How To Build An App Like Khaleej Times?

Key Takeaways:

• To build an app like Khaleej Times, you need a development process with scalable architecture, real-time content delivery, and a user-centric mobile experience.

• Apps like Khaleej Times succeed due to real-time updates, a clean UX/UI, and high performance, even during traffic spikes.

• Multiple monetization models, including subscriptions, ads, and sponsored content, make news apps highly profitable.

• Advanced features like AI personalization, smart notifications, audio news, and short-form videos significantly boost engagement and retention.

• The cost to develop a news app like Khaleej Times varies from $5000 to $70,000, depending on the project complexity.

The digital media landscape of Dubai is evolving rapidly, involving millions of users consuming news through mobile apps. As one of the UAE’s most trusted news brands, Khaleej Times never fails to set a strong benchmark for mobile journalism. It combines breaking news, business updates, lifestyle content, and regional insights into a seamless app experience.

For entrepreneurs and media houses in Dubai, to build a news app like Khaleej Times presents a highly scalable and profitable opportunity in 2026. Today, 99% of the UAE’s population is active internet users, equivalent to over 11 million people online.

However, creating a successful news application requires strong mobile architecture, immersive UI/UX design, real-time content delivery, multilingual support, and enterprise-level security.

In this blog, we’ll break down how to develop an app like Khaleej Times, covering features, technology stack, development process, and much more.

What is Khaleej Times?

Khaleej Times is the first English-language newspaper launched in 1978 for the people of the UAE. They launched their mobile application in 2014 to target a large mobile-based audience. Since then, it has become the longest-running English-language newspaper in the UAE.

This news app delivers real-time local and regional news, covering key areas such as Dubai governance, economy, real estate, technology, and global affairs. From a digital product perspective, Khaleej Times is more than just a news publisher. It is a well-designed content platform built for a diverse and modern audience. 

The success of Khaleej Times reflects Dubai’s mobile-first behavior, offering features such as breaking news alerts, specific content browsing, and seamless performance even during high-traffic news cycles. 

This makes it a strong reference model for anyone with mobile app ideas to build a news app like Khaleej Times for the market.

Current Khaleej Times Market Stats

The Dubai-based news app, Khaleej Times, ranks number 1 in terms of traffic throughout the entire UAE. The platform has a strong local engagement with over 1 million users and 500K + downloads on the Play Store.

Users spend a notable amount of time on the platform, with average session durations reflecting deeper content interaction compared to many competitors. 

For those worrying about income, the News & Magazine app market has generated sales of $1.79 billion. It is also projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% and reach at $4.06 billion by the end of 2032.

Benefits of Investing In Khaleej Times Like App Development

Investing in the Khaleej Times clone app development in a digitally mature city like Dubai offers strong long-term value. 

The online news consumption and daily engagement are growing, increasing the demand for a well-built news app. Let us discuss some benefits of investing in such news apps.

1. Market Size of News Apps

Dubai is at the heart of the UAE’s digital economy that captures a major share of the region’s mobile technology boom. With such a great rise, you must also create a news app like Khaleej Times.

The app must deliver instant, localized content that meets the daily needs of users. The consistent demand makes news apps highly scalable and sticky compared to many other app categories.

2. Multiple Revenue Streams

Khaleej Times-like app generates revenue through multiple streams, like sponsored content and premium subscriptions for exclusive or ad-free access. 

One can also involve services like event promotion, in-app advertising, affiliate partnerships, and more to generate revenue. The online advertising spending is projected to reach $663 million by 2029.

3. Consistent User Traffic

With breaking news, push notifications, and personalized content feeds, news apps naturally encourage regular user visits. Develop a news app like Khaleej Times that provides easy access to customers with an engaging content format. 

However, news apps grow repeat engagement, which increases lifetime user value and advertising effectiveness.

4. Cost-Effective Market Entry

The cost to build a mobile app in Dubai is significantly lower when compared to the traditional news business of print or broadcast. 

You begin with a basic news app and offer local news through the platform, having a minimal team for writing or publishing.

With the right mobile app development partner, businesses can enter the media space quickly. Moreover, you can test the market and scale based on real user data to reduce risk while maximizing ROI.

