The verdict in three sentences
For an industrial group in Dubai (packaging and textiles, about 1,400 staff across the GCC) targeting Gulf, European and African buyers, a trilingual English, Arabic and French corporate website costs 60,000 to 180,000 AED excluding VAT in 2026, before translation. Two lines are always underestimated: translation (0.10 to 0.18 EUR per word, thousands of dirhams for 36,000 words) and RTL templates for Arabic, which add 15 to 25 % to build time. Plan 10 to 14 weeks and rigorous hreflang tagging across the three languages, otherwise Google mixes versions in search results.
The development budget in AED
The typical scope covers 25 to 35 pages per language: group profile, subsidiaries, business lines (flexible packaging, corrugated board, garments), certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BRCGS Packaging), sustainability, careers and buyer contact. In the UAE, Arabic and English parity matters: government-related buyers and many free zone partners expect Arabic content of the same quality as English, not a shortened version.
| Item (2026 order of magnitude, UAE) | Range excl. VAT | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, trilingual sitemap | 8,000 to 15,000 AED | URL choice per language, role of each version |
| LTR and RTL template design | 12,000 to 30,000 AED | Mirroring, Arabic typography |
| Build and multilingual CMS | 28,000 to 80,000 AED | Translation workflow in the back office |
| RTL extra (15 to 25 % of build) | 4,000 to 20,000 AED | Menus, carousels, forms, tables |
| International SEO and hreflang | 4,000 to 10,000 AED | en, ar, fr, x-default, sitemaps per language |
| Testing across 3 languages | 3,000 to 10,000 AED | Mobile, screen readers, forms |
| Training and launch | 1,000 to 5,000 AED | Communications and HR teams |
| Product catalogue and data sheets | 0 to 10,000 AED | Useful for custom packaging |
| Total development | 60,000 to 180,000 AED | Excluding translation, photos and 5 % VAT |
RTL is not just right-aligned text. Navigation, directional icons and column order must be flipped, while numbers, product codes and units stay left to right. A screen-friendly Arabic font (IBM Plex Sans Arabic, Noto Kufi Arabic or similar) and more generous line height prevent a cramped look. Contact forms must also comply with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021).
Translation, a separate budget line
For 18,000 words of English source content translated into Arabic and French, the volume reaches 36,000 words. AED amounts use an order of magnitude of 4.2 AED per 1 EUR.
| Option | Price per word | Cost for 36,000 words | AED equivalent | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine translation + post-editing | 0.05 to 0.08 EUR | about 2,160 EUR | about 9,100 AED | Careers, news |
| Freelance translator | 0.10 to 0.13 EUR | about 4,140 EUR | about 17,400 AED | Corporate content |
| Specialised technical agency | 0.14 to 0.18 EUR | about 5,760 EUR | about 24,200 AED | Data sheets, certifications |
| Transcreation of key pages (6,000 words) | 0.20 to 0.30 EUR | about 1,500 EUR | about 6,300 AED | Home, export offer, sustainability |
The right compromise is usually a mix: transcreation for the home and buyer-facing pages, a specialised translator for data sheets, post-editing for news. Have the Arabic reviewed by an in-house speaker who knows industrial vocabulary, since a badly rendered technical term costs credibility with a Gulf procurement team.
10 to 14 week schedule
- Weeks 1 to 2: scoping, sitemap, writing English source content.
- Weeks 3 to 5: LTR designs then RTL versions, translations launched in parallel.
- Weeks 6 to 10: build, import of translated content, hreflang and sitemaps.
- Weeks 11 to 14: trilingual testing, fixes, training and launch.
Mini case study
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Omar, COO of a packaging and textile group headquartered in Dubai (illustrative example), chooses a 120,000 AED build and specialised agency translation at about 24,200 AED, 144,200 AED in total. If the site helps sign a single GCC distribution contract worth 2,000,000 AED in annual revenue at a 15 % margin, the margin generated reaches 300,000 AED, about 2.1 times the investment in year one. This remains an assumption: the website supports the sales effort, it does not replace it.
FAQ
How much does a trilingual Arabic, English and French website cost in Dubai in 2026?
Expect 60,000 to 180,000 AED excluding VAT for development, depending on page count and catalogue. Translation comes on top, roughly 9,000 to 25,000 AED for 36,000 words.
Why does RTL cost more?
Because every template must be mirrored and tested in Arabic. The extra cost is 15 to 25 % of build time, 4,000 to 20,000 AED on a typical project.
How do I set up hreflang across three languages?
Each page declares its en, ar and fr versions plus an x-default, with reciprocal links. Errors on 10 % of pages are enough for the wrong language to appear in Google.
Do all pages need an Arabic version?
In the UAE, aim for full parity on group, business, certification and contact pages, often 60 % of the volume at launch. News and careers can follow in phase 2.
What lead time should I plan?
Ten to 14 weeks if source content is ready by week 2. Late translation is the first cause of delay.
Let's scope your project. Send us your sitemap, content volume and target markets: we will price development in AED, translation and the schedule. 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.
