How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Mobile App in Dubai, UAE?

The average mobile app development cost in Dubai is anywhere between 20,000 to 70,000 AED.

In a world where millions are connected via their smartphones, and brand visibility is app-focused, developing a mobile app cannot be a second thought. You need to take the mobile-first approach, especially in an ambitious and tech-driven city like Dubai.

This city that thrives on rapid advancements, offers endless opportunities for sustainable growth and success. A mobile app will allow you to tap into them while streamlining your opportunities and increasing revenue growth.

You can penetrate Dubai’s tech market with a solid tech partner that offers end-to-end mobile app development solutions at affordable prices without compromising quality and performance.

While selecting the potential partner, you should look at their portfolio, services and estimates. The cost of app development in Dubai acts as a deciding factor. Before taking a look at the estimates, you should know the cost of app development in Dubai.

Our article will focus on the average costs of development along with the factors influencing the overall cost.

Why Dubai-based Businesses Need Mobile Apps?

Did you know UAE is one of the top few digitally connected countries globally, with the fastest mobile internet speeds and 5G network?

• Increased Penetration: On average, the UAE user spends 4 hours using the Internet on mobile devices, as it is their preferred device. This showcases the increased penetration of this device. If you add 9.38 Mn Internet users in UAE alone to this mix, you will see a broad market for mobile applications.
• Rise in Online Services and eCommerce: The increased adoption of eCommerce and online services is also one of the reasons to develop your mobile app. Consumers are relying on their mobile applications for healthcare, retail, finance and entertainment requirements.
• Increased Engagement: With mobile apps driving more personalized and relevant content using AI and ML models, it has increased the user’s experience. Additionally, Dubai is positioned as a global business hub, which makes mobile apps ideal for strengthening the business’s position and reach.

Careem, a ride-hailing app, is one of the most popular mobile app businesses in Dubai. This is an excellent example of how mobile apps are transforming businesses. From personalizing the rides to optimizing the routes, there are several features that help riders and drivers.

Dubai Courts is another example of how apps can help users stay updated. This app gives out the latest law updates and helps users stay up-to-date with their court proceedings.

Expert App Devs, a mobile app development company, has made headway into the Dubai markets with its exceptional app development services and extensive portfolio. The mobile app development team boasts of relevant skills, Dubai market knowledge and impactful solutions.

Based on our understanding of the Dubai mobile app development market, we have defined the factors influencing mobile app development cost UAE.

Factors Influencing Mobile App Development Costs in Dubai

We have listed all the factors we believe can influence the mobile app development cost in Dubai.

#1. App Type and Complexity

The mobile app development cost UAE varies according to the app type and its complexity. Information-sharing or static apps are simpler by nature, with limited complexity. Since their development is straightforward, they require fewer resources and less time, which helps lower the overall development cost.

However, when you move to a moderate application with slightly more features and dynamic abilities like push notifications and payments, you need to invest more resources and time. This will increase the cost of development.

Advanced applications that demand AR, VR or AI specialists can increase your expenses by manifolds. They attract a premium cost and the demand for these developers is high, which increases the cost. The timeline and cost of hiring developers can influence the app development budget.

When estimating the mobile app development cost in Dubai, you must also consider the different categories. For instance, the taxi booking app development estimates will differ from the food delivery app development cost in Dubai.

#2. Platform Selection

The platform you choose to build a mobile app can impact the mobile app development cost Dubai. If you are building a native application, you have to choose between iOS and Android. For either platform, you must hire the respective resources and invest in the essential timeline. The cost of native application development is slightly higher.

If you are planning to enjoy a broader reach, you can go with cross-platform development. In this case, you might need to use frameworks like React and Flutter. You can reduce the timeline and overall expense. However, you need to hire the resources for the particular framework from the talent pool.

You may not be able to fully match the performance and customization needs with cross-platform app development.

When you prioritize platforms and select the tools, you will define the cost of application development. The ideal app development approach for Dubai is cross-platform and you should select Flutter or React Native as your framework.

#3. Design and User Experience

Creating a user-friendly, interactive and sleek interface is essential to cater to the expectations of Dubai’s app consumers. Your intuitive interface design will offer flawless navigation and ensure appealing aesthetics that can visually entice the customers.

However, investing in an attractive interface can increase development costs. With additional design elements like custom animations and responsive layouts, you need to invest extra time and resources.

If you partner with the best mobile app development company in Dubai, you can enjoy a brilliant interface design that increases conversions for the business. The design must include clear CTAs, crisp onboarding and a polished experience that can ensure the customer completes the desired actions.

While these design experiences can help you stand out, you will need to add to the overall budget to enjoy the design outcomes.