However, these are the benefits of investing in a news app like Khaleej Times. Now, we will discuss the mobile app development process for such apps.

Steps to Create an App Like Khaleej Times

To create a news app like Khaleej Times, you need a specialized development approach that supports real-time publishing, high traffic volumes, and seamless user engagement. 

Unlike normal apps, news applications must deliver fast updates and reliable performance across devices. Below, we will discuss the development process of a news application tailored for the Dubai market.

Step 1: Market Research & Requirement Analysis

The development process begins with in-depth market research focused on the Dubai news ecosystem. You must analyze the Dubai audience behavior and competitor apps.

Identify content categories such as business, local news, lifestyle, and breaking updates. Hence, this helps define app goals, monetization strategy, compliance needs, and technical requirements. 

Step 2: Planning and Strategy Formation

The next step to create an app like Khaleej Times is defining a clear strategy that aligns with your business goals. This stage involves identifying target users, selecting core news categories, and finalizing the monetization model.

Choose experts to build a strong strategy involving competitor analysis, platform selection, and defining scalability requirements. They have experience in handling high traffic during breaking news events.

Step 3: News App-Based UX/UI Design

UX/UI design for a news app focuses on delivering a seamless reading experience to enable quick access to real-time updates. A well-planned mobile app design approach includes intuitive navigation, clean article layouts, category-based content feeds, dark mode support, and accessibility-friendly typography. 

Interactive prototypes and app wireframing are created to optimize content discovery and reduce reading friction. Hence, this improves daily engagement, being a key success factor for high-retention news applications.

Step 4: Backend Development

A scalable backend infrastructure is essential for a Khaleej Times–like app. Hire dedicated developers to build a strong backend with a powerful Content Management System (CMS) to support real-time publishing and editorial control.

APIs are developed to enable seamless content delivery, personalization, and third-party integrations. The backend must efficiently handle high traffic volumes without performance degradation.

Step 5: Frontend Development

This next step involves building the core application architecture using the latest app tech stack. Develop high-performance iOS and Android applications using native or cross-platform technologies.

Ensure fast loading, smooth scrolling, and offline reading. Features like push notifications, text-to-speech, and multimedia support enhance the overall user experience.

Step 6: API & Tools Integration

A news app relies heavily on third-party and custom integrations. This step includes integrating real-time news APIs, push notification services, analytics tools, and advertising networks.

You must choose reliable partners who can help provide seamless integration. These integrations enable instant content publishing, audience engagement tracking, app monetization, and seamless content distribution across platforms.

Step 7: Performance Testing & Optimization

News apps experience unpredictable traffic spikes, especially during major events. Performance testing ensures the app can handle heavy loads without crashes or slowdowns.

This phase includes mobile app testing for load, security, cross-device compatibility checks, and API performance optimization. Continuous optimization ensures fast content delivery, stable app performance, and a smooth user experience under all conditions.

Step 8: Launch & Compliance

Before launching, the app must comply with Apple App Store and Google Play Store guidelines. This stage includes preparing store listings, optimizing app metadata, verifying content policies, and ensuring data privacy compliance.

A soft launch is recommended to gather real-user feedback, test mobile app security measures, and refine performance before a full-scale release in the Dubai market.

Step 9: Post Deployment Support

After launch, continuous monitoring and improvement are critical for long-term success. Such app maintenance services include bug fixes, performance monitoring, feature enhancement, analytics-based improvements, and scalability updates.

Regular updates ensure the app remains secure, competitive, and aligned with evolving user expectations. Additionally, proactive user feedback analysis and periodic security audits help maintain optimal app performance over time.

Features to Have in Khaleej Times Like App 

If you plan to develop a news app like Khaleej Times, you must consider some basic features. 

These include user profile login, update, and filtering search. Such features are necessary for a news app to be functional, but what sets it apart is having advanced mobile app features. 

Here are some of the latest features you can integrate into your news app.

1. Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech functionality allows users to listen to news articles instead of reading them, making the app more accessible and convenient. This feature is ideal for users who prefer consuming news while commuting, multitasking, or driving.

