The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai consulting firm bidding on regional mandates, a trilingual English, Arabic and French website costs between AED 40,000 and 120,000 (about USD 10,900 to 32,700) and ships in 8 to 12 weeks. Arabic written right to left (RTL) adds 25 to 40 % to development cost, because every template must be mirrored and tested. That premium pays off as soon as the firm targets government entities, GCC family groups or francophone African clients.
What a trilingual site costs by scope
Quotes received by Dubai consulting firms vary widely depending on how Arabic is handled. Pasting a translation into a Latin-script theme produces misaligned menus, reversed figures and a weak impression on Arabic-speaking decision makers.
| Option | Pages per language | Budget | Timeline | Arabic handling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingual EN/AR basic | 10 to 15 | AED 30,000 to 42,000 | 6 weeks | Basic RTL |
| Trilingual entry | 10 to 12 | AED 40,000 to 55,000 | 8 weeks | Basic RTL, standard fonts |
| Trilingual standard | 15 to 25 | AED 60,000 to 85,000 | 10 weeks | Full RTL, dedicated Arabic typography |
| Trilingual premium | 25 to 40 | AED 85,000 to 120,000 | 12 weeks | Full RTL, case studies and publications |
| PDF publications library | unlimited | +AED 8,000 to 14,000 | +2 weeks | Multilingual search |
| Monthly maintenance | all | AED 1,000 to 2,800 | ongoing | Updates in all 3 languages |
Hidden costs: translation, RTL and compliance
Development is only part of the bill. A consulting firm site often holds 12,000 to 25,000 words per language, with practice pages, credentials and insight articles.
| Item | 2026 rate | Typical volume | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN to AR translation | AED 0.35 to 0.50 per word | 15,000 words | AED 5,250 to 7,500 |
| EN to FR translation | AED 0.30 to 0.45 per word | 15,000 words | AED 4,500 to 6,750 |
| Review by an Arabic-speaking consultant | flat fee | 2 to 3 days | AED 3,000 to 5,000 |
| RTL template adaptation | +25 to 40 % of development | 8 to 12 templates | AED 10,000 to 30,000 |
| PDPL privacy notices and consent | flat fee | forms and cookies | AED 2,500 to 5,000 |
| UAE or EU hosting | per year | regional CDN | AED 3,000 to 8,000 |
The UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) governs forms and recruitment data on mainland firms, while DIFC and ADGM entities follow their own data protection regimes. Confirm which regime applies before choosing hosting and drafting privacy notices.
What RTL actually changes
In Arabic, menus, navigation arrows, carousels, tables and directional icons are mirrored. Numbers usually stay in Western digits, but dates and amounts must be proofread. Clean development uses CSS logical properties and a direction attribute per language, which avoids maintaining two stylesheets. Plan a screen-legible Arabic font such as Noto Kufi or IBM Plex Arabic, and test on mobile, where 65 to 75 % of visits happen.
Mini case study
Omar, managing partner of an 18-consultant strategy firm in Dubai, bids on 25 tenders a year across the GCC and francophone Africa. His English-only site often fails pre-qualification. He invests AED 78,000 in a standard trilingual site, plus AED 16,000 for translation and review, AED 94,000 in total (about USD 25,600). His average engagement is worth AED 300,000. Winning a single additional engagement per year thanks to credible Arabic and French presence returns more than 3 times the investment in year one.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
What does a trilingual EN/AR/FR website cost in Dubai in 2026?
Between AED 40,000 and 120,000 depending on pages and RTL quality. Add AED 10,000 to 15,000 of translation for 15,000 words per language.
Why does Arabic cost more?
Each template must be mirrored, tested and tuned to Arabic typography, which means 25 to 40 % more development. Professional Arabic translation also sits at the top of the per-word range.
Which data protection law applies?
Mainland firms follow the federal PDPL, while DIFC and ADGM companies follow their free zone rules. Compliant notices and consent flows cost AED 2,500 to 5,000.
What timeline should we plan?
From 8 to 12 weeks, of which 2 to 3 weeks go to translation and review. Start translation as soon as the sitemap is approved to save 2 weeks.
Can we launch bilingual and add French later?
Yes, if the architecture is multilingual and RTL-ready from day one. Retrofitting a third language onto an unprepared site often costs 40 to 60 % of the original price.
Let's scope your project. We price your trilingual site based on pages, translation volume and data protection regime, with an indicative budget of AED 40,000 to 120,000 and an 8 to 12 week 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.
