The cost of a website in Egypt depends mainly on its scope: how many pages and features it has, whether the design is custom or template-based, whether it sells online, which systems it connects to, and whether it is bilingual in Arabic and English. Content, SEO, hosting, maintenance and your timeline also play a big part. The best way to get an accurate quote is to prepare a clear brief, and this guide explains what to include.
Two websites can look similar on the surface and still differ widely in effort behind the scenes. Understanding the main cost factors helps you compare quotes fairly, prioritise what matters and avoid surprises later.
1. Scope: number of pages and features
Scope is the single biggest factor. A simple company website with a handful of pages is a very different project from a platform with user accounts, booking, dashboards or a large product catalogue.
- Number of unique page layouts: ten pages using the same layout take less work than ten pages that each need their own design.
- Functionality: forms, search, filters, booking, user accounts, member areas and calculators all add development and testing time.
- Admin needs: how much your team needs to edit, and how easy that should be, affects how the site is built.
2. Custom design vs a template
A template or theme gives you a ready-made design that is adapted to your brand. It is usually faster and less expensive, but you share the look with other sites and have less flexibility.
A custom design is created around your brand, your audience and your goals. It involves research, wireframes, visual design and revisions, so it takes more time, but the result is distinctive and built for how your customers actually behave. Many projects sit in between: a solid framework with custom-designed key pages such as the home page and service pages.
3. E-commerce and payment gateways
Selling online adds significant scope:
- Product catalogue, variations, stock and pricing rules.
- Cart, checkout, discount codes and order management.
- Payment gateway integration: local options for Egypt and Saudi Arabia, card payments, wallets and cash on delivery each need setup and testing.
- Shipping zones, delivery companies and tax settings.
- Customer accounts, order emails and invoices.
The number of products, how they are organised and whether you need to import them from another system all influence effort.
4. Integrations with other systems
Connecting your website to other tools saves manual work but adds development and testing. Common integrations include:
- CRM and email marketing platforms.
- ERP, accounting or inventory systems.
- WhatsApp, live chat or AI chatbots.
- Booking and calendar tools.
- Maps, SMS gateways and shipping providers.
Integrations using well-documented APIs are usually straightforward. Older or custom systems with limited documentation take more time to connect reliably.
5. Content and copywriting
Content is often underestimated. Who will write the text, provide the photos and produce any videos?
- If you supply ready, approved content, the project moves faster.
- Professional copywriting, especially SEO-focused copy, adds to scope but often improves results.
- Photography, illustrations, icons and video production are separate pieces of work.
- Migrating content from an old website takes planning, especially if URLs change.
Delays in content are one of the most common reasons website projects run late.
6. Arabic and English bilingual websites
For businesses serving Egypt and Saudi Arabia, a bilingual website is often essential. It is more than translation:
- Right-to-left (RTL) layout for Arabic, including mirrored navigation, icons and alignment.
- Arabic typography that is readable on all screen sizes.
- Translation or localisation of all content, menus, forms, emails and error messages.
- Language switching, separate URLs and SEO settings for each language.
- Testing every page in both languages.
Planning for both languages from the beginning costs less than adding one later.
7. SEO and performance
A website that cannot be found does not do its job. Basic technical SEO should be part of any professional build: clean structure, fast loading, mobile friendliness, correct headings and meta tags, and an XML sitemap.
Beyond that, deeper SEO work such as keyword research, content strategy, structured data, local SEO and ongoing optimisation is usually scoped separately. Performance work, such as image optimisation and caching, also affects effort, particularly on image-heavy or e-commerce sites.
8. Hosting, security and maintenance
The build is only part of the total cost of ownership. Plan for ongoing costs too:
- Domain name renewal.
- Hosting suited to your traffic, location and type of site. An online store needs more resources than a brochure site.
- SSL certificate, backups and security monitoring.
- Updates to the CMS, plugins and themes.
- Paid plugins or services with annual licences.
- Support and changes after launch, such as new pages or features.
Ask any provider what is included after launch and what is charged separately.
9. Timeline
A realistic timeline gives room for discovery, design, development, content, testing and revisions. Urgent deadlines can be met, but they usually require more people working in parallel or a reduced scope. Fast feedback and approvals on your side are one of the best ways to keep a project on schedule.
Other factors that affect the quote
- Number of revision rounds included.
- Accessibility requirements.
- Privacy and data protection features, such as cookie consent and secure forms.
- Training for your team on managing the website.
- Brand identity work if you do not yet have a logo or brand guidelines.
How to prepare a brief for an accurate quote
A clear brief helps agencies understand your needs and give quotes you can compare fairly. Include:
- About your business: what you do, who your customers are and which markets you serve.
- Goals: what the website should achieve, for example leads, online sales, bookings or recruitment.
- Pages: a list or rough sitemap of the pages you need.
- Features: forms, e-commerce, booking, user accounts, search, blog and so on.
- Languages: Arabic, English or both.
- Integrations: any systems the site must connect to.
- Content: what you will provide and what you need help with.
- Design references: websites you like and why, plus your brand guidelines if you have them.
- Existing website: the current URL and anything that must be kept or migrated.
- Timeline and budget range: a target launch date and, if possible, a budget range so proposals can be tailored realistically.
- After launch: whether you need hosting, maintenance, SEO or marketing support.
Separate your must-haves from your nice-to-haves. This lets a provider suggest a phased approach, launching with the essentials and adding features later.
Frequently asked questions
Why do website quotes vary so much between providers?
Providers may be quoting different scopes, design approaches, levels of testing or post-launch support. Compare what is included in each proposal, not just the final number, and ask questions where details are unclear.
Is a template website a bad choice?
Not necessarily. A well-chosen template can be a good option for a simple site on a tight timeline. A custom design makes more sense when your brand, user experience or functionality needs are specific.
Does a bilingual website cost more?
Generally yes, because it involves translation, right-to-left layout work, extra testing and SEO for each language. Planning both languages from the start is more efficient than adding one later.
What ongoing costs should I expect after launch?
Typical ongoing costs include domain renewal, hosting, paid plugin licences, security, backups, updates and any changes or new features you request.
Ready to plan your website?
Recipe Codes designs and develops websites, online stores and landing pages for businesses in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in Arabic, English or both. Learn more about our website design and development services, or send us your project brief and we will prepare a quote based on your actual requirements. You can also contact our team with any questions.