In the era of rapid digitalisation, ‘software’ products have become the basic necessity of businesses all around the world. A custom software development company in Dubai is one of the most flourishing businesses these days. Since software products can wind up various business processes faster than humans without any fatigue, software development services are the most demanded ones.
After reading this blog, you will understand the true meaning of a ‘software product’ and the difference between pre-built and custom software. Above, all, you will get a rough idea about software development costs in Dubai. You will also learn some tricks and tips to optimise the cost. So, here is all for you!
Table of Contents
Understanding the True Meaning of ‘Software’
Before directly jumping to the cost, software experts opine that everyone must know the real meaning of a ‘software’ product. Most of the non-IT businesses misunderstand the term ‘software’.
They believe that ‘software’ is the business process automation tool only. But, that’s not true! Everything that you see and interact with on your hardware devices like mobile, laptop, desktop, tablet or any other smart device is ‘software’.
Enterprise software products or business process automation tools are only a part of ‘software products’. Majorly, the following elements also come under the ‘software’ category.
Applications
Apps that one uses on mobile phones, laptops, and desktop devices are also a form of software products. The calculator, phonebook, photo gallery, WhatsApp, Instagram, and even the game you play, all are software products.
Websites & Web Apps
The websites are web applications and are also a type of software product only. Your business website, e-commerce web apps (websites that render app-like experiences), and gaming websites, all are software.
Operating Systems
The platform on which other software applications like mobile apps, desktop apps, websites etc. run is the ‘operating system’. Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS all are examples of Operating Systems
Malware
All kinds of malware attacks are also malicious kinds of software products. The cybercriminal either auto-installs or induces you too install malicious software unintentionally to gain access to your Personal Computer (PC). And here you lose all your sensitive data.
Off-the-Shelf Software Products Vs. Customised Software
However, for business process automation, off-the-shelf software products like SAP, Oracle, Jira, Salesforce CRM, Trello, ClickUp and many more are often seen as a go-to solution. However, still, custom software development is still the first choice of businesses.
Since customised software products give tailored user experience, therefore, businesses prefer them.
Estimated Custom Software Development Cost Category-Wise
Now, let us discover some more types of software products and discuss custom software development costs with a rough estimate. If you take services from a well-established Custom Software Development Company in Dubai, it will cost you in the following manner.
Website Development Cost
There are various types of websites. Broadly speaking, your website can be either static or functional. The cost to create a website also depends upon the type of website. While a static website only offers important business information to the visitor, a functional website also has scope for interaction.
However, the fashion of static websites is gone long back. These days, businesses prefer only functional websites that can:
- Help the visitor navigate through the entire website with ‘Call to Action’ (CTA) icons.
- It has interactive forms where visitors can leave their queries
- Also, there is a calling and mailing option that helps the visitor call or message the website owner directly from the web page without having to open his/her phonebook, Gmail, or WhatsApp.
- Share crucial information found on the website on social media with a share icon.
And many more. On a rough estimate, a basic functional website (a trendy one) with up to 25 web pages can cost between 5,000 AED and 10,000 AED if you are choosing custom website development.
However, the exact estimate comes from a website development company in Dubai when you share your website requirements and ideation with them. So, first, share your ideation. However, the cost will positively not go beyond the bracket provided above.
Web App Development Cost
Next comes highly functional websites. Websites that provide an app-like user experience to the visitor are web apps. Say, for example, Amazon, the e-commerce giant. On its website, you can log in with your credentials and can have an app-like experience.
A web app can cost between 12,500 AED and 30,000 AED. Web applications are complex to build as they require various functionalities. The web developer needs to integrate different types of APIs in one web app and make them work together seamlessly.
Enterprise Software Development Cost
Now the most popular category of software products. That is the enterprise software products. The software products used for business process automation are known as enterprise software.
Say, for example, software used in accounting, bookkeeping, human resource management, payroll management, Email marketing etc.
However, various pre-built software products already exist in the market as already discussed in the previous sections. Still many times, an organisation needs or in fact ‘deserves’ a tailored software product. In the battle of off-the-shelf software vs. custom software products, the latter always stands out.
