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Generally, it takes around AED 8,500 to AED 500,000 to develop your own mobile app in Dubai.
However, mobile app development cost in Dubai doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all pricing model.
It might fluctuate based on factors like app complexity, platform choice, and the experience of an app developer you hire.
If you have a great app idea for Dubai and don’t know how much it would cost to execute, you are in the right place.
Undoubtedly, Dubai is one of the most digitally connected tech cities, with an internet penetration rate of around 99%. (Data Reportal)
Looking into this opportunity, this blog covers all the related costs required to develop a mobile app in Dubai, UAE.
Based on expertise, our app development company in Dubai will also cover hidden costs involved in development, and ways to optimize them.
Read on to find out where your money goes and how to smartly plan for your next app development project.
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While some businesses assume that app development is either prohibitively expensive or surprisingly cheap.
However, the reality lies in between. You’d better understand it and make the most out of your investment.
Here is how much you should expect based on your specific app type:
| App Type | Cost Estimate | Timeline |
| Simple App | AED 10,000 – AED 20,000 | 3 – 6 Months |
| Moderate App | AED 30,000 – AED 50,000 | 6 – 8 Months |
| Complex App | AED 60,000+ | 9+ Months |
Most of us wonder why two apps built in Dubai end up with different price tags. We enter the app development process expecting a fixed cost, but prices later appear different.
To be real, the cost to create a mobile app in Dubai varies depending on factors that directly and indirectly affect development.
Practically, these seven factors come into play when determining the costs of app development.
A scope is a written documentation of what the app is capable of, its limitations, and the technology stack being used in it.
To start with, apps with a basic scope are more economical and require a low cost of development.
As the purpose of your app (scope) grows, the cost of app development in Dubai also increases.
It is paramount to have an enticing app UI/UX design. You will boost conversion rates by up to 200%.
So you’d better try to improve your app design as well as you can. They should see the splash screen with your app’s logo, then click on buttons and CTAs.
Therefore, more complex user interfaces and user experience designs add to your mobile app development cost in Dubai.
In contrast, a simple user interface and white-labeled user experience designs reduce the cost.
Remember, for a more sophisticated target audience, you will need customizations, and they are, of course, costly.
Before you write a single line of code, it is paramount to decide on your target app platform.
You have to dive deep into what works best for your app, as well as your budget.
Generally, if you are a startup business with a minimal budget, it’s best to go for one platform initially.
Later, if it is found feasible, you can move to multiple platforms as the business grows.
For instance, here is the mobile app development cost in Dubai to expect based on your target platform:
Android is the most popular framework and comes with outstanding functionalities. The cost of Android app development in Dubai usually takes around AED 30,000 to AED 70,000.
The cost of iOS app development is quite comparable to Android app development. However, it may sometimes be slightly higher due to the requirement for specialized skills.
Generally, the cost of developing a React Native app can range from AED 30,000 to AED 60,000, depending on the app’s size and location.
Flutter helps you improve user experience on both iOS and Android. The cost of developing a Flutter app in Dubai can range from AED 40,000 to AED 70,000.
Web apps are an excellent way for businesses to expand their reach beyond the app store. The cost of web app development in Dubai ranges from AED 30,000 to AED 60,000.
A hybrid app is undoubtedly more affordable than full native apps. In terms of the project budget, the overall app development cost in Dubai may take AED 40,000 to AED 70,000.
Game app development requires a great amount of design, animations, and functionalities. For this, you should expect from AED 70,000 to AED 150,000 or more.
AI is transforming the mobile app industry, converting simple apps into smart and efficient ones. If you’re wondering about the average AI app development cost, it may range from AED 30,000 to AED 200,000 or more.
Augmented Reality improves the real-world experience by adding digital content to a realistic environment. The AR app development cost ranges from AED 25,000 to AED 300,000 or more, based on the features you use.
Because each app feature requires specific development hours for execution, it directly influences your cost to create a mobile app.
Those with a limited budget prefer to go with MVP development that covers the basic features of your app.
At the same time, a fully fledged app product is a bit pricey due to the large number of features in Dubai.
To be precise, the quality and quantity of features impact your overall app development costs in Dubai.
A technology stack is a set of tools, technologies, programming languages, and environments utilized for building an app.
Know that open-source frameworks are more economical than proprietary app development tools.
And so, based on your platform choice, whether it be a native or cross-platform, your app developers will choose the right set of technologies.
As a rule of thumb, Native app development is much more expensive than cross-platform app development.
That’s mainly due to native development requiring separate platform-specific code.
The size of the team you hire directly impacts the costs of app development in Dubai.
You mainly have three options here:
In three of the options, outsourcing is the most viable because you can still practice flexibility. Do consider Trango Tech here.
