Software, Web and App Development for Businesses in the UAE
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, and a digital project there often has to account for more than one rulebook. A mainland company in Dubai, a DIFC firm and an ADGM firm in Abu Dhabi can fall under different data-protection regimes, and a single website may serve Emirati citizens, long-term residents and visitors who read English first. Since 2022 the federal working week runs Monday to Friday with a Saturday and Sunday weekend, which differs from the rest of the GCC.
UAE buyers usually arrive with a clear reference point: they have used polished consumer apps and government services such as UAE Pass, and they expect the same speed, bilingual polish and payment options from a local business. Procurement teams ask early about data residency, VAT treatment and who owns the source code. Marketing teams expect Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to be planned together rather than treated as afterthoughts.
We are based in Doha, Qatar, and we have no office in the UAE. We deliver UAE projects remotely from Doha, one hour behind UAE time, working in Arabic and English. Our shared working days with UAE clients are Monday to Thursday, and we plan releases and support windows around that. When a workshop in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is useful, it is a short flight, and the cost is agreed in advance rather than hidden in the quote.
What changes for a project in UAE
- VAT
- 5% VAT has applied since 2018. Checkouts, quotes and invoices must show VAT correctly, and registered businesses issue tax invoices with their TRN.
- Data protection
- Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021 (PDPL) covers most mainland processing. DIFC and ADGM have their own data-protection laws, so the applicable regime depends on where the company is licensed.
- Payments
- There is no single dominant national debit scheme for online checkout. Merchants use gateways such as Network International, PayTabs or Telr, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and BNPL. The domestic Jaywan card scheme is new, so gateway support should be confirmed per project.
- Working week
- The UAE federal weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Qatar's is Friday and Saturday, so shared working days are Monday to Thursday.
- Digital identity
- UAE Pass is the national digital identity and is used for sign-in and document signing across many government and some private services.
Our services for UAE businesses
Website Development
UAE websites typically need AED pricing, VAT-inclusive totals and a gateway such as Network International, PayTabs or Telr, alongside Apple Pay and BNPL options like Tabby or Tamara. We build Arabic and English versions as equal sites with proper RTL layouts, not a translated overlay. For free-zone companies we check whether DIFC or ADGM data rules apply to contact and lead forms.
Mobile Applications
Apps for the UAE often need UAE Pass sign-in where the audience includes citizens and residents dealing with regulated services. Because many users switch between Arabic and English, we build language switching that does not require a restart and test RTL layouts on both iOS and Android. Push notification timing is set for Gulf Standard Time, not Doha time.
Enterprise Software
ERP and back-office systems for UAE companies need 5% VAT logic, tax invoices that meet Federal Tax Authority requirements and reporting that separates mainland and free-zone entities. The UAE has announced a phased move to mandatory B2B e-invoicing, so we design invoice data structures that can be connected to an accredited e-invoicing provider without rebuilding the system.
Digital Marketing
Paid campaigns in the UAE usually need separate Arabic and English creative and often separate targeting for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates. Influencer and paid-promotion work is subject to UAE Media Council rules, including an advertiser permit for people who promote products on social media, so we check permits before a creator is booked.
Graphic Design
UAE brands frequently need bilingual identities where the Arabic wordmark is designed alongside the Latin one, not added later. We also prepare assets for signage and print, where Arabic text is often required next to English. Visual choices around national symbols and the flag are handled carefully, as their commercial use is restricted.
SEO Services
Search in the UAE splits between English queries, often from residents, and Arabic queries, and the two need separate keyword research rather than direct translation. We set up hreflang for Arabic and English pages, target AE results in Google Search Console and handle emirate-level terms such as Dubai versus Abu Dhabi where a business serves only one.
Cyber Security
Security reviews for UAE clients map findings against the PDPL and, where relevant, the DIFC or ADGM data-protection regimes and any sector rules from the Central Bank or TDRA. We focus on practical controls: access management, logging, backup testing and third-party integrations such as payment gateways and CRMs.
Video Production
Video for UAE audiences usually needs Arabic and English versions, with subtitles for silent autoplay on Instagram and LinkedIn. We handle scripting, editing, voiceover and subtitling from Doha. Filming in the UAE requires permits for many public locations, so where on-location footage is needed we plan with a licensed UAE crew or use client-supplied footage.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
No. Louis Innovations is based in Doha, Qatar, and has no office, staff or licence in the UAE. We deliver UAE projects remotely from Doha in Arabic and English. When a project benefits from an in-person workshop or launch, we travel, and those costs are agreed in writing before the work starts rather than added later.
How do meetings work with the time and weekend differences?
The UAE is one hour ahead of Doha. The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday while Qatar's is Friday and Saturday, so our shared days are Monday to Thursday. We schedule standing meetings inside that window, agree a Friday contact for urgent issues when a project needs it, and avoid deploying on days when either side is off.
Can you invoice a UAE company, and in which currency?
Yes. We contract as a Qatar company and invoice from Qatar. The billing currency, usually QAR or USD, is agreed in the contract. Because the dirham and the Qatari riyal are both pegged to the US dollar, exchange-rate movement is small. Your finance team should confirm with its tax adviser how the UAE reverse-charge rules apply to services bought from abroad.
Which data-protection law applies to my website?
It depends on where your company is licensed. Mainland and most free-zone businesses fall under the federal PDPL. Companies in the DIFC or ADGM follow those centres' own data-protection laws. We identify the applicable regime at the start and design consent, retention and hosting accordingly, but we are not lawyers, so formal legal sign-off stays with your counsel.
Can you add UAE Pass login to our app or portal?
UAE Pass integration requires the service provider to register and be approved through the UAE Pass onboarding process, which your organisation applies for. Once you have sandbox access, we build and test the integration and handle the Arabic and English user journeys. If your service does not qualify, we build a standard email or phone sign-in instead.
Which payment gateway should a UAE online store use?
There is no single answer. Network International suits merchants already banking with its partner banks, while PayTabs and Telr are common for smaller stores that want quick onboarding. The choice depends on your bank, fees, settlement times and whether you need Apple Pay or BNPL. We integrate the gateway you contract with and test AED amounts and VAT totals end to end.