Natural-sounding Arabic voices read articles at your preferred speed to transform idle moments into productive news consumption. This feature significantly increases daily engagement for busy professionals and people with vision impairment.

2. Multimedia & Interactivity

Multimedia and interactive features enrich news content by combining text with videos, image galleries, infographics, polls, and live updates. This creates a more immersive storytelling experience and keeps users engaged for longer sessions.

Live news radio and podcast integration is a great idea to target the audience of all age groups. However, video news clips and AR features for immersive storytelling will be the biggest assets.

3. Smart Notifications

Intelligent and specific alerts that respect Dubai culture create loyal readers. 63% of users consider mobile apps over websites, making strategic push notifications crucial.

A smart bundling system to avoid notification overload on a device helps customers retain the platform. Moreover, such smart notifications boost daily active users while maintaining user satisfaction and preventing frequent app uninstalls.

4. Short-Form & Vertical Video

Such features enable users to consume breaking news and trending stories quickly in a mobile-first format. Inspired by social media behavior, this feature increases scroll time and engagement by delivering visually rich content in seconds.

Adding features like swipable stories-style daily news updates and live streaming with interactive polls is a great option. Additionally, instagram story style news updates are best-suited during coffee breaks.

5. Engagement & Discovery

Interactive news maps showing where stories are happening globally transform casual readers into devoted users. Timeline view to follow developing stories chronologically helps gain more watch time as users are expected to spend 78% more time on mobile apps over web.

Track major Emirates projects, bookmark favorite topics, and discover related content effortlessly. When users can actively explore rather than passively scroll, average session duration doubles.

6. Social Commerce Integration

Providing direct shopping links for products mentioned in the stories helps users to get attracted. You can support local businesses featured in the news articles to generate authentic readers for you.

Moreover, a direct link to Dubai retailers and exclusive deals creates multiple revenue streams while providing genuine value. Hence, this transforms your news app into a lifestyle platform for residents.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop a Khaleej Times Like App?

If you are thinking about the cost to build a mobile app, then this section is for you. 

To make an app like Khaleej Times, you need a budget of around $50,000 to $80,000. But the cost varies depending on the requirements you have for your business. This could be

• Basic App with minimal features - $5000 to $10,000

• Medium App with video and alert features - approximately $20,000

• Advanced AI-powered application with the latest features—$45,000 to $75,000+

However, these are average figures. The exact cost to develop an app like Khaleej Times will vary based on the feature list and the design of the app.

Moreover, there are several other factors that influence the cost of development. These include:

• Development platform for a news application

• Feature complexity used in the application

• UI/UX designing

• Ongoing maintenance and support services

Common Challenges with Solutions in Khaleej Times Like App Development

Building a successful news app for the Dubai market requires overcoming distinct challenges that impact both development timelines and long-term user retention. 

However, the best mobile app development companies in Dubai will surely help you overcome the challenges easily. Below, we will discuss some Khaleej Times like App development challenges along with the possible solutions for enhanced productivity.

Challenge 1: Bilingual Content Management

Managing Arabic and English content simultaneously requires unique technical and editorial challenges. It must support right-to-left design for Arabic, while opposite for English, requiring advanced layout systems that adapt dynamically.

Solution: You can develop an app like Khaleej Times that implements a content management system (CMS) with native bilingual support from day one.

Challenge 2: Data Privacy Compliance

UAE's Law imposes strict requirements on how news apps collect, store, and process user data. 

Solution: The best solution is to engage with legal experts specializing in UAE data protection law during the planning phase. Establish clear data retention policies, secure data transfer protocols for cross-border content delivery, and transparent privacy policies.

Challenge 3: User Retention in a Saturated Market

The news app market is saturated, due to which it faces particular retention challenges. Today, users have countless options for consuming news, from social media to international news apps to specialized regional platforms.

Solution: The best thing is to focus on personalization and exclusive value propositions. You must create exclusive features like expert analysis of UAE developments and provide early access to breaking Gulf news.

Challenge 4: Platform’s Technical Performance

In Dubai’s ultra-fast digital ecosystem, performance expectations are extraordinarily high. With such blazing infrastructure, users expect instant content delivery.

