The verdict in three sentences
For a cybersecurity firm in Abu Dhabi, the website is first a proof tool for CISOs and CIOs: precise services, certifications actually held, an incident hotline, an identifiable team. A local agency commonly charges 40,000 to 110,000 AED for that scope, while the Kolonell grid is fixed: Starter 2,900 USD, Growth 4,900 USD, Premium 8,900 USD. The gap comes down to side costs (Arabic translation, photography, compliance review) and to whether you truly need a supplier physically in Abu Dhabi.
What a cybersecurity firm's website has to prove
A CISO at an Abu Dhabi bank or a government-related entity does not read a homepage, they look for proof in under two minutes. Pages to plan:
- one page per service: penetration testing, managed SOC, incident response, compliance audit, awareness training;
- a certifications page listing only what is held (for instance ISO 27001 or CREST, if and only if that is the case), with the scope;
- an incident hotline visible on every page, with the real response hours;
- a team page with verifiable individual qualifications;
- a responsible disclosure page and a privacy policy aligned with the applicable law;
- expertise content (technical notes, threat analyses) that never names a client or an incident without permission.
On data, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection generally applies, while ADGM and DIFC have their own regimes. Depending on where you are registered, the privacy policy and contact forms will not be drafted the same way. This is not legal advice.
How much does this website cost in Abu Dhabi?
| Option | Build price (2026 ballpark) | Approximate USD equivalent | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local freelancer | 10,000 to 30,000 AED | 2,700 to 8,200 USD | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Generalist local agency | 40,000 to 110,000 AED | 11,000 to 30,000 USD | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Premium Abu Dhabi agency | 150,000 to 370,000 AED | 41,000 to 100,000 USD | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,900 USD | fixed grid | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,900 USD | fixed grid | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual tier) | 8,900 USD | fixed grid | 4 to 6 weeks |
AED amounts are typical local agency quotes, converted for guidance only. Kolonell prices are set in USD and not converted.
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support. Premium is the multilingual tier: for an English and Arabic site, the languages and the right-to-left layout scope are set in the quote. Secure client areas, report portals or ticketing integrations are on quote. Details are on the international offer page.
The costs nobody puts in the first quote
| Item | 2026 ballpark (USD) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Arabic translation and review | 1,200 to 3,500 | Third-party supplier |
| Team and office photography | 1,500 to 4,000 | Third-party supplier |
| Legal review of notices and privacy policy | 1,500 to 5,000 | External law firm |
| Penetration test of the site itself | usually done in-house | Your team |
| Maintenance after the 3 included months | 250 to 700 / month (market assumption) | On quote at Kolonell |
| Hardened hosting with WAF | 50 to 300 / month (market assumption) | Cloud provider |
A cybersecurity firm whose site is missing a security header or shows an expired certificate loses credibility instantly: budget these items before comparing quotes.
When a local agency is the better choice
To be fair: if you target public tenders that require a UAE-registered supplier, weekly in-person workshops, or mandated hosting on a local cloud with a contract signed on site, an Abu Dhabi agency is a better fit. The same applies if your site must plug deeply into an existing client portal built locally. Kolonell fits when the need is a solid proof site, delivered fast, on a controlled budget.
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Questions to ask any supplier: who writes the Arabic content and who reviews it? Will the site pass your own penetration test? Which security headers ship by default? Who holds the hosting and domain credentials?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Falcon Ridge Security, 35 staff, SOC and incident response, office in Abu Dhabi, English and Arabic site. Kolonell Premium option: 8,900 USD, plus photography at 2,500 USD and Arabic review at 1,800 USD, so 13,200 USD. Maintenance as a market assumption at 400 USD a month for 33 months after the 3 included months: 13,200 USD. Three-year total: 26,400 USD. Premium local agency option: 150,000 AED, about 40,900 USD, plus an assumed 2,500 AED a month for maintenance, about 680 USD, over 33 months, so 22,440 USD. Total: about 63,340 USD. The gap of roughly 36,900 USD comfortably funds a year of technical content.
FAQ
Is the Growth tier enough for a cybersecurity firm?
Yes if the site is in one language with no client area: at 4,900 USD it covers service, certification and expertise pages. As soon as Arabic is required, Premium at 8,900 USD is the right tier.
How long until we go live?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. Local agencies often quote 8 to 12 weeks.
Can we display our certifications and technology partners?
Only what is actually held and authorised, with the exact scope. A single unauthorised partner logo can cost more in disputes than the whole site.
Who handles maintenance after 3 months?
The first 3 months of support are included. After that, maintenance is on quote, usually based on your real update needs.
Does the site have to be hosted in the UAE?
Not always for a marketing site, but some public clients require it in their tenders. Check with your adviser before choosing a host.
Let's scope your project. Service pages, certifications and incident hotline in English, with Arabic in Premium, delivered 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.
