The fastest way to get a bad quote is to send a developer one line: "I want an app like Careem." You'll get wildly different numbers back, and none of them will be right. A short requirements document fixes that. It doesn't need to be technical. It just needs to answer a handful of honest questions.
Why bother?
Because developers price what they can see. If your idea lives only in your head, every agency fills the gaps with guesses, and the cheapest guess usually wins until the invoices start. A clear document means you compare like with like, and it saves weeks of back and forth once the project starts.
What goes in it
1. The goal, in two sentences
Who is this for, and what should it do for them? "Help homeowners in Dubai book a trusted cleaner in under a minute" is useful. "Be the best cleaning app" isn't.
2. Your users
List each type of person who will touch the product. A delivery app usually has customers, drivers, and an admin who manages everything. That's three products, not one, and it changes the price a lot.
3. The must-have features
Write the things the app can't launch without. Then, separately, write the nice-to-haves. Be strict. Every feature in the first list adds time and cost, and the second list is your roadmap for version two. Our guide on building an app for a UAE startup shows how to draw that line.
4. Integrations
Payments, maps, SMS, your CRM, your accounting system, a government or partner service. Name them. Integrations are a classic source of surprises, so the earlier they appear, the better. If payments are involved, read up on UAE payment options first.
5. Languages and platforms
Arabic, English or both? iPhone, Android or both? Both languages need right-to-left layouts, which is easier to plan from day one, as explained in our Arabic localisation guide.
6. Examples you like and dislike
Screenshots beat paragraphs. Collect three apps you admire and say why. Add one you can't stand and say why that too.
7. Budget range and timing
Yes, share it. A range lets the developer suggest what's realistic instead of quoting a fantasy. Typical timelines are in how long it takes to build a mobile app.
A simple template
| Section | Write down |
|---|---|
| Goal | Two sentences on who it's for and what it solves |
| Users | Each type of user and what they do |
| Must-haves | Features needed at launch |
| Later | Ideas for version two |
| Integrations | Payments, maps, SMS, other systems |
| Languages and platforms | Arabic, English, iOS, Android |
| References | Apps you like and dislike |
| Budget and date | A range and a target month |
Don't aim for perfect
A two-page document you finish today beats a forty-page one you never send. Your developer will ask questions and tighten it during discovery. What matters is that you've thought through the basics before the meeting. When you're ready, send it through our contact page and we'll reply with a scope and a clear quote.
