The verdict in three sentences
For a 15-consultant strategy firm in Dubai, a bilingual (English plus Arabic or French) website built for lead generation costs 40,000 to 90,000 AED (about 10,900 to 24,500 USD), delivered in 6 to 8 weeks. A local freelancer charges 12,000 to 25,000 AED, but rarely delivers the structured case studies and gated white papers that convince government entities and large corporates. A realistic target is 8 to 15 qualified enquiries a month after 4 to 6 months of regular publishing.
What a 40,000 to 90,000 AED budget covers
| Item | 2026 range Dubai (ex. 5% VAT) | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and site structure | 4,500 - 9,000 AED | Targets (government, family groups, multinationals), journeys |
| Bilingual design | 7,500 - 18,000 AED | Web identity, 6 to 10 templates, mobile, RTL if Arabic |
| Development + CMS | 14,000 - 30,000 AED | Fast pages, self-service publishing |
| Expertise pages and case studies | 6,500 - 17,000 AED | 6 expertise areas, 5 to 10 written case studies |
| White papers + lead capture + CRM | 4,500 - 10,000 AED | Forms, gated downloads, follow-up sequences |
| SEO and analytics | 3,000 - 6,000 AED | UAE and GCC keywords, dashboard |
| Total | 40,000 - 90,000 AED | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Maintenance and hosting | 800 - 2,000 AED / month | Backups, security, small changes |
For reference, the same scope for a consultancy in Abidjan costs 2.5 to 6 million FCFA (about 3,800 to 9,150 EUR).
Template, freelancer or agency: the comparison
| Criterion | Wix or WordPress template | Local freelancer | Specialised B2B agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront budget | 2,500 - 6,000 AED | 12,000 - 25,000 AED | 40,000 - 90,000 AED |
| Polished bilingual content | Rarely | Often machine-translated | Native writing and review |
| Structured case studies (context, engagement, results) | No | Partial | Yes, dedicated template |
| Gated white papers with lead capture | No | Basic | Yes, with CRM and follow-ups |
| Timeline | 1 - 2 weeks | 3 - 6 weeks | 6 - 8 weeks |
| Qualified leads targeted per month | 0 - 2 | 2 - 5 | 8 - 15 |
| Continuity after launch | None | Depends on one person | Maintenance contract |
A freelancer is a good fit for a 2 or 3 person boutique. At 15 consultants, the site must support bids for government entities and multinationals whose procurement teams check references online.
The pages that generate qualified enquiries
- Expertise pages: strategy, transformation, public sector, programme evaluation, with sectors covered in the UAE and the wider GCC.
- Case studies: client (anonymised if needed), context, engagement length, quantified results.
- White papers: 2 to 3 per year, downloaded in exchange for name, role and organisation; each download enters the CRM.
- Team page: partner profiles, credentials, landmark engagements, which selection panels review closely.
- WhatsApp button: a preferred first-contact channel for decision makers in the region.
Mini case study
Omar, founding partner of a 15-consultant strategy firm in Dubai's DIFC, invests 65,000 AED plus 1,200 AED a month for maintenance, so 79,400 AED in year one. The site produces 10 qualified enquiries a month, 120 a year; he conservatively attributes 3 signed engagements to it, at an average of 120,000 AED each. At a 35% margin, the contribution reaches 126,000 AED and the site pays back in about 7 to 8 months (2026 order of magnitude).
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FAQ
How much does a consultancy website cost in Dubai in 2026?
Budget 40,000 to 90,000 AED for a bilingual site with case studies and lead capture. A local freelancer charges 12,000 to 25,000 AED for a narrower scope.
How many qualified enquiries can we expect?
A realistic target is 8 to 15 a month after 4 to 6 months, with 1 white paper and 2 case studies published per quarter.
Do we need Arabic?
For government and semi-government clients, an Arabic version strengthens credibility. It adds 25 to 35% to the content budget plus RTL layout work.
What timeline should we plan for?
6 to 8 weeks, including 2 weeks of content gathering on the firm's side. Case studies are usually the item that delays the project.
Can we pay in instalments?
Yes, the usual schedule is 40% on signature, 40% on design approval and 20% at launch, by bank transfer or card.
Let's scope your project. Send us your expertise areas, available case studies and target clients, and we will price a site between 40,000 and 90,000 AED deliverable in 6 to 8 weeks. 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.
