The verdict in three sentences
A credible trilingual FR/EN/AR showcase site aimed at exporters costs between AED 25,000 and AED 60,000 in Dubai in 2026, over 6 to 10 weeks. The real cost is not translation but the RTL switch for Arabic, the choice of a readable Arabic web font and clean per-language SEO (hreflang, culturally adapted rather than word-for-word content). A hastily translated site loses credibility with Gulf buyers as much as in Arabic search results.
What does a trilingual site cost in Dubai in 2026?
Budget depends on page count, translation depth and the level of RTL adaptation. Here are the three typical formats for an exporter.
| Package | Pages | Languages | 2026 price (AED) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential showcase | 6-8 | FR + EN | 16,000-25,000 | 4,400-6,800 |
| Export trilingual | 10-14 | FR/EN/AR | 25,000-42,000 | 6,800-11,400 |
| Premium + blog | 15-20 | FR/EN/AR | 42,000-60,000 | 11,400-16,300 |
| Pro AR translation (option) | — | AR | AED 0.55/word | USD 0.15/word |
| RTL adaptation (option) | — | — | 5,500-9,500 | 1,500-2,600 |
| Licensed Arabic font | — | — | 2,500-6,000/yr | 680-1,600/yr |
RTL, typography and SEO: the three technical traps
Arabic reads right to left: the entire interface mirrors. Arabic web typography requires dedicated fonts (Latin fonts do not cover the Arabic script). And each language needs its own hreflang markup to avoid SEO cannibalization.
| Concern | Bad practice | 2026 good practice |
|---|---|---|
| Reading direction | Forcing LTR in Arabic | Native bidirectional layout (dir=rtl) |
| Arabic font | Default system font | Optimized Arabic web font (Noto, IBM Plex Arabic) |
| Translation | Literal word-for-word | Cultural adaptation per market |
| Multilingual SEO | Single indexed version | hreflang FR/EN/AR + separate sitemaps |
| Numbers and dates | Single format | Localized per language |
| Forms | Frozen LTR fields | Mirrored fields + per-language validation |
Adapted content (not word-for-word translated) truly speaks to the Gulf market: arguments, references and examples change with the business culture, even if the structure stays common.
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Mini case study
Sami, a trading firm director in Dubai, targets Europe (FR/EN) and the Gulf (AR). He picks the export trilingual package at AED 34,000, plus AED 7,500 for RTL and AED 8,500 for pro AR translation: total AED 50,000 (about USD 13,600). Before, Gulf prospects found no Arabic page and left. After launch, his qualified inquiries from the region rise from 3 to 11 per month: the site pays back on the second export order.
FAQ
Must everything be translated into Arabic? No, but key commercial pages (home, products, contact) must be in native, adapted Arabic. A blog can stay FR/EN at launch and expand later.
Is the Arabic font really a separate line item? Yes. A quality, readable, licensed Arabic web font costs AED 2,500-6,000/year. Using a system font produces an amateur look that undermines the brand.
How long for a trilingual build in Dubai? 6 to 10 weeks: 4-5 for the FR/EN base, 2-3 for AR integration and RTL, 1-2 for QA and native Arabic review.
How do we avoid SEO issues between languages? With correct hreflang tags, distinct URLs per language and separate sitemaps. That is what stops search engines from confusing or cannibalizing your versions.
Can we add Arabic later? Yes if the architecture is bidirectional from the start. Otherwise, adding RTL to a frozen LTR site can cost 2 to 3× more than planning for it.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target markets, page volume and deadline, and we'll price the base, AR translation and RTL separately. 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.
