“How much will a website cost?” is the first question almost every business owner in Dubai asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on what the website needs to do. A one-page site for a new trading company and an online store with hundreds of products are completely different projects. This guide explains what drives the price, so you can compare quotes properly and avoid paying for things you do not need.
The 6 things that decide the price of a website
1. Type of website
The biggest factor is what kind of site you are building:
- Business / company website: 5 to 10 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact). Best for service companies, consultants and contractors.
- Landing page: a single page built for one campaign or product, usually paired with Google or Meta ads.
- E-commerce store: product catalogue, cart, payment gateway, delivery options and order management.
- Web application or portal: customer logins, bookings, dashboards or custom workflows. This is closer to custom software than a normal website.
2. Template or custom design
A good template can be adapted quickly and costs less. A custom design is planned around your brand and your customers, and usually converts better, but takes more design and development time. For most small businesses, a well-customised template is enough to start.
3. Number of pages and amount of content
Every page needs design, copy and images. Ask whether the quote includes writing the content, or whether you are expected to provide it. Content is often the item that delays projects the most.
4. Languages
Many businesses in the UAE need both English and Arabic. A bilingual site is not just translation: Arabic needs right-to-left layout, separate SEO settings and careful testing. Expect a bilingual build to cost noticeably more than an English-only one.
5. Features and integrations
WhatsApp chat, booking forms, payment gateways, CRM connections, live chat and multi-currency pricing each add development and testing time. List the features you truly need for launch and keep the rest for phase two.
6. Ongoing costs
The build is only part of the cost. Also budget for:
- Domain name (for example a .ae or .com domain), renewed yearly
- Hosting and SSL certificate
- Maintenance: updates, backups and security monitoring
- Marketing: SEO, social media or paid ads to actually bring visitors
How to compare website quotes in Dubai
Two quotes can look very different simply because they include different things. Before you decide, ask every agency the same questions:
- How many pages and design revisions are included?
- Is the website mobile-friendly and tested on real phones?
- Is basic SEO included (page titles, meta descriptions, sitemap, speed)?
- Who owns the website, domain and hosting account after launch?
- What does maintenance cost after the first month?
- Can I edit text and images myself?
A cheap quote that leaves out hosting, content or SEO often ends up costing more once you add the missing pieces.
Signs you are paying for the wrong things
- Paying for a complex custom build when a simple business site would bring the same enquiries.
- Paying for many pages that nobody visits, instead of a few strong service pages.
- A beautiful website with no plan to bring traffic to it.
Digi Crest website packages
- Starter, from AED 3,500: up to 5 pages, contact form and WhatsApp button, basic SEO, ready in about 2 weeks.
- Growth, from AED 7,500: up to 10 pages, custom design, conversion tracking and full on-page SEO, ready in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Online Store, from AED 12,000: up to 50 products with checkout, online payments and delivery options, ready in 4 to 6 weeks.
Prices exclude domain, hosting, paid plugins and VAT. See the full details on our website development page.
Every website we build is mobile-first, fast and set up with basic SEO, so it is ready to bring enquiries from day one. If you are not sure what type of site you need, tell us about your business and we will recommend the simplest option that fits your goals and budget.