Coming to the cost, an enterprise software product may cost between 18,000 AED and 85,000 AED. Again the cost will depend upon some factors that we will discuss in the section coming ahead in this blog.
Single Page Application (SPA) Development Cost
Web applications that have a single web page, a few functionalities, but an app-like experience are Single Page Apps (SPAs). Instagram web, Facebook, YouTube, and even Spotify web are some prominent examples.
In all these kinds of web apps, you will notice, that the main interface remains the same on every page. Only the content changes. However, all these apps are now renowned brands so if you try to copy them, you will need to pay a handsome amount.
But, to be clear, a basic SPA must cost you between 12,000 AED and 35,000 AED. This is because it requires limited functionalities. So, developing SPAs is not seriously complex.
Mobile App Development Cost
Now comes another most popular category of software products. Mobile applications! Businesses may need mobile apps for their customers or also for internal employees.
As mobile apps are already a popular category and we do not need to explain much about them, let’s come to the cost directly. A custom mobile app development cost can range between 22,000 AED and 250,000 AED on a rough estimate.
However, remember that the Android app development cost in Dubai might have a bracket of 22,000 AED to 170,000 AED.
On the contrary, iOS app development costs might range between 30,000 AED and 275,000 AED.
Desktop Application Development Cost
The apps that you use on the desktop and laptop come under the desktop software category. Businesses generally prefer business process automation software in the form of desktop applications.
The reason behind is that official work takes place on the PCs and having an installed application makes business data easily accessible. So, If you are making enterprise software for business process automation, then it will cost you around 60,000 AED and 150,000 AED for Windows.
However, if it is about the MacOS, then it will cost a little more. In the case of MacOS app development, the cost might range between 106,000 AED and 190,000 AED.
One more point that you must remember is that if you choose hybrid app development (discussed later in the blog) then, the cost will rise further.
Progressive Web App (PWA) Development Cost
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are cheaper yet better alternatives to desktop and even mobile applications. PWA development is the latest approach quite popular among the youth.
Progressive Web Apps are a type of web application which provides mobile and desktop app-like user experience. However, the user does need not to install heavy software application files on the smart device. The users can access all functionalities right over the browser.
However, when you get a PWA for your business, the users can kind of ‘bookmark’ your web app’s URL and add its Icon on the home screen of the smart device. So, it ‘seems’ like a desktop or mobile app, but indeed is a web app URL.
Therefore, a PWA will cost slightly higher than a web app but much lower than desktop or mobile apps. On a rough estimate, PWA development in Dubai can cost between 15,000 AED and 40,000 AED.
Cross-Platform App Development Cost
Now coming to the trending mobile app development services. These days, businesses prefer to invest in software apps that run on multiple platforms.
However, in the UAE, Almost 87% of the smart device users are Android users and the remaining 12% are iOS users. Therefore, Android app development is usually the first choice of a business.
But when businesses wish to target a 100% audience and eyes for global expansion, then having an iOS app also becomes a necessity. In such cases, cross-platform app development is an ideal choice for saving costs, time, and effort.
In cross-platform development, the software development team will write a single code base that runs effortlessly on both Android as well as iOS platforms. The cost to create a cross-platform software app may range between 34,000 AED and 320,000 AED.
Hybrid Development Cost
If a business wishes to go one step forward and target both smartphone as well as desktop or laptop users, then hybrid software development is the option.
In hybrid app development, the software engineers writes a single codebase for all platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS etc.
The cost of hybrid app development in Dubai can range anywhere between 100,000 AED and 340,000 AED.
Operating System Development Cost
Next is Operating System (OS). However, we are sure that hardly any business would require OS development services. Tech giant Microsoft has already dominated the OS market. A handful of people prefer MacOS by Apple Inc.
Did you know that cost of Windows 1.0 OS development was $99 (approx. 365 AED then) in the year 1985? However, Windows Vistas was developed in $6 Billion (approx. 22 billion AED now)?
