The verdict in three sentences
In Abu Dhabi, a local agency charges AED 40,000 to 110,000 for a venture capital firm website in 2026, roughly $11,000 to $30,000, and a high-end studio often goes past AED 150,000. Kolonell works on a fixed USD grid: Starter $2,900, Growth $4,900, Premium $8,900, the last being the multilingual tier where Arabic and the RTL scope are set in the quote. The real gap lies less in the build than in third-party costs (translation, partner photography, compliance review) and three years of maintenance.
What does a fund website cost in Abu Dhabi, option by option?
The dirham is pegged to the dollar (about AED 3.67 to $1), which keeps comparisons simple. The local figures below are typical quotes from UAE agencies, converted approximately.
| Option | 2026 ballpark | Approximate equivalent | Usual timeline | Arabic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local freelancer | AED 8,000 to 25,000 | $2,200 to $6,800 | 4 to 8 weeks | Often subcontracted |
| Local agency | AED 40,000 to 110,000 | $11,000 to $30,000 | 8 to 14 weeks | Included or optional |
| High-end local studio | AED 150,000 to 350,000 | $41,000 to $95,000 | 12 to 20 weeks | Included |
| Kolonell Starter | $2,900 | Fixed price | 3 to 4 weeks | Out of scope |
| Kolonell Growth | $4,900 | Fixed price | 3 to 4 weeks | Out of scope |
| Kolonell Premium | $8,900 | Fixed price | 4 to 6 weeks | Languages and RTL set in the quote |
Every Kolonell 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. LP-only areas, portals and integrations with your deal flow tool are on quote. Tier details are on the international offer.
What a fund website has to prove
A fund speaks to two audiences. Founders look for your thesis, entry stage, cheque size, portfolio and how to pitch you. LPs check governance and the team, but fundraising communication is regulated: no promotion of performance to the general public.
| Page | What the visitor checks | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Investment thesis | Sectors, geographies (GCC, MENA), stage | A vague thesis drives good founders away |
| Stage and cheque size | Typical amount, lead or follow role | Ranges rather than a single number |
| Portfolio | Companies, entry year, status | Only real, public holdings |
| Team and partners | Background, sectors covered, direct contact | Consistent photos, verified bios |
| Founder support | Network, hiring, market access | Facts, no promised outcomes |
| Pitch submission | Short form, response time | Data minimisation, no unnecessary attachments |
| LP area | Gated access, documents | No performance on public pages, on quote |
On data, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 governs personal data protection, while ADGM and DIFC apply their own regimes. A pitch submission form should therefore collect only what is needed and state what happens to the decks. This is not legal advice.
Hidden costs and the three-year total
Quotes are hard to compare when one includes translation and another does not. Here is a common baseline, with market assumptions clearly labelled.
| Item over 3 years | Freelancer | Local agency | High-end studio | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build | $5,000 | $25,000 | $60,000 | $8,900 |
| Arabic translation, photos, review (third party) | $4,000 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $4,000 |
| Maintenance (market assumption) | $200/month x 36 = $7,200 | $500/month x 36 = $18,000 | $1,000/month x 36 = $36,000 | $300/month x 33 = $9,900 |
| Three-year total | $16,200 | $47,000 | $102,000 | $22,800 |
The Kolonell column counts 33 months of maintenance because the first 3 months of support are included; after that, Kolonell maintenance is on quote and the figure used here is only a market assumption. Integrations (CRM, deal flow tool, data room) stay on quote everywhere.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When a local agency is the better choice
To be fair, an Abu Dhabi agency keeps the edge if you want weekly in-person workshops, a brand identity built from scratch with Arabic-first copywriting, or if an institutional shareholder requires a locally registered supplier. A remote studio makes sense when the thesis is clear, English dominates your founder conversations and you want a price known in advance.
Questions to put to every provider:
- Are Arabic translation and RTL adaptation priced, and by whom?
- Who writes the thesis copy and which partner signs it off?
- How does the pitch form limit the data it collects?
- What does maintenance cost after the included period, and who holds the access?
For a figure on your own scope, request a free quote.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Corniche Seed Partners, a three-partner seed fund, wants an English and Arabic site. A local agency quotes AED 120,000, about $32,700. With Kolonell Premium at $8,900, plus $1,500 of Arabic translation and $2,500 of partner photography paid to third parties, the budget comes to $12,900. The build gap is about $19,800, which the fund sets aside for six months of thesis content.
FAQ
Is Starter enough for a fund? For a first fund in English with thesis, team, portfolio and contact, Starter at $2,900 can be enough. Once you want detailed portfolio pages and regular content, Growth at $4,900 fits better.
Is Arabic included? Multilingual work sits in the Premium tier at $8,900, with the languages and RTL scope set in the quote. Translation itself is a third-party cost, often $0.10 to $0.20 per word as a 2026 ballpark.
Can we publish fund performance? On public pages, it is wiser not to: investor communication is regulated. A gated LP area is on quote.
How long until we are live? Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Starter or Growth and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, against 8 to 14 weeks at a local agency as a ballpark. The timeline depends mostly on how fast partners approve the copy.
What happens after the 3 months of support? Kolonell maintenance is then on quote. As a market assumption, local rates run from $200 to $1,000 a month depending on scope.
Let's scope your project. A fund site with thesis, portfolio and pitch submission usually fits Growth or Premium, delivered in 3 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.