With us, you will have complete control over KPI completion and still get access to our most dedicated team.
Bonus Read: “Check out key questions to ask before hiring an app developer in Dubai.”
As discussed, there were several reasons why Dubai came to be a super-competitive tech market.
Even though there are several key advantages of hiring local app developers in Dubai.
But it can take a lot of your resources to hire in Dubai. And even more in England, Canada, and Germany.
Below is how much mobile app development costs change by region:
| Location | Hourly Rate |
| USA | AED 73 – AED 146 |
| UK | AED 66 – AED 114 |
| Australia | AED 50 – AED 200 |
| Russia | AED 60 – AED 150 |
| Ukraine | AED 50 – AED 100 |
Understanding how much it costs to develop a mobile app in Dubai becomes much easier when you break down the process.
Every step in the app development process has unique importance and can’t be overlooked.
When you plan it perfectly, chances are you will end up optimizing your app development cost in Dubai.
Every winning app in the market is the result of a clear idea and solid research.
Here, your app development company will analyze business goals, target audience, and competitors.
This is paramount in order to ensure your app product brings real value and keeps your app relevant.
Remember, good research reduces risk and prevents wasted app development costs in Dubai later.
When you feel like having a good idea in hand, it’s time to plan its execution.
You have to outline core features of your app, user flows, screen layouts, and technical requirements.
Don’t overstate the importance of good planning. It saves you a lot of time and misunderstanding during development.
Modern Users expect you to come up with visually appealing and easy-to-navigate applications.
That’s why UI/UX design plays a massive role in costs. You may add different color schemes, typography, and animations for better user experiences.
But such personalization might add a lot to your custom app development costs in Dubai.
You may call it the most complicated yet effort-taking step for mobile app development in Dubai, UAE.
Frontend Development primarily starts with what we see and interact with.
At the same time, backed development deals with databases, servers, APIs, and business logic.
Even a minor bug in your app will discourage users. They are likely to switch to your competitor.
For this purpose, it is necessary to have rigorous app testing. Check for issues related to performance, security, and compatibility.
When everything is finalized, app developers will deploy your app on the intended platform, either the App Store or Google Play.
It spans across different tasks like app store optimization, compliance checks, and final configurations.
Although this phase requires minimal coding, it still takes a lot to avoid delays or rejections.
Your app will require periodic updates to remain relevant to market needs.
If required, ask your app development expats in Dubai for changes or feature enhancements.
Generally, these are ongoing costs that keep coming up from time to time. You just need to keep a check for any errors.
Many businesses only focus on the initial development quote, resulting in disappointment later in the form of hidden charges.
These hidden application development costs in Dubai mainly appear when the project is done and dusted.
Those who fail to account for these expenses might get backfired in the form of delays, poor quality, and incomplete features.
Based on expertise, we have outlined a few hidden mobile app development costs you should know about:
Mobile apps heavily rely on third-party integrations such as payment gateways, maps, and chat systems.
While adding them to mobile apps, you might have to pay subscription or usage-based fees.
Over time, these recurring app development costs add up, and businesses often fail to manage them.
Even the most winning might fail if nobody knows about it. You will need an effective marketing plan to attract users.
There are several hidden costs here, like App Store Optimization, digital advertising, and social media campaigns.
Not to mention, user acquisition costs are ongoing. You might require promotions, updates, and engagement to retain users.
With rising concerns about data privacy, you can’t compromise yourself on it.
The best practice is to implement encryption, secure authentication, and compliance with data protection.
This will slightly increase your overall app development cost in Dubai. Ignoring them will lead you to cyber breaches, legal penalties, and loss of users’ trust.
To deploy your app, you need a developer account that has $25 one-time fee for Google Play and $99 fee for the Apple store.
These hidden costs may seem minor, but they are unavoidable throughout your development lifecycle.
As your app grows, so do user needs. It is paramount for you to add new features, higher traffic, and advanced functionalities.
What looks simple to you may later bring up new charges that were invisible earlier. So you’d better do it wisely.
We know that the cost to build an app in Dubai can be costly. That’s quite realistic.
What if I say that you can optimize your costs to create a mobile app in Dubai? That too, without compromising quality?
Here are some of the successful tactics you can go for during app creation:
To optimize app development costs, you should first understand what you want to achieve with the app.
Create a comprehensive outline for your main goals. This will help your project remain on the right track.
Also, having a clear goal helps avoid project scope expansion and maintains your project’s overall progress.
Going for one codebase with tools like Flutter or React Native can lead to substantial cost savings.
In contrast, native application development can require you to break the bank.
Using cross-platform solutions enables deployment on multiple platforms simultaneously, thus saving both time and money.
