Short answerThe price of a business website in Dubai depends on how many pages and languages it has, who writes the text, which features it needs and what happens after launch. At MM² a managed website costs AED 1,500 to AED 5,000 once and AED 299 to AED 799 a month, with hosting, the web address and one small change a month included. A company website is quoted per project.
Three quotes for the same website arrive on the same day. They have three different prices, and none of them says what is left out. This is the most common reason owners in Dubai feel unsure about what a website should cost.
Why quotes differ so much
A website is a bundle of separate jobs. Each quote includes some of them and leaves out others, which is why the totals cannot be compared until you list the jobs.
- Scope. The number of pages, and whether you need extras such as online booking, ordering, a price list you update yourself or a members area.
- Languages. An English site and an English and Arabic site are different amounts of work, because every page, menu and form exists twice and the layout has to work right to left.
- Text and photos. Someone has to write the text and take or choose the photos. If that is you, the price is lower and the launch date depends on you.
- Design. A design made for your kind of business takes longer than a general template.
- Hosting and web address. The site has to live on a server, and the address has to be registered and renewed every year.
- Care after launch. Security updates, small changes, backups and someone to call when something breaks.
The costs that start after launch
A one-off price for building the site is only part of the picture. These items come back every month or every year, whether or not they appear on the first invoice.
- The web address, renewed once a year.
- Hosting and the security certificate that puts the padlock in the browser.
- Changes: a new price, a new photo, a new opening hour. Ask how many are included and what the next one costs.
- Updates and security fixes for the software the site runs on.
- Anything you add later, such as a booking tool or an Arabic version.
What MM² charges for a managed website
A managed website is a fixed package for a restaurant, hotel, clinic, salon, gym or estate agency. The Small plan is AED 1,500 setup and AED 299 a month. The Medium plan is AED 2,500 and AED 449 a month. The Premium plan is AED 5,000 and AED 799 a month, and it includes Arabic. Every plan includes hosting, SSL and the domain, registered and managed by us; one round of revisions before launch; one small change per month on request, on top of what you edit yourself. You rent the site, like a shop unit that someone maintains for you. Your texts, menus and photos stay yours.
Add-ons such as online booking are priced on request. A company website, planned for one firm and written with you, is quoted per project after a conversation. All prices are on the pricing page.
Be careful with promises about Google
Some quotes include a promise to put you on the first page of Google. Google's own beginner guide says there are no secrets that automatically rank a site first. A fair quote describes the work it will do and leaves the result out.
Before you sign any quote
- Ask who owns the web address and who owns the texts and photos.
- Ask what happens to the site if you stop paying or want to move.
- Ask whether hosting, the security certificate and the web address are included, and for how long.
- Ask how many changes a month are included and how fast they are done.
- Ask who writes the text, and whether Arabic is part of the price.
- Ask for the scope and the total in writing, and compare quotes line by line.
Questions
How much does a simple business website cost in Dubai?
It depends on the scope, the languages and what is included afterwards. At MM² the smallest managed plan is AED 1,500 once and AED 299 a month, with hosting, the web address and one small change a month included.
Is a monthly website plan better than paying once?
A one-off price suits you if you have someone to look after the site. A monthly plan covers hosting, security and changes, and spreads the cost. Compare the total over twelve months, including everything the one-off price leaves out.
Do I own my website if I pay monthly?
At MM² you rent the site and your content stays yours: the menu, texts and photos. If you stop after the minimum term, the website goes offline and we send you your content. Whichever company you choose, ask the question before you sign.
Are hosting and the web address included in the price?
They should be stated in the quote. At MM² hosting, the security certificate and the web address are included in every plan.
Is Arabic included?
An Arabic version is part of the Premium plan at MM². For the other plans, ask for it in the quote, because it adds pages and layout work.