In 2026 a professional UAE website usually takes about a week for a landing page, 2–6 weeks for a business site, and 6–14 weeks for e-commerce. Custom apps take longer. The calendar is driven less by code than by how fast you send copy, photos and approvals.
Realistic 2026 timelines
| Project | Typical duration | What has to be ready |
|---|---|---|
| Landing / one-page | 3–10 days | Offer, headline, one proof, one tap |
| Business site (5–8 pages) | 2–6 weeks | Page list, copy, photos, WhatsApp number |
| WordPress / CMS | 3–8 weeks | Who will edit after launch |
| Bilingual Arabic + English | Add 1–3 weeks | Real translation, not a widget |
| E-commerce store | 6–14 weeks | Products, payments, shipping rules |
| Custom web application | 3+ months | Written workflows, not a vibe |
How the price is set sits next to time in the cost guide. The build itself lives on web development or WordPress.
What the weeks actually look like
A typical SME brochure at ITZ looks like this when copy is ready:
- Week 1 — brief and structure. Page list, first screen, enquiry path. Wireframes before colour. See wireframe and sitemap.
- Weeks 2–3 — design. Homepage and key templates on the phone first. You approve in WhatsApp, not a 12-slide deck.
- Weeks 3–5 — build. Front-end, CMS if needed, forms, WhatsApp, speed pass.
- Last days — launch. SSL, Search Console, redirects, a click-through of every tap. Use the launch checklist.
Bilingual, stores and luxury photography add calendar. They do not add mystery if the brief is honest.
Why projects slip
Operators see the same delays every year:
- Content late. ITZ cannot typeset a blank. “We will send later” is the longest week on the chart.
- Too many approvers. Three partners “just taking a look” can add a month. Name one decision-maker.
- Scope creep. A brochure that becomes a portal mid-build is a new quote, not a free extra.
- Stock and legal. Trade-licence scans, product data, Arabic that still needs a human. Plan them in week one.
ITZ will not invent a five-day custom bilingual store to win the job. If a campaign date is real, ITZ will say what can ship by then — often a landing page first, the rest after.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a business website take in Dubai?
Most SME brochure sites take 2–6 weeks when copy and photos are ready. Landing pages can be days. Stores are commonly 6–14 weeks. Content delay is what stretches the calendar, not the code.
What slows a project down?
Late copy, late photos, extra stakeholders, and new features added after the quote. A written page list and one approver keep the date honest.