Dubai is home to some of the world's most competitive businesses—and they all need websites. The result? A web development market with prices ranging from surprisingly cheap to shockingly expensive, with quality varying just as wildly.
If you're searching for web development cost in Dubai or trying to understand website price in UAE, this guide will give you clarity. We'll break down real market prices, explain what drives costs, and reveal an alternative that many UAE businesses are discovering.
Why Trust This Guide: At Cinematic Web Works, we serve clients across the GCC including Dubai. We've competed against Dubai agencies, partnered with some, and heard countless stories from clients who've worked with others. This guide shares what we've learned about the real Dubai web development market.
Current Dubai Agency Prices (2026)
Let's start with the numbers. Here's what Dubai agencies actually charge:
| Website Type | Budget Range (AED) | Mid-Range (AED) | Premium (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Business Website (5-8 pages) | 3,000 - 8,000 | 8,000 - 18,000 | 18,000 - 40,000 |
| Corporate Website (10-20 pages) | 8,000 - 15,000 | 15,000 - 40,000 | 40,000 - 100,000+ |
| E-commerce (basic) | 10,000 - 20,000 | 20,000 - 50,000 | 50,000 - 150,000+ |
| Custom Web Application | 25,000 - 50,000 | 50,000 - 150,000 | 150,000 - 500,000+ |
These ranges are broad because the Dubai market is fragmented. You'll find:
- Freelancers and small agencies at the budget end (often outsourcing to South Asia)
- Established local agencies in the mid-range
- International agencies and premium boutiques at the high end
WHY SUCH HUGE VARIATION?
The same "5-page website" can cost AED 5,000 or AED 50,000. The difference isn't just profit margin—it's what you actually get:
Budget (AED 3,000-8,000)
- WordPress or Wix template with your branding
- Limited customization options
- Basic stock photography
- 1-2 weeks turnaround
- Minimal to no SEO optimization
- Often offshore development teams
Mid-Range (AED 15,000-40,000)
- Custom WordPress design (not off-the-shelf template)
- Professional discovery and planning phase
- Original design work
- Basic SEO setup
- 4-8 weeks development time
- Local team (usually)
Premium (AED 40,000+)
- Fully custom design and development
- Strategic brand positioning work
- Unique visual identity integration
- Advanced functionality and animations
- Comprehensive SEO strategy
- 8-16+ weeks development
- Ongoing support relationship
What Affects Website Cost in Dubai
1. AGENCY OVERHEADS
Dubai is expensive. Office space in Business Bay, DIFC, or Media City isn't cheap. Staff salaries in UAE are higher than most of the GCC. These costs get passed to clients. A Dubai agency might charge AED 40,000 for work that a Bahrain agency could deliver for AED 15,000—same quality, different overhead structure.
2. THE TALENT YOU GET
Many budget agencies use offshore developers and junior designers. Premium agencies have experienced in-house teams. You're paying for skill level, not just hours worked.
3. SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY
More pages, more features, more customization = more cost. This is legitimate. But some agencies inflate scope to justify higher prices. Be clear about what you actually need.
4. DESIGN APPROACH
Template customization costs less than custom design. Custom design costs less than custom design with original illustration, animation, and video integration. Know what level your brand needs.
5. TECHNOLOGY CHOICE
WordPress sites are faster to build than custom-coded sites. But custom-coded sites perform better, are more secure, and last longer. The right choice depends on your priorities and budget.
6. TIMELINE PRESSURE
Need it in 2 weeks instead of 8? Rush jobs cost more. Agencies have to prioritize your project and work overtime. Plan ahead if possible.
Price by Website Type
STARTUP / SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITE
A professional 5-10 page site for a new or small business:
- Dubai budget option: AED 5,000-10,000
- Dubai quality option: AED 15,000-30,000
- Via Bahrain (CWW): AED 5,500-11,000 (equivalent to BD 600-1,200)
CORPORATE / PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
A comprehensive site for established businesses, law firms, consultancies:
- Dubai mid-range: AED 25,000-50,000
- Dubai premium: AED 50,000-100,000+
- Via Bahrain (CWW): AED 11,000-22,000 (equivalent to BD 1,200-2,400)
E-COMMERCE WEBSITE
Online store with product management, checkout, payments:
- Dubai budget: AED 15,000-25,000
- Dubai quality: AED 40,000-80,000
- Via Bahrain (CWW): AED 14,000-28,000 (equivalent to BD 1,500-3,000)
PREMIUM / CINEMATIC WEBSITE
Custom-coded with video production, unique experience:
- Dubai (if available): AED 80,000-200,000+
- Via Bahrain (CWW): AED 18,000-46,000 (equivalent to BD 2,000-5,000)
The Bahrain Alternative: Premium Quality, Sensible Pricing
Here's what many Dubai businesses are discovering: you can get premium quality without paying Dubai premium prices by working with agencies based in other GCC countries.
Bahrain is just a short flight from Dubai (or across the causeway from Saudi Arabia). Our operating costs are lower, but our talent pool is strong and our standards are international.
🏢 Typical Dubai Agency
- High overhead (Dubai rent, salaries)
- Account manager between you and developer
- Often outsourcing actual development
- Premium pricing for location prestige
- Corporate, sometimes impersonal process
🎬 Cinematic Web Works (Bahrain)
- Lower overhead, same (or better) quality
- Direct access to founder/lead developer
- All work done in-house, never outsourced
- Premium quality at sensible prices
- Personal, filmmaker-driven approach
CWW PRICING FOR DUBAI CLIENTS
Cinematic Web Works — Premium Custom Website
- 100% custom-coded (Next.js, no WordPress)
- Professional video production included
- Cinematic design approach (filmmaker-led)
- Lightning-fast performance (all Core Web Vitals passed)
- No plugin dependencies or security vulnerabilities
- Direct WhatsApp access to lead developer
- Remote collaboration works seamlessly across GCC
For the price of a mid-range Dubai website, you get premium custom development with integrated video production. For the price of a budget Dubai website, you get what Dubai's premium agencies would charge 3-4Ă— more for.
"We considered Dubai agencies but couldn't justify AED 80,000 for a website. CWW delivered better than we expected for less than a quarter of that price. The process was smooth despite being remote."
Making Your Decision
WHEN TO USE A DUBAI AGENCY
- In-person meetings are essential for your decision-making process
- You need specific local integrations that require on-site presence
- Budget isn't a primary concern and you value proximity
- Your procurement requires UAE-registered vendors
WHEN TO CONSIDER BAHRAIN-BASED CWW
- You want premium quality without premium markups
- Remote collaboration works for you (video calls, WhatsApp)
- You value direct access to the actual developer, not account managers
- Custom code, performance, and security are priorities
- You want video production integrated from the start
- Your budget matters and you want maximum value
QUESTIONS TO ASK ANY AGENCY
- Who exactly will work on my project? Can I meet them?
- Is work done in-house or outsourced?
- What technology do you use and why?
- Can you show me PageSpeed scores for recent sites?
- What's included in the quote vs. charged separately?
- How do you handle revisions and scope changes?
- Who owns the website and code after launch?
- What ongoing costs should I expect?
Our Offer: We're happy to give you an honest comparison, even if it means recommending someone else. Contact us with your project details and budget—we'll tell you straight whether we're the right fit or if a local Dubai option makes more sense for your situation.