The verdict in three sentences
The website of a commodity trading house in Dubai does not sell a product: it reassures counterparties, trade finance banks, regulators and recruits about governance, compliance and the soundness of the business. That editorial scope, more than design, explains why Dubai agency quotes run from AED 40,000 to over AED 450,000. On Kolonell's fixed grid, Growth at USD 4,900 covers a solid corporate site and Premium at USD 8,900, the multilingual tier in English and Arabic, adds the RTL version with its scope set in the quote.
What a trading house website has to prove
A documentary credit officer at a bank, a compliance analyst at a counterparty or a specialist journalist is not looking for what an end customer wants. They verify.
| Page | Main audience | What it must demonstrate |
|---|---|---|
| Governance and ownership | Banks, counterparties | Who runs the firm, group structure, committees |
| Compliance, sanctions and KYC | Banks, counterparty compliance teams | Published policy, due diligence principles, dedicated contact |
| Responsible sourcing and ESG | NGOs, investors, industrial clients | Only reports and commitments actually published |
| Activities and commodities handled | Counterparties | Scope described in general terms, with no invented volumes |
| Offices and locations | Everyone | Real addresses, legal entities, time zones |
| Careers | Traders, operators, analysts | Roles, hiring process, culture |
| News and press releases | Press, regulators | Dated, verifiable information |
No volume, counterparty or banking partner should appear unless it is accurate and authorised. On data, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 governs personal data protection in the UAE, while the DIFC and ADGM apply their own regimes: the entity you sit under determines the framework. This is not legal advice: your compliance page and privacy notice should be signed off by counsel.
Dubai market cost versus a fixed grid
Local ranges are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages. The dirham is pegged to the dollar (about AED 3.67 to USD 1).
| Provider | Build price (AED) | Approximate equivalent (USD) | Usually included | Common limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | AED 7,000 to 25,000 | about USD 1,900 to 6,800 | Theme, build | Little copywriting, no compliance content |
| Mid-sized agency | AED 40,000 to 120,000 | about USD 10,900 to 32,700 | Custom design, CMS, English and Arabic | Copywriting often billed on top |
| Premium agency | AED 150,000 to 450,000 and up | about USD 40,800 to 122,500 and up | Brand strategy, workshops, integrations | Lead times of 3 to 6 months |
| Kolonell Starter | fixed price | USD 2,900 | Focused corporate site, native copywriting | Limited editorial scope |
| Kolonell Growth | fixed price | USD 4,900 | Governance, compliance, careers and news pages | Integrations on quote |
| Kolonell Premium | fixed price | USD 8,900 | Multilingual tier (English and Arabic, RTL scope set in the quote) | Portals and extranets on quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer.
Hidden costs and the 3-year total
The build price is only part of the budget. Items that almost always come on top: legal Arabic translation, photography of offices and teams, review of the compliance page by external counsel, hosting and maintenance. Counterparty portals, document extranets and integrations (HR tool, CRM) are on quote. Maintenance after the 3 included months is also on quote.
| 3-year item | Mid-sized Dubai agency | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Build | AED 90,000, about USD 24,500 | USD 8,900 |
| Legal Arabic translation | often included | USD 2,000 (market assumption) |
| Photography | often billed on top | USD 1,500 (market assumption) |
| Hosting over 3 years | AED 3,300, about USD 900 (market assumption) | USD 900 (market assumption) |
| Maintenance after the included period, 33 months | AED 1,500 a month, or AED 49,500, about USD 13,480 (market assumption) | USD 150 a month, or USD 4,950 (market assumption, actual amount on quote) |
| Approximate total | about USD 38,900 | USD 18,250 |
Kolonell calculation: 8,900 + 2,000 + 1,500 + 900 + 4,950 = USD 18,250. Agency calculation: 90,000 + 3,300 + 49,500 = AED 142,800, or about USD 38,900.
When a Dubai agency is the better call, and questions to ask
A local agency wins if you need a team in your DMCC or DIFC offices every week, Arabic copy produced in-house, or a counterparty portal connected to your systems from launch. For a credible, well-documented corporate site, a fixed grid is often enough.
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Questions to ask any provider: who writes the compliance pages and who reviews them; what sits outside the fixed price; who owns the domain and the CMS; how RTL layout is handled; what maintenance costs after the included period.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* 'Jebel Ridge Commodities', a mid-sized metals trading house in Dubai, starts from scratch. It picks Growth at USD 4,900, adds a photo shoot at USD 1,500 (market assumption) and 8 hours of compliance page review by external counsel at USD 400 an hour, or USD 3,200 (market assumption). Total: 4,900 + 1,500 + 3,200 = USD 9,600.
A premium Dubai agency quote of AED 180,000 equals about USD 49,000. If the firm later adds an Arabic version, it moves to Premium, the multilingual tier, based on grid prices.
FAQ
How much does a trading house website cost in Dubai?
At a mid-sized agency, AED 40,000 to 120,000 (about USD 10,900 to 32,700), 2026 ballpark. On Kolonell's grid: Starter USD 2,900, Growth USD 4,900, Premium USD 8,900.
Should we publish our volumes and counterparties?
No, and never without authorisation. Banks and counterparties mostly look for governance, the compliance policy and verifiable information on locations.
Do we need an Arabic version?
Some local authorities and partners expect one. Premium is the multilingual tier, with RTL scope set in the quote.
How long does it take to go live?
3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once content is approved. Compliance review often adds 1 to 2 weeks.
What does maintenance cost afterwards?
The first 3 months of support are included. After that, maintenance is on quote; in the market, agencies typically charge AED 1,000 to 3,000 a month (market assumption).
Let's scope your project. A Growth or Premium corporate site with governance and compliance pages, live in 3 to 6 weeks depending on the tier. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
