Building an iOS and Android app for the UAE market starts from about AED 1,470 ($400) for a simple app without a backend, about AED 7,340 ($2,000) for an MVP with a backend and admin dashboard, and about AED 14,680 ($4,000) for a fuller launch with user roles, notifications and store publishing. Quotes from Dubai-based agencies are often much higher, mostly because of team and office overhead. UAE apps also need to plan for Apple Pay and local card gateways, bilingual English and Arabic content, and the federal data protection law.
If you have asked a few agencies in Dubai or Abu Dhabi for an app quote, you have probably seen numbers that are hard to compare: one quote is a few thousand dirhams, another is many times that, and neither explains clearly what is inside. This guide gives you a concrete reference point in AED, explains what pushes the price up for the UAE market specifically, and lists the costs that continue after launch.
We price in US dollars. The dirham is pegged to the dollar, so the AED figures below (at 3.67) stay stable and are a fair guide.
App prices in AED: the reference table
These are our real starting prices for apps that run on both iPhone and Android from one codebase:
| Type of app | What it includes | Starts from | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter app | Up to 5 screens, no backend | About AED 1,470 ($400) | Days |
| Web app / MVP in the browser | Sign-in, database, one core workflow, admin view | About AED 5,500 ($1,500) | About 3 weeks |
| Mobile app MVP | Up to 8 screens, backend, admin dashboard | About AED 7,340 ($2,000) | 2–6 weeks |
| Bigger web MVP | 2–3 workflows, user roles, payments integration | About AED 11,010 ($3,000) | About 5–6 weeks |
| Full mobile MVP | Up to 15 screens, user roles, push notifications, publishing on both stores | About AED 14,680 ($4,000) | Depends on scope |
Two-sided apps (customer and provider, rider and driver, student and tutor) start at the MVP tier because they are really two apps plus an admin dashboard. The final price always comes from a written scope, and you see a first working preview within 72 hours.
Why UAE quotes vary so widely
The UAE has everything from solo freelancers to large agencies with offices in Business Bay or Abu Dhabi's free zones. The price differences mostly come from:
- Overhead. Office rent, visas and account management layers in the UAE are expensive, and they are built into every hourly rate.
- Team structure. A project manager, a designer, two developers per platform and a QA team bill more hours than a small team where the developers talk to you directly.
- Native vs cross-platform. Two separate native apps cost roughly twice the front-end work of one Flutter or React Native app.
- Scope assumptions. Some quotes include the admin dashboard, store publishing and a bug-fix period; others list them as extras.
A high quote can be the right choice when you need people in your office every week or a vendor registered in the UAE. If you don't, you are paying for things your users will never see.
What the UAE market adds to an app's scope
These are the UAE-specific items that belong in your scope from the start, so they don't arrive as surprises.
Payments: cards and wallets first
UAE shoppers pay mostly by card and increasingly with mobile wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Your app should support at least cards and Apple Pay through a gateway that serves UAE merchants, such as Network International (N-Genius), Telr, Checkout.com, Stripe, Tap or PayTabs. The right one depends on your trade license (mainland or free zone), your sector and the fees each one offers you. The merchant account is opened in your company's name. In some sectors, cash on delivery is still expected, and the app should allow it.
English and Arabic, both done properly
Business in the UAE runs largely in English, and many of your users may be expats. But Arabic matters for government-facing services, family and mass-market audiences, and for credibility. Plan both languages from day one, with a proper right-to-left Arabic layout rather than a mirrored afterthought. Some consumer apps also add other languages for large communities, which is easier when the app is built for multiple languages from the start. Our Arabic and RTL checklist lists what "done properly" means.
Data protection
The UAE's federal Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021) applies to apps that collect personal data: a clear privacy policy, a lawful reason for each piece of data you collect, and users' rights to access and delete it. Companies in the DIFC or ADGM free zones follow those zones' own data protection rules instead. Health apps face stricter requirements, including on where data is stored, so mention it early if your app touches medical data.
Tax invoices
If your system issues tax invoices (VAT in the UAE is 5%), note that the UAE is rolling out mandatory e-invoicing for business-to-business and business-to-government transactions in phases from 2026, starting with larger companies. A consumer app that only takes payments is rarely affected directly, but invoicing and accounting systems should plan for it.
