Planning a new website?
This guide covers realistic costs, timelines and what each budget tier actually buys.
Need it live this week?
Launch48 delivers a complete site in 48 hours for $699, first month of maintenance included.
What the ranges mean
The top of the range buys strategy, research, custom design systems and project management. The middle buys custom design on a proven framework with tested forms and proper SEO setup. The bottom buys a defined page count on a proven structure, delivered in days.
None of those is wrong. The mistake is buying the top tier for a website whose job is to explain your services, prove you are credible and let people contact you.
What is specific to the UAE
Bilingual English and Arabic sites are common, and right-to-left layout support must be specified upfront.
What to insist on, wherever you buy
Ownership of your domain, hosting and files in your own name. A written scope covering pages, revisions and features. Forms tested by actually submitting them. Mobile-first build, since most visitors arrive on a phone. A clean SEO baseline of unique titles, descriptions, a sitemap and indexable pages. And a plan for who maintains it from day three, because a site launched and abandoned is the one that gets hacked around month nine.
The faster route
If your deadline is this week rather than next quarter, a fixed-scope build removes the phases that take longest: proposal cycles and waiting for content. A complete five-page business website can be live in 48 hours when content is collected in one structured kickoff session.
Frequently asked questions
What is a realistic budget? AED 10,000 to AED 120,000 for agency work, $500 to $2,000 for a fixed-scope build. Both are legitimate products for different needs.
How long should it take? Four to twelve weeks with an agency, one to four weeks with a freelancer, 48 hours with a fixed-scope service.
Can I hire remotely? Yes, and most businesses now do. The build is remote work either way; you are choosing whether to also pay for local presence.
What ongoing cost should I plan for? Hosting, domain and maintenance. Budget for it before the build, not after the first emergency.
Need a website, not a six-week project?
Launch48 delivers a complete five-page business website in 48 hours for $699 flat, mobile-ready, secure and fast at launch, with your first month of maintenance included.