Finding a reputable mobile app development agency is tricky when it comes to Dubai.
There are an endless number of developers available to lure you with fake promises.
You should look for agencies with a proven track record, positive reviews, and industry experience.
Also, working with offshore or nearshore teams can help you cut costs to make an app.
Just make sure your chosen firm is proficient in the tech and familiar with the industry-leading trends.
Many app features usually come up built in, like modules or APIs. These features include payment gateways, chat functionality, and social media.
When you use these built-in solutions, it will automatically minimize your costs and lead to swift development.
Bonus Read: “Native vs Hybrid App Development: Which is Best for Dubai Businesses?”
Agile development builds the app in short sprints. You should focus on critical features first.
In fact, those who use the agile app development methodology end up saving around 40% on costs.
You can access user feedback and revise the present sprint, saving you time and resources.
Other than that, through this approach, you identify and resolve issues early, preventing costly fixes and delays later.
Customized designs are paramount for your app branding. But you can go for a simple one that balances your costs.
You simply avoid using complex animations or unnecessary elements. That is also an effective way to deal with expenses.
Those who are seeking affordable options can go for pre-designed templates or frameworks.
You will have lower mobile application development costs than building a UI from scratch.
You should aim for a scalable mobile application built from the ground up. It may seem like a lot for now, but it will be effective in later stages.
You will likely end up saving a lot of money through avoiding redesigning and system upgrades.
In this context, choose solutions that promote scalability, like AWS or Google Cloud, to remain prepared for opportunities.
This way, you can make your app perform well and reduce the potential downtime or costly overhauls.
A large number of developers still rely on manual app testing, which seems a bit pricey.
Currently, there is an endless number of tools available to identify and fix bugs quickly.
Your reduced reliance on manual testing will save a lot of effort and development time.
Besides that, developers conduct regular quality assurance checks to make sure everything remains up to the mark.
Setting unrealistic delivery deadlines can lead to rushed work and costly errors.
With realistic timelines, developers can complete their tasks without impacting the quality and reduce the need for later revisions.
If anything here is done in a hurry, it asks you to pay back in the form of technical debt.
Getting your app updated regularly can help you keep track of team progress. Also, if possible, keep a check on potential issues.
Once your app is live for users, you must track user engagement, performance metrics, and customer feedback.
With these insights, you will focus on features that grow user satisfaction and make the right decisions.
Your success chances will be better when you rely on real data rather than making assumptions.
To be precise, a mobile app development in Dubai can cost you anywhere between AED 20,000 and AED 200,000.
There are so many things on the plate that can influence the cost of app development in Dubai, such as your app features, timelines, and target platforms.
Hope this comprehensive guide on costs to develop a mobile app in Dubai has given you great insights.
If you are looking for a trusted mobile app development company in Dubai to start your next project, consider Trango Tech.
We have 20+ years of experience creating winning mobile applications across industries. Can do it for you, too.
All our previous works, such as Altras, Findero, and Gulf Got Talent, have been delivered on promised deadlines.
For a mobile application development, it takes around AED 50K to AED 150K of your budget. It still may go up or down depending on your app type, features, and target platform. If you’re looking for accurate estimates, use our app development cost calculator to get the exact cost in a matter of minutes.
For an idea, it may take around 2 to 12 months to create a fully functional mobile application in Dubai. Keep in mind that these timelines vary based on different direct and indirect development factors. Need an exact timeline? Reach out to sales specialists to help you with this.
To be real, it depends on your specific needs. Based on market rates, a reputable developer can charge you anywhere between AED 150 and AED 350 per hour. Unlike them, firms with a house team seem pricey but are much more reliable. They usually provide structured workflows, quality assurance, and unwavering support.
Yes, of course. There are several best practices in order to optimize your app development costs. Starting with an MVP, going cross platforms, and using pre-built tools, to name just a few. All these things collectively will help you balance your app development cost by up to 40% of the total.
Considering how massive returns the market supports, it seems a lucrative opportunity to invest in the Dubai tech market. There is a large number of tech-savvy users and digital transformation efforts made by the government. Your investment is more likely to double in the long term. Other than that, you will build a better brand loyalty and a competitive advantage over competitors.
There are currently an endless number of app development companies available in Dubai. To help you make the right partner choice, we recommend checking the portfolio first. Dive into the quality and diversity of the apps they have finished so far. For more clarity, read client reviews on platforms like Clutch or Google to gauge client satisfaction. Last but not least, if required, ask about their team structure.
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Daniyal is a passionate content writer & editor with 3+ years of experience crafting SEO-friendly blogs, web copies, and marketing content for an mobile app development company. He loves turning ideas into words that connect, engage, and deliver value. Currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Trango Tech, Daniyal holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature.
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