#4. Features and Functionality

The features and functionality you choose for the application can also influence the cost. If you are adding features like localization for Arabic and English, it can reach a wider audience. Moreover, it can also help you adhere to the local preferences.

However, you need to invest in additional translation and UI adaption for these features to work. As the complexity of the features increases, the timeline devoted to development will also go up. For instance, the time needed to build or integrate payment gateways is higher. Real-time tracking features in the case of logistics or delivery apps can also increase the cost of development.

Your feature type and complexity will define the expertise and timeline, which in turn influences the cost of development.

#5. Development Team

Development team selection can also impact the mobile app development cost in Dubai. By hiring a mobile app development company in Dubai, you get the desired proximity and collaboration desired. It can help communicate your needs better; however, it can also increase the cost of development.

On the other hand, when you invest in outsourced development, you may need to face time zone differences but you save on the costs.

You can partner with companies like Expert App Devs that enjoy a solid presence in Dubai markets and have offshore rates. From no compromises on quality to competent communication and responsive teams, we can help you accelerate the time to launch.

#6. Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Ongoing maintenance can help ensure your app is relevant and enjoys long-term success. It can help you invest in sustainable growth for the business. With continuous updates, you can ensure the app is compatible with the new OS versions and the security is up-to-date.

You may suffer performance and user experience issues if you don’t maintain your app regularly. The maintenance cost is about 15-20% of the initial app development cost. You will get regular updates, bug fixes and technical support from the tech partner for this price.

With consistent support, your app stays relevant. However, as the features and complexity increase, your app maintenance cost may also go up.

Approximate Mobile App Development Costs in Dubai

Mobile app development cost in Dubai varies according to the complexity and features introduced to the application.

#1. Cost Breakdown Based on App Complexity

Here is a quick glance into the costs, development timeline and features according to app complexity.

Simple Application

• The estimated cost of a simple application is approximately AED 20,000 to AED 180,000.
• The development timeline for these apps is about 2-5 months.
• Static or informational applications.

Moderate Complexity Applications

• The estimated cost for developing a moderately complex app is anywhere between AED 184,000 and AED 360,000.
• The timeline for a moderately complex application with slightly advanced features is 5-7 months.
• Features like API integration, real-time messaging and user authentication are included in this complexity.
• A few examples of moderately complex applications include on-demand applications and social media solutions.

Highly Complex Applications

• The approximate cost of developing an advanced app with highly complex features is AED 360,000+.
• It takes over 12+ months to build this application.
• The app will include features like real-time data processing and complex backend infrastructure.

#2. Feature-wise Cost Breakdown

#3. Cost Comparison of Local vs Remote Developers

The monthly salary of a local developer in Dubai is AED 15,000 while that of a remote developer in South Asia is AED 9,000.

Local Developers in Dubai

As the cost of living is high in Dubai, the salaries of the developer is higher. Junior developers cost anywhere between 8,000 to 12,000 AED and senior developers can cost somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 AED.

The cost includes benefits, such as end-of-service gratuity, health insurance, annual leave and airfare allowance in some cases. You will also need to include office expenses, such as renting office space and a workstation.

Lastly, you need to consider the visa and employment costs as well, which is about 5,000 to 10,000 AED per hire.

While hiring local developers offers proximity and better collaboration along with familiarity of laws and culture, they can lead to increased costs and a limited talent pool.

Remote Developers

The remote developers do not offer the benefits your local team gets, such as health insurance or gratuity. In the case of remote teams, you need to spend on collaboration tools on a monthly basis. Lastly, you need to pay for the compliance costs.

While you get access to a larger talent pool with low salaries, you may find this hiring can lead to cultural and language barriers. There is limited control over the work environment.

What to Choose?

You can choose a hybrid model with in-house and remote developers to maintain control of operations and ensure better costs. When you need specific skills with an understanding of the local market, you should hire local developers. When hiring remote developers, make sure you are compliant with all the regulations.

Why Choose Expert App Devs for Your App Development Needs?

When looking for a mobile app development company in Dubai, you must select someone who has an understanding of the market, and local laws and offers cost-efficient solutions. Moreover, they should have a good hold over the mobile app development market, which allows them to deliver capable and quality solutions.

Expert App Devs ticks all the boxes of a solid and reliable mobile app development partner in Dubai, UAE. Let’s look at all the reasons you can select the dedicated team for your idea. Moreover, they should have a good hold over the mobile app development market, which allows them to deliver capable and quality solutions.

#1. Expertise in Dubai Market

When you partner with Expert App Devs, you get to use our unparalleled expertise in the dynamic Dubai market. With our in-depth understanding of the business environment and emerging tech trends, we can create mobile apps that are successful in the competitive landscape.

