The verdict in three sentences
A building materials B2B online store costs 110,000 to 295,000 AED excl. VAT (about 30,000 to 80,000 USD) for a trader serving 900 construction companies in Dubai, depending on ERP integration depth and logistics complexity. The decisive features are account-specific pricing, weight-based delivery to the site and card or credit-term payment based on each account's approved limit. Plan for 4 months, starting with the 50 most active accounts.
Features specific to building materials trading
A site manager does not order like a consumer: they want 12 tonnes of rebar, 400 bags of cement and 30 pallets of blocks, delivered to Dubai South before 7 am. The platform must handle units (tonne, pallet, bag, linear meter), weight, delivery slots and each account's commercial terms.
| Module | Function | Indicative 2026 budget |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog and multiple units | Tonne, pallet, bag, m², m³, automatic conversions | 15,000 to 33,000 AED |
| Account-specific pricing | Negotiated price lists, project discounts, special prices | 15,000 to 37,000 AED |
| Weight-based delivery | Rate by weight band and zone, truck type | 13,000 to 33,000 AED |
| Depot pickup or site delivery | Slots, site address, on-site contact | 9,000 to 22,000 AED |
| Card and credit-term payment | Card gateway, credit limit and due dates on account | 15,000 to 40,000 AED |
| Multi-site accounts | Several projects per company, budgets, approval | 11,000 to 29,000 AED |
| ERP integration | Items, stock, customers, invoices, balances | 22,000 to 74,000 AED |
| Driver app | Signed delivery note, photo, geolocation | 11,000 to 26,000 AED |
The low end (110,000 AED) covers a store with file-based ERP sync and zone-based delivery pricing. The high end (295,000 AED) includes real-time ERP integration, multi-site management and the driver app.
Payment and commercial terms: card, cheque or credit terms
In the UAE construction sector, credit terms remain the norm. The store must accept cards for small accounts and automatically apply the approved credit limit for companies on account.
| Payment method | Typical use | Cost or delay (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Card via local gateway (Network International, Telr, Stripe) | Contractors, small orders | 2 to 3% per transaction |
| Bank transfer on order | New customers without credit | 0%, D+1 to D+2 |
| 60-day credit terms | Construction companies on account | Credit limit per customer |
| Post-dated cheques | Large accounts, 60 to 90 days | Still common, tracked in the portal |
| Mixed payment (card deposit, balance on terms) | Large site orders | Configurable per account |
The portal shows the current balance, the limit and overdue invoices. Above the limit, the order goes to the credit manager for approval, which prevents unsecured deliveries.
4-month schedule
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, price lists, delivery rules | 3 weeks | Specifications, mockups |
| Catalog, pricing, ERP integration | 5 weeks | Back office and sync |
| Delivery, payment, multi-site | 4 weeks | Full ordering in acceptance |
| Pilot with 50 accounts | 3 weeks | Field adjustments |
| Opening to all 900 accounts | 2 weeks | Go-live, training |
Mini case study
Rashid, managing director of a building materials trader in Dubai, serves 900 construction companies with 8 counter sales staff paid about 9,000 AED per month each. Part of the delivery charges is never re-invoiced because there is no weight-based calculation, about 15,000 AED lost per month.
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After a 200,000 AED B2B store, 30% of orders go online within 12 months. Rashid moves 3 staff to prospecting new projects, freeing 27,000 AED per month of time, and recovers the 15,000 AED of delivery charges through automatic calculation. Estimated monthly gain: 42,000 AED. The project pays back in about 5 months, before counting additional revenue from new projects.
FAQ
Should prices be public?
No, the catalog can be public with prices visible only after login. Public prices remain useful for small contractors, who often make up 20 to 30% of a trader's accounts.
How is weight-based delivery calculated?
Each item carries a unit weight, and the cart determines the truck type (3.5 t, 10 t, trailer) and the zone. A grid of 15 to 30 bands covers Dubai and the northern emirates.
What does card acceptance cost in the UAE?
Local gateways charge around 2 to 3% per transaction in 2026, plus a modest monthly fee. For large orders, transfers or credit terms remain cheaper.
Can we manage several depots?
Yes, stock is shown per depot and the order is assigned to the depot closest to the site. Budget an extra 15,000 to 30,000 AED for multi-depot management.
What recurring costs should we expect?
Hosting, maintenance and support run 2,200 to 5,500 AED excl. VAT per month, excluding card fees and 5% UAE VAT.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of accounts, depots and your ERP, and we will price your B2B store between 110,000 and 295,000 AED with a 4-month schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
