How much does branding cost in Dubai in 2026? Logo, identity and agency prices
By Bilal Haider, Founder, Theepa Studio · · 4 min read
Short answer
In 2026 Dubai price guides, branding runs from a few hundred dirhams for a marketplace logo to more than AED 150,000 for an enterprise identity. Boutique studios quote about AED 5,000 to 40,000, and a full identity system costs roughly AED 25,000 to 60,000. Scope, research depth, Arabic adaptation and the seniority of the team explain most of the difference.
How much does branding cost in Dubai in 2026?
Branding in Dubai costs anything from about AED 150 for a logo file bought on a marketplace to more than AED 150,000 for a multi-market identity from a large agency. For a growing business, the realistic middle is a boutique studio at roughly AED 5,000 to 40,000, or a full identity system at about AED 25,000 to 60,000. Those figures come from two 2026 price guides by Dubai design businesses, Carril Agency and Confetti.
The range is wide because "branding" covers everything from one logo to strategy, naming, guidelines, packaging and a rollout plan. Decide what you need first, then compare prices for that scope.
What do Dubai designers and agencies charge for branding?
Here are both guides side by side, quoted as published:
| Who does the work | Carril Agency (March 2026) | Confetti (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Online platforms and marketplaces | AED 150 to 1,500 | AED 200 to 1,500 |
| Freelancer | AED 2,000 to 8,000 (junior designer or freelancer) | AED 1,500 to 5,000+ (experienced freelancer) |
| Boutique studio or small agency | AED 12,000 to 40,000 | AED 5,000 to 20,000 |
| Full identity project | Included in the agency tiers | AED 25,000 to 60,000 |
| Senior full-service or enterprise agency | AED 45,000 to 150,000+ | AED 60,000 to 150,000+ |
Carril's own recommendation for a growth-focused Dubai business is to plan for AED 15,000 to 40,000.
What do you get at each level?
Confetti also prices branding by scope rather than by supplier, which is the more useful way to plan:
| Scope | What it usually includes | Confetti estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Logo only | A mark and a few file versions | AED 500 to 10,000 |
| Core identity | Logo system, colours, typography, basic guidelines | AED 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Full identity system | Strategy, verbal and visual identity, full guidelines, applications | AED 25,000 to 60,000 |
| Multi-market or enterprise | Naming, brand architecture, several business units, rollout | AED 60,000+ |
A logo on its own is the cheapest line, but it is also the one most often redone within a year, because nobody wrote down how to use it. We explain the difference in brand identity vs logo.
Why does Arabic add cost to branding in the UAE?
Carril calls Arabic adaptation "one of the most underestimated cost factors" in UAE branding. A bilingual brand is not a translation of the English logo. It needs an Arabic wordmark or typeface that matches the Latin one in weight and character, right-to-left versions of the logo lockups, and layouts that work in both directions. Confetti also lists bilingual identity requirements as a factor that adds design complexity.
If you will trade in Arabic, say so in the brief. A quote that leaves Arabic out is not comparable with one that includes it.
Worked example: budgeting branding for a new Dubai cafe
A new cafe needs a logo system, colours and type, menus, cup and bag designs, signage files and social templates, in English and Arabic. Here's how to place it:
- 1Scope: more than a core identity, because packaging and signage are part of it, so it sits at the top of Confetti's core identity band or in its full identity band.
- 2Arabic: a bilingual sign and menu push it further up, as both guides note.
- 3Supplier: a boutique studio is the usual fit. In Carril's figures that's AED 12,000 to 40,000; in Confetti's, AED 5,000 to 20,000 before packaging is added.
- 4Timing: printers and sign makers need finished files weeks before opening, so agree a fixed delivery date in writing.
We cover cafe projects in more depth on our cafe branding in Dubai page.
How do you compare branding quotes in Dubai?
Put these questions to every supplier, and compare the answers rather than the totals:
- Deliverables: exactly which logo versions, guidelines and templates are included?
- Concepts and revisions: how many first concepts, and how many rounds of changes?
- Arabic: is a matching Arabic version included, or quoted separately?
- Files and ownership: will you get vector files (AI, PDF, SVG) and a written transfer of copyright? Our logo files checklist lists what to expect.
- Timeline: is there a fixed delivery date?
- Refunds: what happens if you don't like the first concepts?
Not sure what you need yet? Our free brand audit reviews your current brand, website and deck and tells you whether to refresh, rebrand or leave it. Theepa Studio's own fixed packages and prices are on the pricing page.
Sources
Bilal Haider
Founder, Theepa Studio
Bilal founded Theepa Studio in 2016. The studio has delivered more than 10,000 brand identities for companies in the US, UK and the GCC.
