The verdict in three sentences
A freight forwarder in Dubai wins contracts from demanding shippers, fresh produce importers, dairy and food manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, who want to check capabilities, certifications and coverage before requesting a quote. A Kolonell website on the Growth package, between 1,830 and 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA), with a multi-criteria quote request form, is delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. With maintenance at 110 EUR per month and SEO Essentiel at 150 EUR per month, a single seasonal contract typically covers the first year's investment.
The essential pages of a freight forwarding website
A shipper moving chilled produce through Jebel Ali, or a laboratory distributing temperature-sensitive medicines across the Emirates and the wider GCC, looks for concrete proof. Each page must remove a specific objection.
| Page | Expected content | Objection removed |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities and fleet | Reefer trucks and containers, temperature ranges (-25 °C to +8 °C), partner carriers | Can they handle my volume this season? |
| Certifications and compliance | Good distribution practice for pharma, HACCP, cargo insurance certificates | Will my goods stay compliant? |
| Temperature monitoring | Data loggers, GPS tracking, temperature report on delivery | Can I prove the cold chain? |
| UAE and GCC coverage | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, corridors to Oman and Saudi Arabia | Do they serve my lanes? |
| Industries served | Fresh produce, dairy, seafood, pharma | Do they know my business? |
| Quote request | Multi-criteria form (see below) | How much and when? |
| Cold storage (if available) | Pallet capacity, dock, opening hours | Can they store in transit? |
Real photos of the fleet and docks outweigh any stock image: plan half a day of shooting.
The multi-criteria quote form
A request like how much for Dubai to Riyadh sent over WhatsApp forces your team to call back three times. A structured form lets you quote in one go. Here are the fields to plan and the cost of each option with typical market providers (2026 estimates).
| Field or option | Purpose | Indicative market cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo type and temperature range | Equipment selection | Included |
| Origin, destination, pickup date | Distance and availability check | Included |
| Volume (pallets, tonnes) and frequency | Per-trip price or seasonal contract | Included |
| Attachments (specifications, certificates) | Saves time on tenders | 80 to 150 EUR |
| WhatsApp and email notification to the team | Reply in under 2 h | 80 to 230 EUR |
| Export to spreadsheet or CRM | Tracking of quotes sent | 150 to 380 EUR |
| Arabic or French version of the form | Regional and foreign clients | 230 to 460 EUR |
On the Growth package, Kolonell includes the multi-criteria form, notifications and the bilingual version within the 1,830 to 3,050 EUR range, depending on the number of industry pages.
Comparing options in Dubai
On the local market, a freelancer delivers a showcase site for roughly 1,500 to 4,000 USD, often without a quote form or structured SEO. An established Dubai agency charges around 8,000 to 25,000 USD for a complete B2B website (2026 market estimates). The decisive criterion remains the site's ability to appear on queries such as reefer freight forwarder Dubai or cold chain logistics UAE: Kolonell SEO Essentiel at 150 EUR per month (100,000 FCFA) is a solid start on long-tail queries, with an upgrade to Growth at 300 EUR (200,000 FCFA) if you target the whole GCC.
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Illustrative example: Omar, sales director of a 14-truck temperature-controlled forwarder in Dubai, targets fresh produce importers. A seasonal contract represents about 15 trips at 690 EUR, i.e. 10,350 EUR in revenue, with a 20 % margin, so 2,070 EUR. He invests 2,440 EUR in a Growth website, then 110 EUR maintenance and 150 EUR SEO per month, i.e. 5,560 EUR over the first year. Three seasonal contracts won through the website cover this amount with a 650 EUR margin to spare, and every further contract adds straight to profit.
FAQ
How long does it take to launch the website?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks on the Growth package, provided you supply the fleet list, certifications and photos. An additional language usually adds 1 week.
Should per-trip prices be displayed on the website?
Rarely, because the price depends on temperature, volume and empty return legs. A well-designed form lets you reply within 2 to 24 h with an accurate quote.
Can the website show live temperature tracking?
Yes, if your loggers or GPS devices offer an API, but that is a custom application, from 3,810 to 6,100 EUR (2.5 M to 4 M FCFA) for a simple client portal. Many forwarders start with a PDF report sent on delivery.
What does the 110 EUR monthly maintenance cover?
The Standard plan includes security updates, backups, uptime monitoring and small content changes. The Basic plan is 50 EUR and the Premium plan 180 EUR per month.
Can the project be paid in instalments?
Yes, payment in instalments by bank transfer, card, Wave or Orange Money is possible, usually 50 % on order and 50 % at go-live.
Let's scope your project. A freight forwarding website with capabilities, certifications, coverage and a quote request form, indicative budget of 1,830 to 3,050 EUR on Growth, live in 3 to 4 weeks. 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.
