The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai school group, the website does two jobs that parents judge in seconds: it shows official quality signals such as KHDA inspection ratings and it turns interest into admissions enquiries routed to the right campus. The 2026 market ballpark runs from 35,000 to 180,000 AED depending on the tier, plus 1,500 to 6,000 AED per month for maintenance. The middle tier, around 70,000 to 120,000 AED, is the sweet spot for most four campus groups that recruit both expatriate and Emirati families.
The pricing grid in three tiers
Ranges are 2026 market ballparks for a Dubai agency, excluding VAT, for a group of four schools.
| Tier | Pages | Exact scope | Build budget (AED excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 15 to 20 | Group home, 4 campus pages, curriculum overview, fees page, English only | 35,000 to 60,000 AED | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Standard | 25 to 35 | Essential plus Arabic version, KHDA rating and inspection report pages, admissions enquiry per campus, events calendar | 70,000 to 120,000 AED | 8 to 11 weeks |
| Premium | 35 to 50 | Standard plus online application with document upload, campus virtual tours, parent portal link, admissions dashboard | 125,000 to 180,000 AED | 11 to 15 weeks |
The jump from Standard to Premium is mostly about admissions operations: once you receive hundreds of enquiries before each academic year, a generic contact form becomes a bottleneck and a structured application flow pays for itself.
Add ons that move the invoice
| Add on | 2026 market ballpark | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions enquiry per campus | 8,000 to 25,000 AED | As soon as enquiries arrive by phone and WhatsApp without tracking |
| Arabic version with right to left layout | 12,000 to 35,000 AED | Almost always, to reach Emirati and Arab families |
| KHDA rating and inspection pages | 3,000 to 8,000 AED | Every Dubai private school; quote the rating exactly as published by KHDA |
| Campus photo and video shoot | 15,000 to 45,000 AED | If current visuals are older than 2 years |
| Virtual tour per campus | 6,000 to 18,000 AED per campus | For families relocating to Dubai |
| Fees calculator per grade | 5,000 to 15,000 AED | When fees vary by grade and sibling discounts apply |
Always link to the official KHDA report rather than paraphrasing it, and update the page as soon as a new inspection is published. Enquiry forms collect children's data, so have your legal adviser check your consent wording against the UAE federal personal data protection law.
Recurring costs to add
| Item | 2026 market ballpark | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting, domain and SSL | 2,000 to 7,000 AED | Per year |
| Maintenance and backups | 1,500 to 6,000 AED | Per month |
| Content updates (events, news) | 1,000 to 3,000 AED | Per month if outsourced |
| Admissions campaign setup | 5,000 to 15,000 AED | Per enrolment season |
Over three years, a Standard tier at 95,000 AED with 3,500 AED monthly maintenance comes to about 221,000 AED all in.
As a nearshore option, Kolonell's prices for a Growth site are 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA) for 8 to 12 pages with a blog, plus 110 EUR per extra language and 340 EUR for an open day booking module.
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Illustrative example, fictional persona: Fatima is group director of four schools in Dubai, from FS1 to Grade 12. She picks the Standard tier at 95,000 AED plus 3,500 AED monthly maintenance, 137,000 AED in year one. Assuming average annual fees of 45,000 AED per pupil, 8 extra enrolments driven by per campus enquiry forms and the events calendar bring 360,000 AED in first year fees, about 2.6 times the first year cost, and those pupils usually stay several years.
FAQ
How much does a school group website cost in Dubai in 2026?
The 2026 market ballpark is 35,000 to 180,000 AED excluding VAT depending on the tier. A bilingual site with KHDA pages and per campus enquiries usually lands between 70,000 and 120,000 AED.
Do we need an Arabic version?
In most cases yes, to reach Emirati and Arab families. Budget 12,000 to 35,000 AED for a properly designed right to left version including translation.
How should we show our KHDA rating?
Publish the rating exactly as it appears in the latest KHDA report and link to the official source. A dedicated page costs around 3,000 to 8,000 AED and must be updated after each inspection.
What should maintenance cost?
Between 1,500 and 6,000 AED per month depending on update frequency and support hours. Over three years maintenance often equals half of the build budget.
When should we start before the admissions season?
Allow 5 to 15 weeks depending on the tier, plus content validation. Starting 4 to 5 months before your enrolment peak leaves time for testing.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of campuses, languages and admissions calendar, and we will return a scope, an indicative budget and a timeline. 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.
