The verdict in three sentences
In Dubai, a wealth management or family office website from a local agency typically costs a 2026 ballpark of 8 000 to 40 000+ USD, with Arabic, custom design and investor-facing content pushing quotes to the top of the range. Freelancers in the UAE often quote 2 500 to 10 000 USD, but discretion, copy quality and continuity are harder to guarantee. Kolonell delivers a comparable site for 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, in 3 to 4 weeks with 3 months of support, and has already shipped a trilingual FR/EN/AR investment site for a Dubai firm.
Dubai agency, UAE freelancer or Kolonell: side by side
These ranges are 2026 ballpark figures drawn from public rate cards of UAE digital agencies (often quoted in AED, converted here to USD), Clutch.co agency profiles listing minimum project sizes, and freelance rates on Upwork. They vary with scope: a single family office with a five-page presence and a multi-family office with research, team and onboarding content do not buy the same thing.
| Criterion | Dubai agency | UAE freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discreet firm site, 6 to 15 pages | 8 000 to 40 000+ USD | 2 500 to 10 000 USD | 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 USD |
| Timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks (Premium: usually 4 to 6) |
| Copywriting | Often a separate line | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Arabic version | Usually extra | Depends | Scoped in the quote |
| Support after launch | Monthly retainer | Ad hoc | 3 months included |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
| Payment | Varies | Varies | Bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery |
A Dubai agency offers meetings in DIFC or Business Bay and a close reading of local codes. If in-person workshops matter most to your principals, that has value. If you want a sharp, discreet, well-written site on a fixed budget, compare line by line on our international website offer.
What does Kolonell already know about Dubai investment audiences?
Kolonell built for Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), an off-plan real-estate advisory in Dubai, a trilingual FR/EN/AR site with project pages, investor guides and WhatsApp enquiries. That work covered the practical points a wealth firm also faces in Dubai: right-to-left Arabic layout, investor-grade explanations, and an enquiry path that suits clients who prefer messaging to forms.
| Tier | Price | Indicative scope for a wealth firm or family office |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 2 900 USD | Home, philosophy, grouped services, team, discreet contact |
| Growth | 4 900 USD | One page per service (investment, structuring, succession, philanthropy), bios, insights, analytics |
| Premium | 8 900 USD | Bilingual FR/EN, custom design, richer content architecture, written schedule at kickoff |
| Arabic or third language | Quoted on request | RTL layout and translated content |
| Client portal or document room | Quoted on request | Secure login, reporting, document exchange |
| Maintenance after 3 months | Quoted on request | Updates, backups, improvements |
What a Dubai wealth or family office site needs
- Discretion first: no client names, no performance claims, a short contact form, and careful choice of imagery. Many families in Dubai find you through a referral and simply want reassurance.
- Languages of the city: English is the working language; Arabic signals local commitment; French, Russian and Hindi speaking families are common among Dubai's international clientele. Kolonell writes native English or French and can scope Arabic in the quote.
- Regulatory framing: the UAE federal data protection law (PDPL) applies onshore, while DIFC and ADGM have their own data protection regimes. Depending on where you are licensed, the relevant regulator's rules on financial promotions may apply to what you publish. This is not legal advice: your compliance team validates the texts.
- Speed on mobile: many principals check you on a phone between meetings, so a light, fast site matters more than heavy animation.
How to read a Dubai quote
| Check | Red flag |
|---|---|
| List of pages and services | Price "from" with no scope |
| Who writes the copy | "Client supplies content" |
| Arabic handling | Machine translation without review |
| Domain and hosting owner | Registered by the agency |
| Maintenance cost | No written figure |
| Data handling on forms | No answer on storage and consent |
Send the same brief to every provider. You can request a free Kolonell quote as your baseline.
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Illustrative example, not a real client. Karim is COO of a multi-family office in DIFC. A Dubai agency quotes 24 000 USD for a bilingual English/French site with custom design. He compares it with Kolonell Premium at 8 900 USD, leaving the Arabic version to be scoped separately in both cases. Working hypothesis: 300 USD per month of maintenance on both sides (Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is quoted).
- Dubai agency over 3 years: 24 000 + 36 x 300 = 34 800 USD.
- Kolonell Premium over 3 years: 8 900 + 33 x 300 = 18 800 USD.
- Difference: 16 000 USD, about 46 % less, enough to fund the Arabic version and a client portal study.
FAQ
Can you build the Arabic version?
Yes, Kolonell has delivered a trilingual FR/EN/AR site in Dubai for Orven Properties. The Arabic version is scoped in the quote, on top of the 8 900 USD Premium tier if needed.
How do time zones work with Dubai?
The team is based in Senegal (GMT), 4 hours behind Dubai. Calls run on Google Meet at a time that suits you, with a written weekly update.
How long does it take?
3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. Premium usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, with a written schedule at kickoff.
Can enquiries come through WhatsApp?
Yes, a WhatsApp enquiry button is common in Dubai and was part of the Orven Properties site. It sits alongside a discreet form on a 4 900 USD Growth site.
How is payment handled?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start and 50 % at delivery. On a Premium project, that is 4 450 USD at kickoff.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your services, languages and licence context, and we will propose a tier from 2 900 USD, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