Solution: The app must implement aggressive performance optimization from day one. A strategic platform development approach with an MVP focus and a cross-platform framework selection can help you succeed.

Future Trends to Leverage to Stand Out

To differentiate your news app in Dubai's competitive market, integrating cutting-edge trends is essential. 

These five strategic innovations will solve your queries on how to build an app like Khaleej Times.

1] Enable Gamification

Integrate reading streaks, article completion badges, and daily news challenges to boost engagement. Reward users with points for sharing articles, completing topic quizzes, or maintaining reading habits. Leaderboards can enable community competition among news enthusiasts.

2] Mental Health & Wellbeing

Implement features like news digest mode to prevent information overload and positive news filters. Add reading time limits and mindful breaks between heavy news consumption. Consider mood-based content curation that balances hard news with uplifting stories, helping users stay informed.

3] AI & Generative Features

Deploy AI-powered news summarization for quick briefings and personalized news anchors that deliver audio updates. You can include AI chatbots for news queries and automated translation for multilingual content. Generative AI can create personalized news podcasts or video summaries to make content more accessible and engaging.

4] Web3 & Blockchain

Implement decentralized content ownership, allowing creators to monetize directly. Use smart contracts for transparent ad revenue sharing with contributors. This builds trust through verifiable sources while creating new monetization streams for quality journalism.

5] Hyper-Personalization

Utilize advanced algorithms to curate news feeds based on reading history, location, language preference, and interests. Hire mobile app developers in Dubai that provide customizable layouts, adjustable font sizes, dark/light modes, and topic prioritization. Deliver localized news, creating a unique experience for every resident.

How Khaleej Times-like Apps Make Money?

Once you know “How to create an app like Khaleej Times”, it is crucial to get a return on investment. Successful news applications require diversified revenue strategies to sustain quality journalism and platform operations. 

Here are the five primary monetization models:

1. Subscription

Premium subscription models offer readers ad-free experiences, exclusive content, and early access to breaking news. News apps typically provide pricing structures with monthly and annual plans, catering to different user preferences. This recurring revenue model ensures financial stability and quality content creation.

2. Advertisement

Display advertising remains a fundamental revenue stream for news apps. Publishers integrate banner ads, video advertisements, interstitial ads, and rewarded video content throughout the user experience. News apps benefit from premium advertising rates due to engaged, educated audiences.

3. Campaigning

Sponsored content and native advertising blend seamlessly with editorial material, providing valuable information while promoting brand partnerships. Publishers create custom articles, branded storytelling, and sponsored newsletters that align with audience interests.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing enables news apps to earn commissions by promoting third-party products, services, or event tickets relevant to their audience. By embedding affiliate links within articles, reviews, and lifestyle content, publishers can generate passive revenue without disrupting user experience.

5. Data Monetization

Data monetization allows news apps to generate revenue by using user insights and content analytics in a privacy-compliant manner. Aggregated data such as audience behavior, content trends, and market insights can be offered to advertisers, research firms, or enterprises.

How JPLoft Can Help You Create an App Like Khaleej Times?

JPLoft is a mobile app development company in Dubai that helps businesses build powerful and scalable news apps like Khaleej Times. From planning and UX/UI design to backend development and real-time content delivery, we ensure your app performs smoothly even during high traffic.

Our team builds secure, cloud-based architectures, integrates custom CMS, push notifications, and monetization features, and ensures full app store compliance. With a strong focus on performance, user engagement, and post-launch support, JPLoft delivers future-ready news applications curated for the Dubai market.

Conclusion

To make an app like Khaleej Times is a smart opportunity for entrepreneurs and media businesses looking to grow in Dubai’s digital-first market. Today, there is high smartphone usage, strong internet penetration, and increasing demand for real-time news. However, a well-designed news app can attract loyal users and generate long-term revenue.

Moreover, success depends on more than just publishing content. It requires the right strategy, clean UX/UI, scalable technology, strong security, and continuous optimization. With the right development partner, you can launch a powerful, engaging, and profitable news app for the Dubai audience.