The verdict in three sentences
A medical equipment B2B marketplace in Dubai connecting 40 suppliers with 1,500 clinics and practices costs 250,000 to 500,000 AED (about 68,000 to 136,000 USD) for a V1 and takes about 5 months. The platform's value rests on trust: checking supplier licences and device registration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), batch traceability and escrow payments. A 6 to 10% commission is enough to make the project pay once annual volume passes 10 to 12 million AED.
V1 budget
The founder is not building a shop, he is building a regulated intermediary. The budget follows that logic.
| Module | Scope | 2026 budget (AED, excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, buyer and supplier UX | Clinic, practice, supplier and admin journeys | 20,000 to 38,000 |
| Supplier onboarding and verification | Trade licence, authorisations, device registration, manual review | 33,000 to 66,000 |
| Multi-supplier catalogue | Standardised listings, device classes, technical files, moderation | 42,000 to 83,000 |
| Private tenders | Need posted, priced responses, comparison, award | 38,000 to 75,000 |
| Orders and split payment | Automatic commission, escrow, release on receipt | 46,000 to 92,000 |
| Supplier and buyer dashboards | Dashboards, invoices, history, batch and serial numbers | 38,000 to 75,000 |
| Disputes, ratings, back office | Arbitration, returns, verified reviews | 20,000 to 46,000 |
| QA, security, go-live | Testing, security audit, compliant hosting | 13,000 to 25,000 |
| Total | 250,000 to 500,000 |
The high end includes a rich tender module (technical grids, Q and A) and ERP connections for 3 or 4 large suppliers. The low end assumes file imports and a simplified tender flow.
Regulation: what the platform must check
In the UAE, medical devices must be registered with MOHAP, and Dubai facilities also fall under the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). A marketplace that lets unregistered products go live takes a legal and reputational risk. Checks to build into V1:
| Check | Document or data | When |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier legal existence | Trade licence | Sign-up |
| Authorisation to distribute medical devices | MOHAP medical warehouse or distributor licence | Sign-up, then renewal |
| Device registration | MOHAP registration number, device class | Each product listing |
| Technical conformity | CE, FDA or equivalent, English and Arabic labelling | Listing |
| Traceability | Batch or serial number at dispatch | Each order |
| Health data | No patient data stored, UAE data protection rules | Design |
Manual review usually takes 3 to 7 days per supplier. Plan a dedicated part-time compliance officer during launch.
Business model and commission
| Metric | Cautious case | Target case |
|---|---|---|
| Active suppliers | 40 | 70 |
| Active buyers | 450 of 1,500 | 900 of 1,500 |
| Average order | 3,700 AED | 4,900 AED |
| Orders per buyer per year | 6 | 9 |
| Annual volume (GMV) | 9,990,000 AED | 39,690,000 AED |
| Average commission | 7% | 8% |
| Platform revenue | 699,300 AED | 3,175,200 AED |
Escrow reassures both sides: the clinic pays at order by card or transfer, funds are held by a payment provider licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, then released to the supplier on confirmed receipt, minus commission. Expect 2 to 3% payment fees depending on method.
Mini case study
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Faisal, an entrepreneur in Dubai, launches a marketplace for private clinics and practices across the emirate. Chosen V1 budget: 380,000 AED, plus 12,000 AED a month to operate (hosting, maintenance, part-time compliance officer), so 144,000 AED a year. In year 1 he reaches 12 million AED of GMV at a 7.5% average commission, or 900,000 AED of revenue. After operations and 160,000 AED of sales and marketing, he keeps 596,000 AED. The V1 pays back in about 8 months of trading at that pace, provided 25 suppliers are signed before launch.
FAQ
Do we need a licence to collect funds for suppliers?
Yes, holding funds for third parties requires a payment provider licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. The platform therefore relies on a licensed partner for escrow, at 2 to 3% fees.
What commission suits medical equipment?
Between 6 and 10% by category: 5 to 6% on heavy equipment above 80,000 AED, 8 to 10% on consumables. A supplier subscription of 600 to 1,200 AED a month can complement it.
How do we launch without suppliers?
Sign 20 to 25 suppliers before go-live, with 6 months at a reduced 4% commission. Without a catalogue, clinics do not come back.
Are private tenders useful in V1?
Yes for equipment above 20,000 AED, where clinics always request 3 quotes. The module is 15% of the budget but a large share of volume.
What timeline is realistic?
Five months for V1, including a 3-week pilot with 5 suppliers and 30 clinics. Regulatory review of the first suppliers runs in parallel with development.
Let's scope your project. Share your equipment categories, signed suppliers and commission model, and we will price a V1 between 250,000 and 500,000 AED with a 5-month 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.
