The verdict in three sentences
For a private school group of 2,400 students, the admissions season packs hundreds of calls, tours and paper files into a few weeks; an online admissions journey absorbs that load and gives families a modern first impression. A realistic 2026 budget in Dubai is 90,000 to 170,000 AED, of which 22,000 to 45,000 AED covers the admissions module with registration fee payment. The project takes 10 to 14 weeks and should start at least 3 months before admissions open.
What families and leadership expect from the site
The CEO of a 3-campus group (Al Barsha, Mirdif, Dubai Silicon Oasis), from FS1 to Year 13, receives about 1,200 enquiries a year for 450 available places. Families compare the curriculum, exam results, KHDA inspection rating, tuition fees, transport and catering. They also want to know quickly whether there is a seat in the year group they need.
The site must therefore present each campus, each phase and the bilingual programme, publish the key admissions dates and offer online applications. English, French and Arabic with RTL display are expected by a large share of families and by the regulator for parent communication.
| Module | Content | 2026 budget (AED excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trilingual core EN, FR, AR (RTL) | 35 to 50 pages per language, CMS | 42,000 to 75,000 AED | 6 to 8 weeks |
| 5-step admissions journey | Form, documents, application tracking | 15,000 to 28,000 AED | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Registration fee payment | Card gateway, automatic receipt | 7,000 to 17,000 AED | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Assessment and tour booking | Slots per campus and year group | 8,000 to 15,000 AED | 1 to 2 weeks |
| News and school life | Galleries, events, calendar | 5,000 to 12,000 AED | 1 week |
| Arabic translation and proofreading | Institutional content | 5,000 to 10,000 AED | 2 weeks in parallel |
| Total | Full site | 90,000 to 170,000 AED | 10 to 14 weeks |
The 5-step admissions journey
The most common journey has five steps: create a family account and choose campus and year group; enter student and guardian details; upload documents (last two years of reports, passport and Emirates ID copies, photo, transfer certificate); pay the registration fee online (typically 500 to 1,000 AED, in line with KHDA rules on application fees); book the entrance assessment and interview slot. The family then tracks the application status and receives the decision by email and SMS.
On the school side, the admissions team gets a dashboard per campus and year group, with export to the existing school management system.
| Metric | Paper campaign | Online campaign (year 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Share of applications submitted online | 0% | About 40% |
| Average processing time per file | 10 to 15 days | 4 to 7 days |
| Inbound calls during the campaign | 2,500 to 3,500 | 1,500 to 2,200 |
| Incomplete files | 30 to 40% | 10 to 15% |
| Registration fees collected on time | 70 to 80% | 95% and above |
| Administrative data entry hours | 600 to 800 h | 250 to 350 h |
These metrics are 2026 orders of magnitude seen at private schools of comparable size.
Hosting, data and compliance
Applications contain personal data about minors: the UAE Personal Data Protection Law and KHDA requirements on admissions transparency apply, with explicit consent and a defined retention period. Plan secure, scalable hosting at 1,000 to 2,400 AED a month, with daily backups and extra capacity during the admissions peak.
Mini case study
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Karim, CEO of a private school group in Dubai, invests 130,000 AED in the site and 1,700 AED a month in hosting. In the first campaign, 40% of 1,100 applications are submitted online. The admissions team saves about 380 hours of data entry, the equivalent of 2 temporary staff at 7,000 AED a month for 3 months (42,000 AED). With 5 extra enrolments credited to faster response, at 45,000 AED of annual tuition, the school adds 225,000 AED of revenue. The site essentially pays for itself in the first year.
FAQ
How much does a private school group website cost in Dubai in 2026?
From 90,000 to 170,000 AED excl. VAT for a trilingual site with an admissions journey, fee payment and booking. A bilingual brochure site without admissions starts around 35,000 AED.
Can we collect registration fees online in the UAE?
Yes, through a local card gateway with automatic receipts. Integration costs 7,000 to 17,000 AED depending on the number of campuses and merchant accounts.
Does Arabic RTL complicate the project?
It adds about 15 to 20% to design and build, plus translation. It is a clear advantage for Arabic-speaking families and for institutional communication.
How early should we start before admissions open?
10 to 14 weeks of build, then 2 weeks of testing with the admissions team. For a campaign opening in October, start no later than June.
Can the site connect to our school management system?
Yes, through CSV export or API if the system allows it. An API connection is quoted separately, usually 10,000 to 22,000 AED.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of campuses, students and the date your admissions open, and we will price the trilingual site and online journey between 90,000 and 170,000 AED, delivered in 10 to 14 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.
