The verdict in three sentences
For a private school group in Dubai, the redesign must first serve online admissions: families compare 3 to 5 schools on mobile before booking a tour. The 2026 budget runs from 60,000 to 100,000 AED for an English and Arabic site with an admissions form and tour booking, and up to 150,000 AED with a parent portal. A realistic target is 20 % more admission applications for the next academic year, provided the site is live before the autumn admissions peak.
What parents are really looking for
A principal or group director running 3 campuses (FS, primary, secondary) fields the same questions again and again: fees, transport, curriculum (British, IB, American), KHDA rating, entrance assessments. A well-built site answers them before the call and turns the tour into a qualified appointment.
The blocks that lift conversion:
- one page per campus with map, timings, bus routes and recent photos;
- fees by year group, as published to KHDA;
- the latest KHDA inspection rating, clearly shown and linked;
- a 4-step admissions form that families can save and resume;
- tour or open day booking with SMS and WhatsApp reminders;
- exam results (IGCSE, A level, IB) and wellbeing programmes.
2026 price grid in Dubai
| Package | Scope | 2026 price (AED ex VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochure redesign | 15 pages, English and Arabic, 3 campuses | 40,000 to 55,000 | 5 weeks |
| Admissions | Brochure + admissions form and tour booking | 60,000 to 100,000 | 7 to 9 weeks |
| Trilingual | Admissions + French or Russian version | 85,000 to 120,000 | 9 weeks |
| Parent portal | Admissions + grades, attendance, payments, messaging | 120,000 to 150,000 | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Maintenance | Updates, security, backups | 2,000 to 5,000 per month | Ongoing |
| Admissions campaign | Local SEO and ads, September to March | 6,000 to 15,000 per month | 6 months |
These are 2026 estimates for the UAE market. For reference, a comparable redesign for a Tunis school group costs 18,000 to 55,000 TND. The Arabic version needs a true RTL layout, not a translation: menus, forms and tables must mirror cleanly, which accounts for about 25 % of development effort.
Admissions: custom form or existing platform
| Criterion | Custom form | Existing school MIS | Generic form tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 20,000 to 40,000 AED | Licence 10,000 to 30,000 AED per year | 0 to 2,000 AED |
| Data location | Your UAE hosting | Vendor cloud | Third party, often abroad |
| UAE PDPL compliance | Under control | Check contractually | Risky |
| Family follow-ups | Automated SMS and email | Varies | Manual |
| Parent portal integration | Native | Good with same vendor | None |
| Complete application rate | 70 % to 80 % | 60 % to 75 % | 40 % to 55 % |
Children's data is sensitive: the UAE Personal Data Protection Law and KHDA guidance require clear consent and security measures. A free form hosted abroad exposes the group to legal and reputational risk far larger than the money saved.
Mini case study
Mr Haddad runs a 3-campus group with 2,200 students in Dubai. He receives 900 applications a year and converts 45 %, or 405 new enrolments. Average fees are 55,000 AED a year.
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He picks the Admissions package at 85,000 AED plus 3,500 AED monthly maintenance. If applications grow 20 % (180 more) at the same conversion rate, he gains 81 extra enrolments. Even counting only 20 additional students given seat availability, extra revenue reaches 1,100,000 AED a year, against a first-year cost of 127,000 AED.
FAQ
How much does a private school group website redesign cost in Dubai in 2026?
Expect 60,000 to 100,000 AED for an English and Arabic site with admissions and tour booking. With a full parent portal, the budget rises to about 150,000 AED.
When should the new site go live?
Ideally by early September, before the autumn admissions peak. An Admissions project takes 7 to 9 weeks, so start in June at the latest.
Should fees be published?
KHDA-approved fees are public, and showing them by year group cuts first-level calls by about 30 %. Families who apply after seeing fees are better qualified.
Do we need the parent portal from day one?
No. Many groups start with admissions, then add the portal the following year for 40,000 to 60,000 AED, reusing the same foundation.
How do we protect student data?
Secure hosting, encryption, role-based access and clear consent under the UAE PDPL. These measures cost about 10 % of the budget and prevent much costlier legal exposure.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of campuses, languages and your admissions calendar: we will price an indicative budget between 60,000 and 150,000 AED with a plan aligned with 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.
