which clients in the region expect.
- Data protection: the UAE federal personal data protection law applies onshore, while firms in DIFC or ADGM fall under those free zones' own regulations. Privacy notice, cookie consent and minimal forms are the baseline.
The licensing authority of your lawyers has professional conduct rules on advertising, and the firm must check its content against them before publication. This is not legal advice.
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Illustrative example: Karim is managing partner of a six-lawyer corporate and arbitration boutique in DIFC, with clients from Europe and francophone Africa. His local agency quote is 20 000 USD plus 2 500 USD of copywriting; he chooses Kolonell Premium at 8 900 USD for a bilingual EN/FR site, his usual legal translator producing the Arabic pages in both scenarios. With identical assumptions, hosting at 40 USD a month and maintenance at 150 USD a month from month four:
| Item (illustrative, USD) | Local agency | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Build and copy | 22 500 | 8 900 |
| Hosting, 36 months | 1 440 | 1 440 |
| Maintenance, months 4 to 36 | 4 950 | 4 950 (assumption, quoted) |
| 3-year total | 28 890 | 15 290 |
The gap is 13 600 USD over three years, with a launch in about 5 weeks instead of 12.
FAQ
Is it risky to build a law firm site with a studio outside the UAE?
The risk is mainly about ownership and process. With the domain in your name, all access handed over and 50 % paid only at delivery, you keep control; content still has to be validated by the firm.
Can Kolonell write the Arabic version?
No, Kolonell writes natively in English and French only. Arabic is supplied by the firm or quoted separately, and the site supports right-to-left layout.
How many meetings does a project take?
Usually 2 to 4 calls on Google Meet, at a time that suits you, 4 hours ahead of the team. A written update arrives every week.
Which tier suits a five-lawyer firm?
Growth at 4 900 USD covers practice area and lawyer pages with booking. Premium at 8 900 USD adds a bilingual EN/FR site and 6 months of support.
Can you build a secure document portal?
A link to your existing portal is included. A custom portal is quoted on request via the free quote page.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas, languages and target launch date, and we will recommend a tier with a fixed price and a written schedule. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