Dubai enjoys a diverse and tech-savvy audience that looks for apps with cutting-edge features and intuitive design. From supporting the cultural and local requirements to offering competent features, we can ace the delivery of quality solutions.

We have helped multiple businesses across industries tap into the opportunities to create impactful apps with measurable results.

#2. Cost-Effective Solutions

By partnering with us, you can enjoy cost-efficient applications without losing out on quality or performance. We have outlined a structured and streamlined process that combines experienced developers with advanced technologies and agile methodology to deliver exceptional and experiential applications.

We prioritize resource optimization with affordable app development to deliver the highest standards in terms of functionality and design. Whether you are creating a simple application or a highly advanced solution, we customize the solutions to meet your unique goals and budget needs.

#3. End-to-End Support

One of the biggest advantages of partnering with us is that you get our support and availability throughout the development lifecycle. We collaborate with you and ensure complete transparency for timely deliveries.

We begin by outlining the goals and ensuring a clear roadmap for the app development. During development, our team will look at all aspects, including designing sleek interfaces to creating responsive solutions. Our team will also test the applications rigorously to avoid launching apps with errors or bugs.

From pre-launch to post-launch, our team remains by your side throughout the app development.

#4. Dedicated Team of Professionals

We take pride in our highly skilled and experienced developers, proficient with current technologies and trends. Our team comprises developers, designers, strategists and project managers with industry-recognized certifications. They are proficient with the current frameworks and latest technologies, such as AI and real-time tracking algorithms.

#5. Success Stories

Our portfolio comprises all the challenges our team has taken head on to deliver robust and scalable applications for the business. Our team is committed to converting your vision to reality by fostering innovation and skills.

You can check our detailed portfolio where we have added all the apps we have created for Dubai market.

How to Get Started with Expert App Devs?

Getting started with Expert App Devs is a three-step process. We have outlined each step here.

#1. Share Your Ideas/Requirements

Start by connecting with our team to share your concept or big idea. We need to understand your requirements for the app to outline the scope. This will also help us understand what features or functionality you need for the application.

#2. Get a Free Consultation

Talk to our experts and understand how they plan to proceed with your application. We will consult with your team and share our observations. We will also tell you what we believe should be the next few steps.

#3. Start Development with a Dedicated Team

Once the scope, timelines and other aspects are defined, our team will assign a dedicated team for your app development. We will get you started with the development, as discussed in the phases.

You can connect with our experts and schedule a free consultation with us.

Conclusion

Mobile apps are important for businesses planning to thrive in the competitive landscape of Dubai and grow sustainably with technology. It is crucial to define the costs right at the planning stage to build an app within your budget and feature needs.

Partnering with the best mobile app development company in UAE guarantees to get valuable and usable applications. It assures a good return on your investment. Expert App Devs is one such exceptional and reputed partner known for their transparency and responsive communication.

With them as your partners, you can ensure best returns on your investment. If you plan to steer ahead of the competition, get started with your mobile app development journey with us. Connect to discuss opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. How much does it cost to have a mobile app developed?

The cost of mobile app development is anywhere between $10,000 to $500,000. It depends on several factors, including the development team you have hired, the app’s complexity level and functionality.

#2. How much does it cost to hire a mobile app developer?

The hiring cost of a mobile app developer varies according to the location of the developer and the engagement model. Developers in Europe and US cost higher compared to developers in South Asian region.

#3. How much does it cost to develop a mobile game app?

Mobile game development costs range from $50,000 to $100,000+, based on the team size and complexity of the game application.

#4. How to estimate the cost of mobile app development?

You need to determine the work scope (read features and complexity) along with the timeline for app development, engagement model and total working hours. This would give you an approximate estimate. It is crucial to consider the hourly rates of the developer to get the actual cost.

#5. What are the factors influencing the mobile app development cost?

Factors like app complexity, features to be added, platform selection and UI/UX design can impact the mobile app development cost in Dubai.

#6. Which platform is more expensive for mobile app development in Dubai- iOS or Android?

Native app development, irrespective of iOS or Android, can increase the cost of development. You can reduce the overall costs by investing in cross-platform application development.

#7. What are some of the hidden costs to know before proceeding with app development costs in Dubai?

Some of the potential hidden costs include app store submission fees, ongoing maintenance and updates as well as third-party integrations. You should look for hosting and backend infrastructure costs as well when considering the estimates for mobile app development cost in UAE, as that can be included in hidden costs.

Jignen Pandya

Vice President at Expert App Devs

Responsible for creating a sales funnel, attracting top-of-the-funnel customers, and converting the target market.