A cheap one-off website costs less on paper, but you then look after hosting, security and updates yourself. A £99 a month website costs more over time, but design, hosting, maintenance and small updates are all included. Neither is the catch-free option, so here is what each one really involves for a Dubai business.
What do you actually get with a cheap one-off website?
A cheap website in Dubai, often AED 1,500 to AED 3,000, usually means a template with your logo and text dropped in. That can be perfectly fine for a simple brochure site. The price covers the build and, normally, nothing after launch.
The costs that arrive later are the ones people forget. Hosting and your domain renew every year. Security and software updates have to be applied or the site becomes a target. Changes such as a new price, a new photo or a new page are either your job or a new invoice. None of this is a scam, it just is not in the headline price.
What do you get with a £99 a month website?
The £99 a month plan (roughly AED 480) is a managed service. Design, build, hosting, maintenance, updates, security and backups are all inside the one fee, with no big upfront cost. When something needs changing, you message me instead of hunting for a developer.
It is built mobile-first, fast and on-brand, and for businesses that want to be found it is set up with the clear structure that Google and AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can read. You can see the full detail on the web design Dubai page.
So what is the catch with the monthly model?
There are three honest ones, and you should know them before signing anything:
- It is a subscription. Over a long time you will pay more than a one-off build. £99 a month is £1,188 in year one and £3,564 over three years.
- There is a 12-month minimum. You are committing for a year. If you leave afterwards, the site stays live until the end of your billing month.
- You rent the site until you buy it out. While you subscribe, the files are not yours. To own them permanently there is a one-off £499 buy-out, after which everything is transferred to you.
A domain is optional at a small extra cost, so you can bring your own or have one registered for you.
Which one is cheaper over three years?
On raw numbers, a cheap one-off site usually wins. A build of around AED 2,000 (about £410) plus yearly hosting will cost less than £3,564 over three years. The question is what the cheaper route leaves out: your time, the cost of urgent fixes, and the value of having someone to call.
If you also add the £499 buy-out after year one, the monthly route comes to £1,687 for a site you own outright, with a year of hosting and maintenance already covered. For a deeper breakdown of freelancer, studio and agency pricing, read how much a website costs in Dubai in 2026.
Who should choose which?
A cheap one-off site suits you if you are comfortable handling hosting and updates, you rarely need changes, or you have a developer who will look after it.
The £99 a month plan suits you if you want a professional site live quickly, you would rather spend your time running the business, and you like predictable monthly costs. It also suits businesses running ads that need a fast-loading page, and if that is you, a landing page is often the right first step. Not sure which you need? Read landing page vs website.
What should you ask before you sign for any website?
Whoever you choose, get clear answers to these questions in writing: Who owns the website files and the domain? What happens if you want to leave? What exactly is included each month or year? How long do changes take? A good provider answers all four without hesitation.
Key takeaways
- A cheap one-off website is cheaper upfront, but hosting, security and changes are usually extra.
- The £99 a month plan bundles design, hosting, maintenance, updates, security and backups.
- The monthly catch: a 12-month minimum, and you rent the files until the £499 buy-out.
- Over three years a one-off build usually costs less; the monthly plan buys you convenience and support.
- Always ask who owns the files and what happens if you leave.
Want to see exactly what is included? Check the £99 a month plan on the homepage or book a free call and I will tell you honestly which route fits your business.
Frequently asked questions
Is a £99 a month website worth it?
It is worth it if you want a professional site without a large upfront bill and do not want to manage hosting, security and updates yourself. If you have a developer in-house or like to run things yourself, a one-off build can work out cheaper over several years.
What is the catch with a cheap one-off website?
The build is cheap, but hosting, domain renewals, security updates and any changes are usually your job or billed separately afterwards. Cheap sites are also often built on rigid templates, which can leave them slow, generic and hard to rank.
Can I own my website on the £99 a month plan?
Yes. The site stays live while you subscribe, and a one-off £499 buy-out transfers the website files to you permanently. You can upgrade to full ownership at any time.
How long is the £99 a month website commitment?
The plan runs on a 12-month minimum term. If you leave, your site stays live until the end of your billing month, and domain registration is optional at a small extra cost.
Based in Dubai, Positively Adam offers web design in Dubai and landing page design in Dubai for businesses across the UAE.
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