Publishing under your company name
To publish on the App Store as a company rather than as an individual, you need an Apple Developer organization account, which requires a D-U-N-S number for your business. Apple says to allow up to 5 business days to receive the number, plus up to 2 business days before you can enroll, so start early. Google Play organization accounts also skip the closed-testing period that new personal accounts must complete before they can publish. We set all of this up with you, in your name.
Running costs in AED
| Item | Approximate cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Program | About AED 363 a year ($99) | Paid by you, in your name |
| Google Play developer account | About AED 92 once ($25) | Paid by you, in your name |
| Hosting and backend | Often little or nothing at first | Grows with users |
| Payment gateway | Per transaction | Set by your gateway agreement |
| SMS for OTP sign-in | Per message | Rates vary by provider |
| Maps | Free monthly allowance, then usage-based | Only if your app uses maps |
| Updates and new features | Agreed when needed | A bug-fix window after launch is included in our quotes |
Three UAE examples
A Dubai salon or clinic booking app. Customers book a slot, pay a deposit by card or Apple Pay, and get reminders; staff see their calendar; the owner manages everything from a dashboard. MVP tier: from about AED 7,340 ($2,000). If a mobile web booking page is enough, from about AED 5,500 ($1,500).
A delivery or services app in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. Customer app, driver or provider app, live tracking, card and cash payments, admin dashboard. From about AED 7,340 for a lean MVP and about AED 14,680 for a full launch. Our DriveX rider and captain apps, live on both stores, show the kind of two-sided app we build.
A bilingual product catalog for a trading company. A starter app (from about AED 1,470) can work, though many trading companies are better served by a fast bilingual website. We built the English and Arabic catalog site for Veneto Paints in the UAE.
When we fit, and when a local agency is the better call
We are a web and mobile studio in Giza, Egypt, working remotely. We fit well if you want a working preview within days, a written fixed price before paying anything, direct contact with the developers, Arabic and English built correctly, and code and accounts in your name from day one.
A UAE-based agency is the better choice if your procurement requires a vendor registered in the UAE, if you need a team at your office regularly, or if you are bidding for a government tender with local requirements.
Time zones are easy: Cairo is one hour behind the UAE in summer and two hours behind in winter. Egypt's weekend is Friday and Saturday, while many UAE companies take Saturday and Sunday, so Monday to Thursday is fully shared working time. Replies usually come within a few hours.
Where to go from here
See our app development company in the UAE page for how we work with UAE clients. If your users read Arabic first, our Arabic app development page explains our bilingual approach. For pricing logic that applies anywhere, read how much it costs to build an app in 2026. Or describe your idea in the project planner and get a written scope within 24 hours.
FAQ
Do you quote in dirhams?
We quote in US dollars, and the available payment methods come with the written quote. Because the dirham is pegged to the dollar, the AED amount you see today is a reliable guide to what you'll pay.
Can my app take Apple Pay and Samsung Pay?
Yes, through a payment gateway that supports them for UAE merchants. We recommend the gateway that fits your license and sector in the quote, and the merchant account is opened in your company's name.
Do I need a trade license to publish my app?
You can publish as an individual, but to show your company name on the App Store you need an organization account, which requires your company's D-U-N-S number. For a business app, we recommend publishing under your company. Start the D-U-N-S request early because it can take a week or so.
Does a UAE app need Arabic?
Not always, but usually it should have it. English alone can work for some B2B and expat-focused apps. For consumer, government-facing or family audiences, Arabic signals trust, and it is far cheaper to build both languages from the start than to add Arabic later.
Can we meet in Dubai?
We work remotely over WhatsApp, calls and video meetings, which is a big part of why our prices are lower than office-based agencies. Clients see working previews within 72 hours and demos every few days, which most find more useful than meetings.
How long does a UAE app take from idea to store?
A mobile MVP typically takes about 2–6 weeks to build. Add the time for your D-U-N-S number and developer accounts if you don't have them yet, plus store review, which usually takes a few days. We cover the full timeline in how long it takes to build an app.
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