The verdict in three sentences
For an executive search firm in Dubai, the website must serve two audiences at once: client companies, who judge the firm's credibility, and executives, many of them expatriates or diaspora, who apply only if confidentiality is guaranteed. A serious project costs AED 45,000 to 100,000 (USD 12,000 to 27,000), in three languages (EN, AR, FR), delivered in 8 to 12 weeks. With fees of 20 to 25% of annual salary per placement, one or two mandates won through the site often pay for it.
The features that make the difference
The founder of a headhunting firm does not sell job ads in volume. He sells discretion, a network and a method. The site must show it and secure data from candidates who are often currently employed.
| Feature | Indicative 2026 price | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trilingual corporate site EN/AR/FR (with RTL) | AED 18,000 to 36,000 | Credibility with HR directors and international executives |
| Job listings with sector, function, city filters | AED 7,000 to 16,000 | Ranking for "executive recruitment Dubai" |
| Confidential application (CV hidden from client) | AED 5,500 to 12,500 | Essential to attract employed executives |
| Candidate area and 8,000-profile database | AED 9,000 to 21,500 | Skills search, email alerts |
| Client company area (mandate tracking) | AED 5,500 to 14,000 | Shared shortlists, mandate status |
| Hosting, security, backups | AED 4,500 to 11,000/year | Sensitive data, encryption |
The low end covers a corporate site with listings and confidential applications. The high end includes the client area and advanced search in the candidate database.
What a website earns an executive search firm
Executive search fees in the UAE are generally 20 to 25% of the role's annual package. The 2026 orders of magnitude below are estimates for senior private-sector roles.
| Role placed | Monthly salary (AED) | Annual salary (AED) | Fee at 22% (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional sales manager | 30,000 | 360,000 | 79,200 |
| CFO, mid-sized company | 50,000 | 600,000 | 132,000 |
| Plant or operations director | 45,000 | 540,000 | 118,800 |
| Chief information officer | 55,000 | 660,000 | 145,200 |
| Subsidiary CEO | 90,000 | 1,080,000 | 237,600 |
A single CFO placed through the site earns more than a high-end project costs.
Data protection: non-negotiable
The UAE federal personal data protection law (PDPL, Decree-Law 45 of 2021), and the DIFC rules if you operate there, require clear information to candidates, a precise purpose and limited retention. Executives coming from Europe also expect GDPR-level practices. Plan explicit consent, profile deletion on request and encrypted hosting.
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Mini case study
Karim, founder of an executive search firm in Dubai, invests AED 70,000 in a trilingual site with confidential applications and a client area, plus AED 7,500 a year for hosting. In the first year, the site brings 3 mandates from new clients: a CFO (AED 132,000 in fees), a CIO (AED 145,200) and a regional sales manager (AED 79,200). Total: AED 356,400, a return of 4.6 times the total investment of AED 77,500 in the first year, not counting the executives added to the database.
FAQ
Do we really need an Arabic version?
For government-related clients, family groups and part of the candidate pool, yes. The Arabic version with right-to-left display usually adds 15 to 25% to the design budget.
How do we attract expatriate and diaspora executives?
A page dedicated to relocating to the UAE, listings in English and French, and a confidential form generate applications from London, Paris or Cairo. Allow 3 to 6 months of SEO to reach 500 to 1,000 qualified monthly visits.
Can we import our 8,000-candidate database?
Yes, from an Excel file or an existing ATS. Migration and data cleaning usually cost AED 3,500 to 9,000 depending on file quality.
How is the project billed?
In AED or USD excluding VAT (5% in the UAE), on a schedule, often 40% at order, 40% at acceptance and 20% at launch.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sectors, languages and the size of your candidate database: we will price the site, confidential applications and client area in AED or USD with a firm timeline. 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.
