Why your website is not showing on Google (and what to check first)

Two problems that look the same

People say their site is not on Google when they mean one of two things. They are fixed in different ways, so find out which one you have before you pay anyone.

This matters because the first problem is quick and free, and the second takes steady work. Mixing them up is how owners end up paying for monthly SEO to fix something that was a single tick box.

Step 1: The two-minute check

Open Google and type site:yourwebsite.com, with your own address and no spaces. This shows the pages Google has stored for your domain.

• Many results: you are indexed. Your problem is ranking. Skip to step 4.
• A few results: some pages are indexed and others are not.
• Nothing: Google has not indexed your site. Go to step 2.

Then search your exact business name. If your site is first for your own name, Google can find you. That is a good sign, even if you do not yet appear for service searches.

Step 2: Set up Google Search Console first

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that tells you how it sees your site. If you do nothing else, do this. It is the single most useful thing a non-technical owner can set up, and you can ask your web developer to add it, or follow Google's own instructions to verify your domain.

Once it is set up:

1. Paste your home page address into the search bar at the top. This is the URL Inspection tool.
2. Read the result. It says whether the page is on Google, and if not, why.
3. If it says the page is not indexed, you can click Request indexing.
4. Open Pages in the left menu to see which pages are indexed and which are excluded, with reasons.
5. Open Sitemaps and submit your sitemap address if there is none. A sitemap is a list of your pages for Google.

Look for these common reasons a site is blocked:

• A noindex tag, which tells Google to ignore the page. Developers sometimes add it while building and forget to remove it.
• In WordPress, the setting Discourage search engines from indexing this site, under Settings, Reading. It should be unticked on a live site.
• In Shopify, a store password page that is still switched on.
• A robots.txt file that blocks Google from your pages.
• A brand-new site. Google can take days or weeks to find it, so submit a sitemap rather than waiting.

If you find one of these, a developer can usually fix it in under an hour. It is one of the most common reasons we see in audits of new sites.

Step 3: Check the site works on a phone

Google mostly judges the mobile version of your site. According to Red Spider, a Dubai SEO firm, over 70% of searches in Dubai are made on mobile, so a site that is awkward on a phone is at a disadvantage. That figure comes from their blog, so treat it as a guide and not a fixed number.

Take your phone and check:

• Does the text fit the screen without sideways scrolling?
• Are buttons large enough to tap?
• Does the page load in a few seconds on mobile data?
• Does the phone number tap to call, and is there a WhatsApp link?

You can also paste your address into Google PageSpeed Insights for a free report. Large photos and heavy plugins are the usual cause of slow pages. If you are planning a rebuild anyway, our website design in Dubai page covers how we build for mobile first.

Step 4: If you are indexed but not ranking

Now the harder question. Google knows your site, but it chooses others for searches like web designer Dubai or dental clinic Jumeirah. Ask these honestly.

• Does each important page target one clear subject? A single home page that tries to cover everything ranks for nothing.
• Does the page say where you work? Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi should appear naturally in titles and text.
• Is your content useful, or the same wording as ten competitors?
• Do other websites link to you? Links from real local sites, directories and news are a signal of trust.
• Is the site fast and secure (https)?

There are no shortcuts here, and we do not promise rankings. According to Red Spider, results from new SEO work usually take three to four months. Be careful with anyone who promises page one in a few weeks.

Step 5: Google Business Profile, the missing piece for local firms

If customers find you by location, such as a clinic, salon, restaurant, car rental or trade shop, your Google Business Profile often matters more than your website. It is the free listing that appears on Google Maps and in the box beside local results.

• Claim your profile at business.google.com and verify it. Google will ask you to confirm you own the business.
• Use your exact business name, correct category and a real address or service area.
• Add your opening hours, phone number, website and WhatsApp.
• Upload real photos of the place and the work.
• Ask happy customers for honest reviews and reply to every review.
• Keep the details identical to those on your website.

It costs nothing, and for many local searches it brings more calls than the website does. If you do not have a site yet, read do I need a website in the UAE.

What it costs to fix, in AED

Here is how the costs usually split. The first group is mostly small, one-off work. The second is ongoing.

The retainer range comes from Red Spider's blog and is for local small-business SEO. We have not verified it, and quotes vary. Always ask what you receive each month, and ask to see the reports.

✓ Agency pricing and Google's tools change. Last checked October 2026. Confirm current figures with the provider before you buy.

A simple order of work

1. Run site:yourwebsite.com and search your business name.
2. Set up Google Search Console and inspect your home page.
3. Remove any noindex, password or robots block, and submit your sitemap.
4. Test on your phone and fix speed and layout.
5. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile.
6. Improve one main service page at a time, and add useful content.
7. Wait, measure in Search Console, and adjust.

Steps one to five can often be finished in a week. Step six and seven are months of steady work.

When to ask for help, and when not to

You can do steps one, two and five yourself. Ask a developer for step three if you are unsure, and an agency only for the longer content and link work. If an agency hands you a long monthly bill before they have checked indexing, be cautious.

We offer a free website audit that checks indexing, mobile, speed and your main pages, and gives you a short list in order of priority. If your site is beyond saving, we say so and will scope a rebuild; if it is a small fix, we tell you how to do it yourself. For how a good site is structured for search from the start, see our ecommerce SEO guide, and for stores specifically, why your Shopify store is not selling. Our Northbridge design study shows a corporate WordPress site set up with clear service pages.