The Mobile App Development Cost in UAE has increased in the past few years. The most common reason for this is that mobile app development companies have to keep up with the new trends and technologies.
Many factors affect the cost of the apps. The app size, the platform you want to develop the app for, features, and the location where you want your app to be developed are some of these factors.
The major challenge for all developers is to keep up with the latest changes in technology so that they can get more out of programming languages. For example, Swift 3 is a replacement for Objective-C language and it is a better option as it uses fewer lines of code and is easier to use. Therefore, developers have to keep up with such changes. The other major challenge is the availability of talent.
It is difficult for organizations to find good developers who are specialized in a certain programming language or tool. Therefore, if you want to develop a mobile app for your firm in the UAE, you will have to spend a lot of money.
Let us begin the cost by considering the three types of application development.
1. Native Applications
In the UAE, many companies have developed applications for their business and some have developed applications for the general public. These applications are built in the native language of the operating system. Nowadays, many companies are developing applications in the UAE, and they are developing applications for the Android operating system. And the cost of developing an application for the Android operating system is very high.
The cost of native applications depends on the three complexities.
- Low Complexity: AED 25,000 to AED 35,000
- Medium Complexity: AED 35,000 to AED 50,000
- High Complexity: AED 50,000 to AED 80,000
2. Progressive Web Apps
Progressive web applications are a type of application that is deployed and delivered through the web, built using the very popular techs which include markup language like HTML, styling using CSS and interactive elements, and real-time activity using JavaScript.
PWA is a new way of delivering the app. The app is built from scratch and then it is delivered through a website, the user can access the app like any other website. The development cost of PWA is AED 20,000 to AED 30,000.
3. Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps are the best of both worlds. They have the look and feel of a native app, but run in the web browser on any device. Hybrid apps are made from HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. This means that they can be used on any platform with a modern web browser. Hybrid apps can be published to all relevant app stores for each platform.
The cost of developing a hybrid mobile app depends on your needs and goals, although it is generally cheaper than native app development. It will cost nearly AED 20,000 to AED 40,000.
App Development Timeline and Average Cost
The cost of app development in the UAE varies according to the features and complexity of the app. The cost can be estimated based on the following factors:
Google Play Store has more than 2.8 million apps. The Android platform has a wide range of apps for every purpose from games, social networking, news, sports, education to business apps and entertainment. An iOS platform is also available with a huge collection of apps for every purpose. It is reported that more than 1.2 million apps are available on both platforms. However, developing a smaller app can cost between AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 for basic functionalities.
The below table demonstrates the timeline and average cost of mobile app development based on the type of application.
| Application Type | Average Cost | Timeline |
| Basic App | ~$5,000 | ~1 month |
| Data-driven App | ~$10,000+ | ~1-1.5 months |
| Authentication App | ~$15,000+ | ~3-6 months |
| Social Networking App | ~$25,000 – $30,000+ | ~3-6 up to 9+ months |
| eCommerce App | ~$10,000 – $30,000+ | ~3-6 up to 9+ months |
| On-demand App | ~$25,000 – $500,000+ (basic, per platform) |
~5-7+ months |
| Marketplace App | ~$50,000+ | ~ 9+ months |
| IoT Hardware App | ~$50,000+ | ~3-6 months |
Key Factors Influencing the Cost of App
The app development cost depends on several factors. You need to understand them, as it will help you determine the actual cost of your mobile app development project.
Here are some of the key factors that influence mobile app cost.
Understand them and know how they can help you estimate the cost of your mobile app development project.
1. Features of your mobile app:
The first and foremost factor that determines the cost of your mobile app is the features it will have. More features mean more money. You need to identify which features are essential for your mobile app, and which ones can be done without. This will help you save money on unnecessary features, and thus reduce the overall cost of your app development project.
2. Device compatibility:
Another major factor that influences mobile app cost is device compatibility. While developing a mobile app, you need to identify which devices will support it, and which ones won’t. If you are developing a mobile app for Android, then it will be compatible with all Android devices. Your app may not be compatible with iOS or Windows mobile devices. You need to identify which devices your app will support, and thus save money on the development of a version for those devices that won’t support your app.
3. Development tools and frameworks:
The more advanced the tools and frameworks you use, the higher will be the cost of your mobile application development project. For example, if you use Xcode for iOS development and Android SDK for Android development, it will cost you more than using a basic tool like Phonegap.
4. Location:
The cost of your mobile app development project also depends on the location of your development team. If your mobile app development team is situated in India, then it will cost you less than if it is situated in the US. Thus, it is necessary to identify where your mobile app development team is located and then determine its cost. It will help you reduce the overall cost of your mobile app development project.
5. Platform:
Another factor that influences the cost of your mobile app is the platform. For example, if you are developing an Android app, then it will be available on Google Play Store. But if you are developing an iOS app, then you will need to submit it to the Apple App Store.
So, it is important to identify which platform your mobile app will support, and then save money on the development of a version for those platforms that won’t support your app. It will help you reduce the overall cost of your mobile app development project.
Wrapping Up
The Mobile App Development Cost in UAE in 2022 will be $1.8 billion. The reason for this is that the demand for mobile apps is on the rise and it is predicted that billions of dollars will be spent on developing these applications. The cost of developing an app depends on several factors including the platform, the features, and the location where you want your app to be developed. Therefore, the cost of developing an app will increase in the coming years. What matters is partnering with mobile app development companies in UAE for moving ahead with the project.
