Penetration testing in the UAE typically costs between AED 12,000 and AED 60,000 for a single application or network scope, and AED 100,000 or more for enterprise-wide programmes. The spread is wide because price is driven by scope, depth and the tester’s methodology far more than by day rates. This guide explains what moves the number, what a fair quote includes and how to compare proposals without buying a scan dressed up as a test.
Key Takeaways
- Scope is the biggest cost driver: number of applications, IP addresses, user roles and environments.
- A manual, methodology-based test (OWASP, PTES, NIST SP 800-115) costs more than an automated scan and finds the vulnerabilities that matter.
- Indicative UAE ranges: external network AED 12,000 to 30,000; web application AED 15,000 to 45,000; mobile app AED 20,000 to 50,000; cloud or API AED 18,000 to 55,000.
- Retests, reporting quality, regulatory mapping and the tester’s certifications all legitimately change the price.
- Compare quotes on methodology, tester experience and deliverables, not on the lowest number.
What Is Included in a Penetration Test Price?
A professional penetration test is a time-boxed, manual assessment in which certified testers attempt to exploit weaknesses in an agreed scope, then document the impact and the fix. The price you are quoted should cover five things: scoping and rules of engagement, reconnaissance and testing effort, exploitation and validation, a report with risk-rated findings and remediation guidance, and a retest once fixes are applied.
If a quote is dramatically cheaper than the market, one of those elements is usually missing. The most common shortcut is replacing manual testing with an automated vulnerability scan and a reformatted PDF. Our guide to vulnerability scanning versus penetration testing explains why the two are not interchangeable.
Indicative Penetration Testing Prices in the UAE
The ranges below reflect typical 2026 market pricing from established providers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a single engagement of average complexity. They are indicative only; every test is scoped individually.
- External network penetration test: AED 12,000 to 30,000 for up to 50 public IP addresses.
- Internal network penetration test: AED 20,000 to 60,000 depending on subnets, Active Directory scope and whether an assumed-breach scenario is included.
- Web application penetration test: AED 15,000 to 45,000 per application, rising with the number of user roles, forms and integrations.
- Mobile application test (iOS and Android): AED 20,000 to 50,000 per app, including the back-end APIs it calls.
- API penetration test: AED 18,000 to 45,000 depending on endpoint count and authentication models.
- Cloud penetration test (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud): AED 20,000 to 55,000, usually combined with a configuration review.
- Wireless or physical testing: AED 10,000 to 25,000 per site.
- Red team engagement: AED 80,000 to 250,000 or more, because it runs for weeks against people, processes and technology.
Enterprise programmes that bundle several of these across a year are usually priced as an annual retainer with a discount of 10 to 20 percent against one-off engagements.
Eight Factors That Change the Price
1. Scope size. More applications, hosts, roles and environments mean more tester days. A customer portal with five user roles takes longer than a brochure site.
2. Testing approach. Black-box testing (no credentials or documentation) is cheaper per day but finds less. Grey-box testing with credentials and architecture diagrams is the best value for most UAE organisations. White-box testing with source code costs the most and is usually reserved for critical applications; our secure code review service covers this.
3. Depth and methodology. Tests aligned to OWASP WSTG, OWASP MASTG, PTES or NIST SP 800-115 include manual business-logic testing that scanners cannot perform. Expect to pay for it.
4. Regulatory requirements. Tests that must satisfy CBUAE, NESA/UAE IA, DESC ISR, ADHICS or PCI DSS need specific evidence, segmentation checks and reporting formats. Our guide to CBUAE cybersecurity requirements shows how banks are expected to test.
5. Tester qualifications. OSCP, OSWE, CREST and GIAC-certified testers command higher rates and deliver more reliable results.
6. Reporting and remediation support. Executive summaries, developer-ready reproduction steps and remediation workshops add cost but shorten time to fix.
7. Retesting. One retest of fixed findings is usually included within 30 to 90 days. Unlimited retests or continuous testing are priced separately.
8. Timing and urgency. Tests needed within days for an audit or go-live attract a premium of 20 to 40 percent.
Penetration Test vs Vulnerability Scan: A Cost Comparison
An automated external vulnerability scan costs a few hundred to a few thousand dirhams per month as a managed service. It is valuable, but it answers a different question: which known weaknesses exist, rather than what an attacker could actually do with them.
Most regulated UAE organisations need both. Continuous managed vulnerability scanning keeps the hygiene baseline, and an annual or semi-annual penetration test proves exploitability and satisfies regulators and customers.
How Often Should UAE Organisations Test?
Annual testing is the minimum most frameworks expect, including ISO 27001, UAE IA and PCI DSS. Test again after significant changes: a new customer-facing application, a cloud migration, a merger or a major infrastructure change. Banks and payment firms commonly test critical channels twice a year and run red-team exercises every 12 to 24 months. See our complete penetration testing guide for the UAE for methodology and regulatory detail.
How to Compare Penetration Testing Quotes
- Ask for the methodology and the standards the test will follow, in writing.
- Ask who will perform the test and request certifications, not just the company’s.
- Confirm the number of tester days and whether exploitation is in scope.
- Request a sample report with a real (redacted) finding, including reproduction steps.
- Check that a retest, a remediation call and regulator-ready evidence are included.
- Clarify data handling: where findings are stored and for how long, which matters under the UAE PDPL.
If two quotes differ by more than 50 percent for the same scope, the cheaper one is almost always doing less. Our comparison of red teaming and penetration testing helps you decide which engagement type you actually need before you ask for prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a penetration test cost in Dubai?
For a single application or network scope, expect AED 12,000 to 60,000 depending on size, depth and reporting requirements. Enterprise programmes covering multiple systems typically start at AED 100,000 per year. Prices are indicative and depend on scope.
Why is penetration testing more expensive than a vulnerability scan?
A penetration test is performed manually by certified testers who attempt real exploitation and business-logic attacks, then write a tailored report. A vulnerability scan is automated and only reports known signatures. The manual effort is what you pay for and what finds the serious issues.
Is penetration testing mandatory in the UAE?
It is required or strongly expected under several frameworks, including NESA/UAE IA for critical entities, CBUAE requirements for financial institutions, DESC ISR for Dubai government entities, ADHICS for Abu Dhabi healthcare and PCI DSS for anyone handling card data. ISO 27001 also expects regular technical testing.
What is a grey-box penetration test?
A grey-box test gives the tester limited information such as user credentials and architecture diagrams. It is more efficient than black-box testing and finds more issues per day, which makes it the best value for most organisations.
How long does a penetration test take?
A single web application or external network test usually takes five to ten working days including reporting. Internal network, cloud and multi-application tests take two to four weeks. Red-team engagements run four to eight weeks.
Does the price include a retest?
Reputable providers include one retest of fixed findings within 30 to 90 days. Always confirm this in the proposal, because a retest is what lets you evidence closure to auditors and customers.
Talk to a UAE Cybersecurity Team
Cybersecurity MEA delivers network penetration testing, web application security testing and cloud penetration testing from Dubai, with certified testers, regulator-ready reporting and a retest included. Request a scoped quote or ask for our testing service data sheet.