The verdict in three sentences
For a port logistics company in Dubai, two social media quotes at 8,000 AED a month can cover unrelated work, because the headline price often blends management, content and paid media. Shippers and freight buyers using Jebel Ali do not choose a logistics partner for its follower count: they want proof of reliability, turnaround and cargo handling capability, in English and Arabic. Demand a line by line quote, accounts in your company's name and a primary metric based on inbound quote requests, within a 2026 market ballpark of 4,000 to 15,000 AED a month before media.
The traps one by one, with the protective clause
Each line below reflects typical quotes seen in the market. The right column is the clause to add before you sign.
| Trap | Typical quote line | Clause to demand |
|---|---|---|
| Bought followers | Guaranteed growth of 10,000 followers in 3 months | No purchased followers or engagement; primary metric is quote requests |
| Unapproved posts | 20 posts a month in Arabic and English | Content calendar sent 2 weeks ahead, written approval before publishing |
| Paid media folded in | All inclusive package 9,500 AED | Management fee and media budget shown separately, platform invoices shared |
| Agency-owned accounts | Page setup and administration by the agency | Your company as primary admin, agency as secondary |
| Creative rights withheld | Design of visuals and videos | Transfer of usage rights and delivery of source files |
| Long lock-in | Minimum 12 month commitment | 3 month initial term, then 30 days' notice |
| Vanity reporting | Reach and likes report | Weekly report of inbound contacts and their source |
Arabic content is a trap of its own. A quote that says bilingual may mean machine-translated captions. Ask who writes the Arabic copy and whether it is native Gulf Arabic or a literal translation, since procurement managers at regional shippers notice immediately.
What a healthy package contains
Ask every vendor for this breakdown so that you compare like for like.
| Item | 2026 market ballpark, AED | Note |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn and Instagram management | 3,000 to 9,000 a month | 8 to 16 approved posts, English and Arabic |
| Visuals and short videos | 1,000 to 4,000 a month | Depends on formats |
| Paid media | 2,000 to 10,000 a month | On top of the fee, billed to your ad account |
| On-site photo or video shoot | 3,000 to 10,000 per session | One-off, port access permits required |
| Total monthly fee excluding media | 4,000 to 15,000 | Depends on volume and languages |
| Proposed commitment | 6 to 12 months | Negotiable down to 3 months initially |
Shooting at the quayside needs permits from the port and free zone operators and often your customers' consent; the quote should say who obtains them. Personal data captured through lead forms falls under the UAE's federal data protection law, and advertising content must respect UAE media regulations: check the official guidance from the relevant authorities rather than the agency's summary. Shippers also search on Google, with queries like freight forwarder Jebel Ali or bonded warehouse Dubai South. As a nearshore option, Kolonell's prices are 152 EUR (100,000 FCFA) for an ad campaign setup and 152 EUR (100,000 FCFA) a month for its Essential SEO plan: Kolonell's own prices, separate from the market ranges in the table.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Rashid, commercial director of a 150-person port logistics firm in Jebel Ali Free Zone, compares two quotes. Quote A is 9,500 AED a month all inclusive, with paid media unspecified and a 12 month lock-in. Quote B shows 6,500 AED of management and content plus 3,000 AED of media paid directly, with a 3 month initial term. Asked for detail, quote A spends only 1,200 AED a month on actual ads. Over a year, A costs 114,000 AED for 14,400 AED of paid reach; B costs 114,000 AED for 36,000 AED of paid reach, 2.5 times more paid visibility for the same total, with an exit possible from month four.
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FAQ
How much does B2B social media management cost in Dubai?
As a 2026 market ballpark, 4,000 to 15,000 AED a month excluding paid media. The spread depends mainly on the number of approved posts, 8 to 16 a month, Arabic content and video production.
Should paid media be included in the package?
No, keep it separate and billed to your own ad account. Plan 2,000 to 10,000 AED a month depending on targets, with platform invoices shared monthly.
How do we spot bought followers?
A sudden jump of several thousand followers in a few days, from countries unrelated to your trade lanes, is the usual sign. Write an explicit ban into the contract with immediate termination on breach.
What commitment should we accept?
A 3 month initial term is enough to judge quality, followed by 30 days' notice. A 12 month lock-in with no exit clause removes all your leverage.
Who should own the LinkedIn page?
Your company, always, with at least 2 internal admins. The agency gets secondary access you can revoke in minutes.
Get found by the customers already looking for you. Shippers searching for a logistics partner in Dubai should land on you: start with a 100,000 FCFA visibility audit (about 152 EUR, credited against setup if you start within 30 days), then a Traffic Engine plan, Presence at 125,000 FCFA (about 191 EUR), Momentum at 225,000 FCFA (about 343 EUR) or Flood at 350,000 FCFA (about 534 EUR) a month, with a weekly report on the requests received. Traffic Engine. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
