Dubai’s digital landscape is thriving—and if you’re a local business owner, having a strong online presence is no longer optional, it’s essential. WordPress is a popular, powerful platform, but to truly stand out in the competitive Dubai market, you need to customize your WordPress site for local relevance, user behavior, and business goals.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to customize WordPress for Dubai-based businesses with the help of expert web developers in Dubai, like the trusted team at Devherds, a top-tier website development company known for delivering custom web solutions that convert.
Why Customize WordPress for the Dubai Market?
Sure, WordPress offers thousands of pre-built themes and plugins. But will a cookie-cutter website connect with Dubai’s multicultural audience? Probably not.
Here’s why customization matters:
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Dubai has a diverse, bilingual population (Arabic & English)
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Local search behavior and preferences are unique
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Custom functionality is often needed (e.g., UAE payment gateways, delivery integrations)
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You need fast, mobile-friendly websites to engage users effectively
Devherds specializes in crafting localized WordPress experiences that help businesses grow and scale in Dubai.
Step 1: Use a Bilingual Setup (Arabic + English)
Dubai’s audience speaks both Arabic and English, so your website should too.
Customization tips:
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Use plugins like WPML or Polylang to add multilingual functionality
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Design pages to support Right-to-Left (RTL) layout for Arabic
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Translate not just the content, but also menus, buttons, and metadata
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Make sure the font choices and visual flow suit both languages
Devherds builds fully bilingual WordPress sites that feel natural in both languages.
Step 2: Customize Themes to Reflect Local Culture
While most WordPress themes are designed for Western markets, Dubai has its own aesthetic expectations.
How to localize your theme:
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Adjust color schemes to reflect your brand and appeal to regional tastes
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Use culturally relevant imagery (no generic stock photos)
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Include Arabic typography support
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Design layouts that emphasize trust (certifications, awards, partners)
Web developers in Dubai understand how to make your website look professional and relatable to a local audience.
Step 3: Integrate Local Payment Gateways
If you’re running an online store or accepting payments online, you’ll need to integrate:
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PayTabs
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Telr
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Network International
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Checkout.com
These are the most widely used payment gateways in Dubai and are trusted by UAE customers.
Devherds seamlessly integrates these services with WooCommerce or custom WordPress forms, ensuring a secure, hassle-free checkout experience.
Step 4: Add UAE-Based Delivery & Logistics Integrations
Selling products? Great. Now let’s get them delivered on time.
Customization ideas:
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Add live shipping rate calculators for Aramex, Fetchr, or Emirates Post
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Enable real-time order tracking on your website
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Automate shipping label generation and pickups
These custom features not only enhance UX but also streamline your logistics workflow.
Step 5: Optimize for Dubai Local SEO
Ranking on Google UAE is different from ranking globally.
Here’s what to focus on:
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Include local keywords (e.g., “cafe in Downtown Dubai”, “best salon in JLT”)
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Use localized meta tags and schema markup
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Create Arabic and English SEO-optimized content
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Register with Google My Business (with correct Dubai address and service areas)
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Add a map to your contact page using Google Maps API
With Devherds, SEO is part of the build—not an afterthought.
Step 6: Customize Your Contact & Booking Features
Your Dubai customers want convenience—give it to them.
Customization options include:
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WhatsApp Chat buttons (very popular in the UAE)
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Appointment booking forms (integrated with your calendar)
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Google Maps with location pins
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Contact forms with UAE-based phone formatting
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Email auto-responders in both Arabic and English
Web developers in Dubai ensure your contact points feel smooth, fast, and localized.
Step 7: Make It Mobile-First and Speed Optimized
Dubai users are mobile-first. If your website isn’t optimized, they’ll bounce.
Here’s what to do:
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Use responsive design (custom layouts for smartphones)
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Compress images for fast loading
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Use caching plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket
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Leverage CDNs that serve UAE regions (like Cloudflare)
Devherds optimizes every WordPress build for speed and mobile responsiveness.
Step 8: Customize Security Features
Cybersecurity is a growing concern in the UAE. Your site needs to be airtight.
Add:
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SSL certificate (HTTPS)
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Two-factor login for admin users
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IP blocking (to prevent global brute-force attacks)
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Anti-spam filters for forms and comments
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GDPR/UAEPD compliance checklists for data protection
With Devherds, every site comes with enterprise-grade WordPress security setup.
Step 9: Add UAE-Specific Analytics and Insights
Understanding your audience is crucial.
Install and configure:
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Google Analytics 4 with audience demographics
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Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity for behavior tracking
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Conversion tracking for paid ads targeting Dubai users
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UTM-tagged URLs for local marketing campaigns
These insights help you grow smarter.
Step 10: Add Trust Elements That Resonate Locally
Trust sells—especially online.
Customize your site to show:
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Dubai Chamber membership badges
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Google reviews widget
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Local client logos or testimonials
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Awards or certifications (ISO, DMCC, etc.)
Web developers in Dubai know how to highlight these to build credibility fast.
Step 11: Customize Admin Dashboard for Easy Updates
A WordPress backend that’s messy or complex = wasted time.
Have your developer:
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Clean up the admin menu
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Add custom content fields (ACF plugin)
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Set user roles with proper permissions
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Pre-load reusable blocks and templates
This makes updating your site a breeze—even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Why Choose Devherds to Customize Your Dubai WordPress Site?
Devherds isn’t just any development agency. They’re the go-to web developers in Dubai for businesses that want results.
Here’s what makes them the best choice:
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Deep understanding of the Dubai market
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Arabic-English bilingual development expertise
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Experience with local integrations (payment, shipping, CRM)
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Custom design + speed + SEO baked in
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Transparent communication and full support
If you want a custom WordPress website that speaks to Dubai, looks amazing, and actually grows your business—go with Devherds.
Conclusion
Customizing WordPress for local Dubai businesses isn’t just about plugins and design tweaks—it’s about building a website that feels native to your audience, works with local tools, and delivers on your business goals.
With the right plan and a trusted partner like Devherds, your WordPress site will not only stand out in Dubai’s crowded market—but also drive real results.