The verdict in three sentences
A private school group in Dubai with 3 campuses and 2,400 students should budget AED 90,000 to 180,000 in total for a bilingual website and an online admissions module with document upload, waiting list and fee payment. With 1,100 applications a year, the module pays back within two intakes thanks to 3 weeks of data entry saved and far fewer incomplete files. The key constraints are KHDA requirements on fee transparency and inspection ratings, and the UAE personal data law for minors' information.
The budget in two lots
Splitting the website and the admissions module lets the group launch the site first and the module in time for the admissions season, which in Dubai opens around October for a September start.
| Lot | Scope | 2026 cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Design and bilingual core | 25 to 35 pages, EN/AR, Arabic RTL | 25,000 to 45,000 |
| Campus and curriculum pages | 3 campuses, FS1 to Year 13, galleries, maps | 8,000 to 15,000 |
| KHDA information pages | Approved fee schedule, inspection rating, policies | 4,000 to 8,000 |
| News and events | School life, parent notifications | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Tour booking | Slots per campus, SMS and WhatsApp reminders | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Website total | 47,000 to 88,000 |
The admissions module is the second lot. It turns the website into an operational tool.
| Module feature | Detail | 2026 cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Application form | By year group and campus, conditional fields | 8,000 to 16,000 |
| Document upload | Reports, passport, Emirates ID, completeness check | 7,000 to 14,000 |
| Admissions dashboard | Statuses, assessments, offers, SIS export | 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Waiting list | Ranking by available seat and sibling priority | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Fee payment | Registration fee and seat deposit by card | 7,000 to 14,000 |
| Data protection | Parental consent, retention, UAE hosting | 6,000 to 13,000 |
| Module total | 43,000 to 92,000 |
What the module changes at intake
The gain is measured in admissions staff hours and lost files. Here is a realistic comparison for 1,100 applications.
| Indicator | Paper or e-mail | Online admissions |
|---|---|---|
| Entry time per file | 25 to 30 min | 5 min (review) |
| Incomplete files at first submission | 35 to 40% | 8 to 12% |
| Response time to families | 2 to 3 weeks | 3 to 5 days |
| Registration fees collected upfront | 50 to 60% | 90% and above |
| Total entry workload per intake | 4 weeks for 3 people | 1 week for 3 people |
The waiting list is often the most visible gain for leadership: when a Year 4 seat opens on one campus, the system offers it to the next family instead of someone sorting through spreadsheets.
Mini case study
Rania, admissions director of a 3-campus school group in Dubai, ties up 3 staff for 4 weeks every intake, about 480 hours. With online admissions, entry drops to one week, saving 360 hours valued at AED 90 an hour fully loaded: AED 32,400 a year. Add a AED 525 registration fee collected upfront on 30% more files, or 330 files and AED 173,250 of earlier cash, plus fewer families dropping out. She picks a AED 70,000 website and a AED 75,000 module. The AED 145,000 budget pays back in 2 to 3 intakes once 10 to 15 recovered enrolments from faster responses are counted.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Must the website show KHDA-approved fees?
Dubai schools are expected to publish their approved fee schedule and inspection rating clearly. Plan AED 4,000 to 8,000 for dedicated pages that admissions can update every year without a developer.
Can the module connect to our SIS?
Most SIS platforms used in Dubai offer an API or a CSV import. Budget AED 6,000 to 15,000 for the integration, which avoids re-entering every accepted student.
How is minors' data protected?
The UAE personal data law requires consent, purpose limitation and security. Expect AED 6,000 to 13,000 for consent flows, retention rules and UAE-region hosting.
Can registration fees be paid online?
Yes, by card through a UAE payment gateway, with fees of roughly 2 to 3% per transaction. Bank transfer stays available in parallel.
What timeline to be ready for the admissions season?
Start in June: 8 weeks for the website and 8 to 10 weeks for the module, with a pilot on one campus in September.
Let's scope your project. Share your campuses, year groups and application volume, and we will send an indicative AED budget splitting the website and the admissions module, with a schedule matched to your intake. 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.
