The verdict in three sentences
An SME digitising its processes exposes a growing attack surface: APIs, customer portal, database. A security audit with pentest costs between 25,000 and 80,000 AED and wraps up in 2 to 4 weeks. The cost of a successful intrusion (ransomware, customer-file theft) far exceeds that of prevention: budget for remediation and maintenance.
What a security audit costs in Dubai
Price depends on scope and test depth. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude in the Dubai market.
| Service | Content | 2026 price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express audit | Scan + OWASP Top 10 | 25,000 - 35,000 AED | 2 weeks |
| Standard audit | OWASP + config review | 35,000 - 55,000 AED | 3 weeks |
| Audit + grey-box pentest | Manual intrusion tests | 55,000 - 80,000 AED | 4 weeks |
| Deep application pentest | API + business logic | 60,000 - 90,000 AED | 4-5 weeks |
A pentest simulates a real attack and goes further than an automated scan: it tests business logic, privilege escalation and authentication flaws. The deliverable ranks vulnerabilities by severity with evidence.
Remediation and security maintenance
After the audit comes the fix. Here is the 2026 remediation grid in dirhams.
| Remediation | Effort | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Security headers (CSP, HSTS) | 1 day | 3,000 - 6,000 AED |
| MFA + session management | 3-4 days | 8,000 - 18,000 AED |
| Encryption at rest + TLS | 2-3 days | 6,000 - 14,000 AED |
| Injection / XSS fixes | 2-5 days | 8,000 - 22,000 AED |
| Encrypted backups + restore test | 2 days | 5,000 - 12,000 AED |
| RBAC hardening | 3-6 days | 12,000 - 28,000 AED |
In practice, an SME spends 15,000 to 60,000 AED on remediation depending on flaws found. Security maintenance of 3,000 to 8,000 AED/month covers CVE monitoring, updates, backup rotation and an annual re-audit.
Mini case study
Karim runs a distribution SME in Dubai, 60 staff, with a customer ordering portal built three years ago. Standard audit + pentest at 60,000 AED, revealing an SQL injection and no MFA at all. Remediation: 38,000 AED. He subscribes to maintenance at 5,000 AED/month. Year-one total: 60,000 + 38,000 + 60,000 = 158,000 AED. Ransomware encrypting his order database would have cost, between business interruption (estimated 15 days), ransom and restoration, over 400,000 AED. Prevention is under 40 % of the cost of a single major incident.
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FAQ
How much is a security audit in Dubai in 2026 ?
Between 25,000 and 80,000 AED depending on depth: an express audit starts at 25,000 AED, an audit with grey-box pentest rises to 80,000 AED.
What is the difference between a scan and a pentest ?
An automated scan detects known flaws; a pentest simulates a manual attack and tests business logic and privilege escalation. It costs 20,000 to 30,000 AED more but finds critical flaws.
How long does an audit take ?
Between 2 and 4 weeks depending on scope. Remediation adds 1 to 3 weeks of development.
What remediation budget should I plan ?
Budget 15,000 to 60,000 AED after a first audit, depending on the number and severity of flaws. Security headers cost little (3,000 AED), RBAC hardening much more.
How much does an intrusion cost an SME ?
Ransomware or customer-file theft often exceeds 400,000 AED combining business interruption, restoration and lost customer trust.
Let's scope your project. Give us the application scope (APIs, portal, roles) and desired test level, and we'll frame the right audit and pentest for your budget. 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.
