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If you’ve asked three web agencies in Dubai for a quote, you’ve probably gotten three very different numbers — and no clear reason why. “It depends” is technically true, but it’s not helpful when you’re trying to budget for a website this quarter.
So let’s actually break it down: what drives the cost of a website in Dubai, what you should expect to pay at each tier, and which “hidden” costs catch business owners off guard.
What Actually Drives the Price
Every quote comes down to five variables:
- Number of pages and complexity — a 5-page brochure site is a different job from a 40-page catalogue site.
- CMS vs custom build — WordPress or Shopify templates cost far less than a fully custom-coded site.
- E-commerce functionality — payment gateways, inventory, shipping logic all add development time.
- Integrations — CRM, booking systems, WhatsApp, ERP connections push the scope up.
- Design level — a templated design versus a custom brand-led design (motion, illustration, photography) changes both cost and timeline.
Agencies that quote without asking about these five things are usually guessing — and you’ll find out the real number later, mid-project.
Price Bands in Dubai (2026)
These are realistic ranges for the UAE market, not global averages:
Starter brochure site (5–10 pages)
A clean, mobile-responsive site for a small business — think a clinic, salon, or consultancy. Built on WordPress or a similar CMS with a light custom design pass.
SME business site (10–20 pages)
More content, service pages, team pages, maybe a blog and lead-capture forms. Often includes some custom design work and basic SEO setup.
E-commerce store
Shopify or WooCommerce builds with UAE payment gateway integration (Telr, PayTabs, Network International), product catalogue setup, and shipping/tax configuration for VAT.
Custom web application
Anything with user accounts, dashboards, booking engines, or logic beyond a standard content site — closer to software development than web design, priced accordingly.
The honest answer to “how much” is: get a scoped quote based on your actual page count and features, not a number from a Google search.
Hidden Costs Businesses Forget
- Domain and hosting — a .ae domain plus VPS or dedicated hosting is an ongoing cost, not a one-time fee.
- VAT — make sure your quote clearly states whether the number includes UAE VAT.
- Maintenance and updates — plugin updates, security patches, and content changes after launch are usually a separate retainer.
- Content and copywriting — many quotes assume you’re supplying the text; if you need it written, that’s an add-on.
- Stock imagery or photography — templated stock photos are usually included; custom photography isn’t.
Freelancer vs Agency vs DIY Builder
- DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace) are cheapest up front but limit you on SEO control, custom functionality, and scalability — fine for a very early-stage business, restrictive once you’re growing.
- Freelancers can be cost-effective for simple sites but carry risk on long-term support, especially if they move on to other projects.
- Agencies cost more but bring a team (design, dev, QA, SEO) and ongoing accountability — usually the better call once a website is core to how you get customers, not just a digital business card.
Getting an Accurate Quote
The fastest way to get a number you can actually plan around is to walk through your requirements with a developer directly, rather than working off a published price list that can’t account for your specific pages, integrations, and design needs.
If you want a straight, itemized quote for your Dubai project — no guessing, no vague “starting from” pricing — [get a free quote from DeLemon Studio](https://delemonstudio.com/get-quote/) and we’ll scope it properly before you commit to anything.