Oh well, certainly, not our cup of tea, right? So, let it go! We must now focus on the factors that influence custom software development cost. And let’s figure out how we can optimise it!
Factors Affecting the Software Development Cost & How to Optimise It
Are you confused looking at such large cost brackets? Wondering how can the cost bracket be so vast? Well, it can be in the case of custom software development. The final cost depends upon various factors. So, let’s discuss briefly the major factors affecting the development cost:
- Software Complexity
Features, functions, algorithms, and logic that a coder requires to make an app set the ‘complexity’ level of a software product.
If the coder has to write highly complex logics and make multiple functions work seamlessly together, then certainly the complexity is high. For example, Medical Fitness software apps that collect vital body facts, analyse them, notify the doctors, renders information from varying databases are the most complex type of software products.
On the contrary, if an application has the most basic functions, then the complexity is low. Say, for example, a ‘calculator’ or ‘converter’ software is the simplest form of software product.
Simple software products like Human Resource Management System, Accounting Software and marketing automation software come under the ‘Medium Complex Category’.
- Choice of Technology Stack
Then comes technology stack! Choosing the most standard technology stack which is open-source, pioneering, and age old optimises the software development cost to a great extent.
Say, for example, choosing standard programming languages like Python, PHP, Kotlin, Java, JavaScript for your project. Utilising Node.JS, React.JS, React Native, ASP.Net core, and Android Studio as development tools keep the cost under control without compromising product quality.
On the contrary, if you choose the ‘latest’ technologies like Ruby on Rails, Swift, Objective-C, Flask, Laravel etc. will increase the cost. The reason is that the newer technologies may or may not be open source.
Additionally, finding skilled developers trained in newer technologies can be a bit difficult. So, scarcity increases the cost!
- Location of the Development Team
Simple logic! The more expensive the country, the higher the software development cost. If you are outsourcing your project to countries like the USA, UK, and Germany, then remember that the value of AED is not higher or even equal to their respective currencies.
However, if you choose on-shore development in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Quwain, or Ras Al Khaimah, then certainly the costs will fall under your capacities.
Furthermore, if you wish to reduce the cost even further, then choose custom software development company from India or China. AED is stronger than Indian Rupee (INR) and Yuan (CNY). So, here you will get hardworking, dedicated and talented labor at a lower price.
- Brand Name of the Software Development Company
Just like the same cup of coffee in Starbucks is much more expensive than a cup of coffee in the Dubai streets because of the brand name, custom software development will cost higher in prestigious companies and better in well-established but small brand companies.
Therefore, we recommend to choose a company with at least 8-10 years of experience, good professionalism, and a fine portfolio. Your don’t need to choose a ‘renowned name’ randomly.
Final Thoughts
So, custom software development services in Dubai can range anywhere between 5,000 AED and 500,000 AED depending upon the software app type, its complexity, features, functions, and even the country and the company you choose for outsourcing your project. You have to be a good planner and decision maker to get the best out of so many options. For any further queries or free IT consulting services, feel free to contact us. We will guide you every possible way! All the best for your project.
FAQs
- How long does it take to create a custom software application?
Just like the cost, the time frame of a custom software development also depends upon the factors that affect the cost. On a rough estimate, custom software development can take 3 months to 18 months depending upon development complexities.
- What is on-shore and off-shore software development?
When outsourcing a software development project, if you choose a company based in your own country, it becomes on-shore development. On the other hand, if you outsource outside your country it becomes off-shore development. Also, if you outsource your project to your neighboring country (like outsourcing from Dubai to Abu Dhabi or vice-versa), it becomes near-shore development.
- Which country is best to outsource software project from Dubai?
To outsource software development project from Dubai, UAE, Abu Dhabi is a great choice for near-shore development. For off-shore development India is another best option. Here you will get highly talented workers at a much lower prices.
- If I take Custom software development services from Ezulix, will I get the source code ownership?
It will totally depend upon the agreement between you and us. If you wish to buy the source code from us, you can by paying for the same. Afterwards, we shall have no ownership and interference from our side!
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