The verdict in three sentences
In Riyadh, a website for a cybersecurity firm costs roughly SAR 15,000 to 40,000 with a freelancer, SAR 60,000 to 180,000 with a local agency and above SAR 220,000 with a premium agency as a 2026 ballpark, about $4,000 to more than $58,000. Kolonell applies a fixed USD grid: $2,900, $4,900 or $8,900, with a project manager reachable in your time zone and delivery in 3 to 6 weeks depending on the tier. In a market where Arabic comes first, the multilingual Premium tier is the realistic starting point, and native Arabic copywriting is priced separately.
Riyadh agencies or a fixed grid: the numbers
The riyal is pegged to the dollar at around SAR 3.75 to $1, so conversions are stable. The local figures below come from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages: they are ballparks.
| Option | Price in SAR (2026 ballpark) | Approximate USD equivalent | Usual timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | SAR 15,000 to 40,000 | about $4,000 to $10,700 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Local agency | SAR 60,000 to 180,000 | about $16,000 to $48,000 | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Premium agency (enterprise, public sector) | SAR 220,000 to 550,000 | about $58,700 to $146,700 | 4 to 8 months |
| Kolonell Starter | n/a | $2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | n/a | $4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual, Arabic and RTL set in the quote) | n/a | $8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks |
Kolonell prices are never converted: they are set in USD. Every tier includes a project manager, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support. Secure client portal, incident reporting form wired to your ticketing tool, integrations: on quote. Details on the international offer.
What a Saudi CISO checks before calling
A CISO or CIO in Riyadh comparing penetration testing or SOC providers looks for verifiable proof, often within a tender. Your site should show:
- Detailed services: penetration testing, managed SOC, incident response, compliance assessment, each with methodology and typical deliverables.
- Certifications actually held (CREST, ISO 27001, local accreditations), with their exact scope.
- The link to the national framework: many public and semi-public buyers refer to the controls of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA). Describe your experience with them without claiming an approval you do not have.
- An incident hotline visible on every page, with real hours.
- The team: expertise, individual certifications, presence in Saudi Arabia.
- No client name or incident without written permission.
On data, the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), enforced by SDAIA since September 2023, applies to your contact and demo forms: keep notices clear and have them reviewed. This is not legal advice.
Hidden costs and the three-year total
| 3-year line item | Kolonell Premium | Local agency (mid-range) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | $8,900 | $32,000 | Agency: about SAR 120,000 |
| Native Arabic copywriting (third party) | $3,500 | partly included | Assumption: 20 to 30 pages |
| Team and office photography | $1,500 | $1,500 | Third party, assumption |
| Legal review of PDPL notices | $2,000 | $2,000 | External counsel, assumption |
| Security test of the website itself | $3,000 | $3,000 | Essential for your credibility |
| Maintenance after the 3 included months | $9,900 | $19,800 | Market assumption: $300 vs $600 a month over 33 months |
| Estimated total | $28,800 | $58,300 | 2026 ballpark |
Kolonell maintenance after the three included months is on quote; the figure in the table is a market assumption. Testing the site's own security is not a luxury: a cybersecurity prospect will probably scan your headers and TLS configuration.
When a Riyadh agency is the better choice
A local agency keeps the edge if your site must first win over public buyers in Arabic, with Saudi copywriters, in-person workshops and detailed knowledge of vendor registration requirements. It also fits better when the site is part of a brand campaign worth several hundred thousand riyals. A remote studio suits a firm that wants a precise English site with a structured Arabic version, delivered fast. Questions to ask:
- Who writes the Arabic, and are they a native speaker who knows the sector?
- Is RTL designed from the first mock-up or bolted on later?
- Does the site score well on security headers at handover?
- Who hosts it, and in which region is form data stored?
- What does a new service page cost after launch?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. "Najd Shield Labs", 35 consultants, offers penetration testing and managed SOC in Riyadh. Local agency quote: SAR 135,000, about $36,000, 14 weeks. Chosen option: Kolonell Premium at $8,900, Arabic and English with RTL layout set in the quote, plus $3,500 of native Arabic copywriting and a $3,000 security test.
First year: 8,900 + 3,500 + 3,000 = $15,400, versus 36,000 + 3,000 = $39,000 with the agency, which includes Arabic. Difference: $23,600, roughly one more team certification cycle or a regional trade show.
FAQ
Arabic first or English first?
If more than half your prospects are public or semi-public, Arabic first is the rule. For multinational clients English can lead, but 10 to 15 good Arabic pages are still expected.
Can we name our banking or government clients?
Only with written permission, which is rare in cybersecurity. Use anonymised case studies with sector and scope, approved by the client.
Can the Growth tier at $4,900 be enough?
Yes for a single-language site, typically English for a firm focused on multinationals. Once Arabic and RTL are in scope, the Premium tier at $8,900 is the right fit.
How long does it take?
Plan 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, plus Arabic copywriting, often 2 to 3 weeks in parallel. Internal compliance sign-offs are the main source of delay.
Should we list each consultant's certifications?
It is a real argument for a CISO, provided they are current. A team page with 5 to 10 certified profiles often weighs more than long marketing copy.
Let's scope your project. An Arabic and English site for a cybersecurity firm starts at the Premium tier, $8,900, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks. 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.
