How much for a website?" is the first question almost every client asks me, and the honest answer is: it depends. That's frustrating to hear, so this guide gives you real numbers. Below you'll find what websites typically cost in Dubai in 2026, what actually changes the price, the costs people forget to budget for, and how to get a quote you can trust. I'm a freelance web designer in Dubai, and these are the same things I walk clients through on our first call. The short answer: most small business websites in Dubai cost between AED 8,000 and AED 15,000. A simple landing page can start around AED 3,000, while e-commerce stores and corporate sites usually run from AED 15,000 into the tens of thousands.
What you're actually paying for
A website price isn't just "design". When you pay for a professional site, the budget usually covers: • Planning: working out the pages, the content on each one and how visitors move to the contact form. • Design: the look and layout of every page, on desktop and mobile, usually in Figma. • Development: turning the design into a working site on WordPress, Shopify or custom code. • Content setup: adding your text, images, products and forms. • SEO basics: page titles, meta descriptions, headings, a sitemap and fast loading, so Google can find you. • Testing and launch: checking every page on real phones and browsers, then going liv
If a quote looks very cheap, one or more of these is usually missing. You can see how these pieces come together in my web design projects..
Website costs in Dubai by type
Landing page (AED 3,000 – 7,000). One focused page built to do one job: collect leads for a campaign, promote a launch or sell a single service. It's the fastest and cheapest option, but it isn't a full company website. Small business website (AED 8,000 – 15,000). This is what most Dubai SMEs need: a home page, about, services, a few service or project pages, and contact. A well-built site at this level is fast, works on phones and is easy for you to update yourself. It's where most of my own website design projects sit. Corporate website (AED 15,000 – 50,000). More pages, more stakeholders and usually more features: multiple service lines, team pages, news, careers, downloads and sometimes Arabic and English. The extra cost is mostly planning, content and approvals, not just design. E-commerce store (AED 15,000 – 80,000+). Online stores cost more because there's more to get right: product pages, filters, cart, checkout, payment gateways, delivery options and order emails. A small WooCommerce or Shopify store sits at the lower end. A large catalogue with custom features, integrations or multiple languages sits at the top. Custom web app (AED 50,000+). Booking systems, customer portals, marketplaces and dashboards are software projects, not just websites. They need custom development, testing and ongoing support, and they're priced accordingly.
What pushes the price up (or down)
Two websites with the same number of pages can have very different prices. These are the factors that move the number most: 1. Custom design vs a template. A template is cheaper and faster. A custom design fits your brand and your customers, and usually converts better. 2. Number of unique page layouts. Ten pages that share two layouts cost far less than ten pages that are all different. 3. Features. Booking, property listings, filters, member logins, calculators and CRM integrations all add development time. 4. Two languages. An Arabic and English site isn't just translation. Right-to-left layouts need design and testing too. 5. Content. If you need copywriting, photography or product uploads done for you, budget for it. 6. E-commerce scale. Twenty products and two thousand products are very different projects. 7. Deadline. A rushed launch means more hours in less time, which usually costs more.
Costs people forget to budget for
The build is a one-off cost, but a website has running costs too. Make sure your budget covers: • Domain name: renewed every year. • Hosting: cheap shared hosting is slow; good hosting is one of the best investments for speed and security. • Business email: if you want addresses at your own domain. • Maintenance: updates, security patches, backups and small changes. • Payment gateway fees: for online stores, gateways usually charge per transaction, and some local providers add setup or monthly fees. • Premium plugins or apps: some WordPress plugins and Shopify apps are paid yearly. • Marketing: a website doesn't bring visitors on its own. SEO, Google Ads or social media need their own budget. Ask any designer you speak to which of these are included in their quote and which you'll pay separately.
Freelancer, agency or DIY builder?
DIY builders like Wix or Squarespace are the cheapest way to get online. They work for a simple personal site, but you do all the design, writing and SEO yourself, and you can outgrow them quickly. Agencies give you a full team: project manager, designer, developer and often a copywriter. That suits large corporate projects, but you pay for that structure, and you usually speak to an account manager rather than the people building your site. Freelancers usually cost less than agencies because there's no overhead. With an experienced freelancer, you talk directly to the person designing and building your site, so decisions are faster and nothing gets lost between teams. The trade-off is capacity: a freelancer can take on fewer projects at once, so book early. For most small and mid-sized Dubai businesses, an experienced freelancer is the best balance of quality, cost and speed.
How to get an accurate website quote
The more a designer knows, the more accurate the quote. Before you ask for prices, prepare: 1. What your business does and who your customers are. 2. The pages you think you need, even as a rough list. 3. Must-have features: booking, listings, a shop, two languages, CRM forms. 4. Two or three websites you like, and what you like about them. 5. Who will provide the content: text, photos and products. 6. Your timeline and budget range. Sharing a budget isn't a weakness; it helps a designer suggest what's realistic. Then compare quotes on what's included, not just the final number. A cheaper quote that skips mobile design, SEO setup or training will cost you more later.
Red flags in a website quote
• No written scope listing the pages and features. • No mention of mobile design or SEO basics. • You won't own the website, domain or hosting account. • Unlimited revisions promised for a very low price. • No support or handover after launch. • No portfolio of real, live websites.
FAQ and call to action
Frequently asked questions What is the cheapest way to get a website in Dubai? A DIY builder or a single landing page is the cheapest way to get online. For a business that wants to be found on Google and win enquiries, a small professionally built website usually pays for itself faster. Is WordPress cheaper than a custom website? Usually, yes. WordPress is quicker to build and easy for your team to update, which suits most business sites. A custom build costs more and makes sense when you need unusual features or maximum speed. How long does it take to build a website in Dubai? A landing page takes one to two weeks. A small business website usually takes three to six weeks, and e-commerce or corporate projects take longer, mostly because of content and approvals. Do I need to pay for the website every month? The design and build is usually a one-off payment. Hosting, domain renewal and maintenance are ongoing, and you can pay them yearly or monthly depending on the provider. Should I share my budget with a web designer? Yes. A budget range helps a designer recommend what you can realistically get, instead of quoting a site you can't afford or underselling what you need.